00                             HOUSE BILL NO. 272                                                                          
01 "An Act relating to motor vehicle dealers."                                                                             
02 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
03    * Section 1.  AS 08.66.015 is amended to read:                                                                     
04            Sec. 08.66.015.  Sale of motor vehicle.  (a)  A person who does business as a                              
05       dealer in the state may not offer to sell or sell a motor vehicle as a new [OR                                    
06       CURRENT MODEL] motor vehicle unless the motor vehicle retains the                                                 
07       manufacturer's certificate of origin.                                                                             
08            (b)  A person who does business as a dealer in the state may not offer to sell or                            
09       sell a motor vehicle as a [NEW OR] current model motor vehicle [HAVING A                                          
10       MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY] unless                                                                                   
11                 (1)  the dealer has a current sales and service agreement with the                                      
12       manufacturer [AND THE AGREEMENT REQUIRES THE DEALER, UPON                                                         
13       DEMAND OF THE MOTOR VEHICLE BUYER, TO PERFORM OR ARRANGE                                                          
14       FOR, WITHIN A REASONABLE DISTANCE OF THE DEALER'S PLACE OF                                                        
15       BUSINESS IN THE STATE, THE REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT WORK                                                            
01       REQUIRED OF THE MANUFACTURER UNDER THE WARRANTY]; or                                                              
02                 (2)  the vehicle is a current model used vehicle received as a trade-                               
03       in in the normal course [DEALER OFFERS TO GIVE THE BUYER A REBATE                                             
04       TO COVER THE REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT WORK THAT THE DEALER                                                          
05       CANNOT PERFORM OR ARRANGE FOR WITHIN A REASONABLE                                                                 
06       DISTANCE OF THE DEALER'S PLACE] of business.                                                                      
07    * Sec. 2.  AS 45.25.400(b) is amended to read:                                                                     
08            (b)  A motor vehicle dealer may use the term "manufacturer's suggested retail                                
09       price," "MSRP," or "list price" in an advertisement for the sale of a motor vehicle,                              
10       subject to the restriction on price comparisons in AS 45.25.450 and the following:                                
11                 (1)  the advertised price must reference the final price listed by the                                  
12       manufacturer on the monroney sticker, including accessories and options physically                                
13       attached to the vehicle at the time of delivery to the dealer, plus any transportation                            
14       charges, and minus all manufacturer discounts and savings;                                                        
15                 (2)  the manufacturer's suggested retail price or the list price does not                               
16       include charges added by the dealer or options added to the vehicle by the dealer; and                            
17                 (3)  whenever using the term "manufacturer's suggested retail price,"                                   
18       "MSRP," or "list price," the dealer [SHALL PROVIDE IN THE ADVERTISEMENT                                           
19       A CLEAR AND CONSPICUOUS DISCLOSURE THAT STATES THAT A SALE]                                                       
20       may not represent that a savings occurs at a lower [HAVE OCCURRED AT                                          
21       THAT] price.                                                                                                      
22    * Sec. 3.  AS 45.25.410 is amended to read:                                                                        
23            Sec. 45.25.410.  Availability of advertised items.  A motor vehicle dealer                                 
24       may not advertise a new motor vehicle [VEHICLES AND RELATED GOODS OR                                          
25       SERVICES] at a specified dealer price with the intent not to supply reasonably                                    
26       expected demand, unless the advertisement discloses the number of vehicles in stock                               
27       at the advertised price.                                                                                          
28    * Sec. 4.  AS 45.25.460(a) is amended to read:                                                                     
29            (a)  In addition to the provisions of AS 45.50.471 and regulations adopted                                   
30       under AS 45.50.471, a motor vehicle dealer [MAY NOT]                                                              
31                 (1)  shall include in [EXCLUDE FROM] an advertisement of a motor                                    
01       vehicle for sale all [THAT TAXES, IF APPLICABLE, VEHICLE REGISTRATION                                         
02       FEES, FINANCE CHARGES, CHARGES FOR THE ISSUANCE OF ANY                                                            
03       CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE OR NONCOMPLIANCE REQUIRED BY                                                            
04       STATUTE, OR OTHER] fees or charges, except fees or charges to be paid to a third                              
05       party [THAT ARE NOT OTHERWISE INCLUDED IN THE ADVERTISED PRICE                                                    
06       WILL BE ADDED TO THE ADVERTISED PRICE AT THE TIME OF THE SALE];                                                   
07                 (2)  may not represent the dealer document preparation fee as a                                     
