From the text of Senate Bill 65 currently being debated in the Alabama Legislature: SYNOPSIS: Under existing law, it is unlawful for any person to impose unconscionable prices for the sale or rental of any commodity or rental facility during a period of a declared state of emergency. This bill would also provide that it is unlawful for any person to impose unconscionable prices for the sale or rental of any commodity or rental facility during a special weekend sporting event held in Alabama. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA: Section 1. Sections 8-31-3 and 8-31-4, Code of Alabama 1975, are amended to read as follows: It is unlawful and a violation of Section 8-19-5, for any person to impose unconscionable prices for the sale or rental of any commodity or rental facility during the period of a declared state of emergency or during a special weekend sporting event held in Alabama. For purposes of this chapter, the term special weekend sporting event includes, but is not limited to, a motor speedway race which lasts two or more consecutive days. It is prima facie evidence that a price is unconscionable if any person, during a state of emergency declared pursuant to the powers granted to the Governor in Section 31-9-8, charges a price that exceeds, by an amount equal to or in excess of twenty-five percent the average price at which the same or similar commodity or rental facility was obtainable in the affected emergency area during the last 30 days immediately prior to the declared state of emergency or the special weekend sporting event; and the increase in the price charged is not attributable to reasonable costs incurred in connection with the rental or sale of the commodity.