08       government fee;                                                                                                   
09                 (3)  may not advertise a specific motor vehicle for sale without                                    
10       identifying the vehicle by either its vehicle identification number, vehicle stocking                             
11       number, or license number;                                                                                        
12                 (4)  may not advertise that free merchandise, gifts, or services will be                            
13       provided by the dealer if a vehicle is purchased; in this paragraph, "free" includes                              
14       merchandise or services offered for sale at a price less than the dealer's cost for the                           
15       merchandise or services;                                                                                          
16                 (5)  may not use the term "rebate," "cash back," or a similar term in                               
17       advertising the sale of a motor vehicle unless the rebate is expressed in a specific                              
18       dollar amount and is in fact a rebate offered by the vehicle manufacturer or distributor                          
19       directly to the retail buyer of the vehicle;                                                                      
20                 (6)  may not require a person, in order to receive the advertised credit                            
21       terms, to pay a higher price for a motor vehicle and any related goods or services than                           
22       the cash price the same person would have to pay to purchase the same vehicle and                                 
23       related goods or services;                                                                                        
24                 (7)  may not advertise a guaranteed trade-in allowance or range of                                  
25       allowances unless the guarantee is provided by the manufacturer or distributor;                                   
26                 (8)  may not affix to a new motor vehicle a supplemental price sticker                              
27       containing a price that represents the dealer's asking price if the supplemental price                            
28       sticker exceeds the manufacturer's suggested retail price, unless the supplemental                                
29       sticker                                                                                                           
30                      (A)  clearly and conspicuously, in the largest print appearing on                                  
31            the sticker other than the print size used for the dealer's name, discloses that                             
01            the supplemental sticker price is the dealer's asking price, or words of similar                             
02            meaning, and is not the manufacturer's suggested retail price;                                               
03                      (B)  clearly and conspicuously discloses the manufacturer's                                        
04            suggested retail price; and                                                                                  
05                      (C)  states, if the supplemental sticker price is greater than the                                 
06            sum of the manufacturer's suggested retail price and the price of the items                                  
07            added by the dealer, the difference and describes it as additional dealer mark-                              
08            up;                                                                                                          
09                 (9)  may not advertise or otherwise represent, or knowingly allow to be                             
10       advertised or represented on behalf of the dealer, that a down payment is not required                            
11       in connection with the sale of a motor vehicle when a down payment is in fact                                     
12       required;                                                                                                         
13                 (10)  may not advertise an offer for the sale, lease, or purchase of a                              
14       motor vehicle that [CREATES THE FALSE IMPRESSION THAT THE VEHICLE IS                                              
15       BEING OFFERED BY A PRIVATE PARTY OR A MOTOR VEHICLE AGENT OR                                                      
16       THAT] does not contain the name of the dealer;                                                                    
17                 (11)  [USE AN ADVERTISEMENT FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE                                                         
18       THAT CONTAINS LANGUAGE THAT FALSELY, IMPLICITLY, OR                                                               
19       EXPLICITLY SUGGESTS THAT, TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF AN OFFER, A                                                        
20       CONSUMER MUST ACT WITHIN A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME WHEN, IN                                                        
21       FACT, THE VEHICLES WILL CONTINUE TO BE AVAILABLE AT THE                                                           
22       ADVERTISED PRICE BEYOND THAT TIME PERIOD;                                                                         
23                 (12)  REQUIRE A BUYER OF A NEW MOTOR VEHICLE, AS A                                                      
24       CONDITION OF SALE AND DELIVERY, TO ALSO PURCHASE SPECIAL                                                          
25       FEATURES, APPLIANCES, ACCESSORIES, OR EQUIPMENT NOT DESIRED                                                       
26       OR REQUESTED BY THE BUYER UNLESS THE SPECIAL FEATURES,                                                            
27       APPLIANCES, EQUIPMENT, OR ACCESSORIES ARE ALREADY INSTALLED                                                       
28       ON THE VEHICLE WHEN RECEIVED BY THE DEALER;                                                                       
29                 (13)]  may not represent and sell as a new motor vehicle a                                          
30       demonstrator vehicle or a motor vehicle that is a used motor vehicle; in this paragraph,                          
31       "demonstrator vehicle"                                                                                            
01                      (A)  means a motor vehicle                                                                         
02                           (i)  that has been assigned by a dealer for use by the                                        
03                 dealership as an executive vehicle for promotional purposes, including                                  
04                 being driven in the community;                                                                          
05                           (ii)  that has not been licensed by a retail buyer; and                                       
06                           (iii)  the title of which has not been transferred to a retail                                
07                 buyer;                                                                                                  
08                      (B)  does not include a motor vehicle that has only been driven                                    
09            to demonstrate the motor vehicle to a prospective buyer;                                                     
10                 (12)  may not [(14)] advertise that the dealer finances any person or                               
11       does not reject any person's credit, or make similar claims;                                                      
12                 (13)  may not [(15)] advertise or make a statement, declaration, or                                 
13       representation in an advertisement that cannot be substantiated in fact; the burden of                            
14       proof of the factual basis for the statement, declaration, or representation is on the                            
15       dealer.                                                                                                           
16    * Sec. 5.  AS 45.25.510(a) is amended to read:                                                                     
17            (a)  Before entering into a new motor vehicle sales contract, a new motor                                    
18       vehicle dealer shall disclose in writing to a buyer of the new motor vehicle any known                            
19       damage and repair to the new motor vehicle if the damage exceeds five percent of the                              
20       manufacturer's suggested retail price as calculated at the dealer's authorized warranty                           
21       rate for labor and parts, or $1,000, whichever amount is greater.  A new motor                                
22       vehicle dealer is not required to disclose to a buyer that glass, tires, bumpers, or                              
23       cosmetic parts of a new motor vehicle were damaged at any time if the damaged item                                
24       has been replaced with original or comparable equipment.  A replaced part is not part                             
25       of the cumulative damage required to be disclosed under this subsection.                                          
26    * Sec. 6.  AS 45.25.610(c) is amended to read:                                                                     
27            (c)  If [NOTWITHSTANDING THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SECTION,                                               
28       IF] a motor vehicle dealer arranges financing for a buyer, the motor vehicle dealer                               
29       may deliver the motor vehicle to the buyer before final approval by the financing                                 
30       entity if                                                                                                         
31                 (1)  the buyer and seller sign an agreement separate from the motor                                     
01       vehicle installment contract on an 8 1/2 x 11 inch sheet of paper that clearly and                                
02       conspicuously informs the buyer that final financing arrangements have not yet been                               
03       approved and that clearly sets out the amount that will be financed, the annual                                   
04       percentage rate of the finance charge, the amount of the finance charge, the number                               
05       and frequency of payments, and the amount of each payment;                                                        
06                 (2)  the separate agreement clearly and conspicuously informs the                                       
07       buyer that accepting delivery of the vehicle before final financing approval obligates                            
08       the buyer to terms of the motor vehicle sales contract if the terms on the separate                               
09       agreement are identical to the terms finally approved by the financing entity; and                                
10                 (3)  the separate agreement provides that the separate agreement, the                                   
11       motor vehicle sales contract, and any and all other conditions of the purchase will be                            
12       void if any of the terms contained in the separate agreement are changed by either the                            
13       motor vehicle dealer or the financing institution as a condition of sale or final                                 
14       financing approval.                                                                                               
15    * Sec. 7.  AS 45.25.610(d) is amended to read:                                                                     
16            (d)  If a buyer's final financing is not approved [WITHIN SEVEN BUSINESS                                     
17       DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THE SEPARATE AGREEMENT] and, as a result, the                                               
18       transaction is not completed, the motor vehicle dealer shall return the buyer's entire                            
19       down payment, and the buyer's trade-in, if any, shall be returned to the buyer in the                             
20       same condition and with not more than 100 [10] miles accumulated on the odometer                              
21       from when the motor vehicle was delivered to the motor vehicle dealer.                                            
22    * Sec. 8.   AS 45.25.460(b) and 45.25.610(b) are repealed.