§ 6103. Actions by States

Legislative history

Reconstructed from this section’s Code source credit and amendment notes, resolved against the local Statutes at Large. Editorial notes are evidence, not the law that made the change.

1. 1994

   Pub. L. 103–297 § 4 · 108 Stat. 1545

   Enacted · 15 U.S.C. § 6103

   Pub. L. 103–297, § 4, Aug. 16, 1994, 108 Stat. 1548

   Source evidence

   Code source credit
   Pub. L. 103–297, § 4, Aug. 16, 1994, 108 Stat. 1548

   Enacted provision · exact public law section
   SEC. 4. ACTIONS BY STATES. (a) In General.— Whenever an attorney general of any State has reason to believe that the interests of the residents of that State have been or are being threatened or adversely affected because any person has engaged or is engaging in a pattern or practice of telemarketing which violates any rule of the Commission under section 3, the State, as parents patriae, may bring a civil action on behalf of its residents in an appropriate district court of the United States to enjoin such telemarketing, to enforce compliance with such rule of the Commission, to obtain damages, restitution, or other compensation on behalf of residents of such State, or to obtain such further and other relief as the court may deem appropriate. (b) Notice.— The State shall serve prior written notice of any civil action under subsection (a) or (f)(2) upon the Commission and provide the Commission with a copy of its complaint, except that if it is not feasible for the State to provide such prior notice, the State shall serve such notice immediately upon instituting such action. Upon receiving a notice respecting a civil action, the Commission shall have the right (1) to intervene in such action, (2) upon so intervening, to be heard on all matters arising therein, and (3) to file petitions for appeal. (c) Construction.— For purposes of bringing any civil action under subsection (a), nothing in this Act shall prevent an attorney general from exercising the powers conferred on the attorney general by the laws of such State to conduct investigations or to administer oaths or affirmations or to compel the attendance of witnesses or the production of documentary and other evidence. (d) Actions by the Commission.— Whenever a civil action has been instituted by or on behalf of the Commission for violation of any rule prescribed under section 3, no State may, during the pendency of such action instituted by or on behalf of the Commission, institute a civil action under subsection (a) or (f)(2) against any defendant named in the complaint in such action for violation of any rule as alleged in such complaint. (e) Venue; Service of Process.— Any civil action brought under subsection (a) in a district court of the United States may be brought in the district in which the defendant is found, is an inhabitant, or transacts business or wherever venue is proper under section 1391 of title 28, United States Code. Process in such an action may be served in any district in which the defendant is an inhabitant or in which the defendant may be found. (f) Actions by Other State Officials.— (1) Nothing contained in this section shall prohibit an authorized State official from proceeding in State court on the basis of an alleged violation of any civil or criminal statute of such State. (2) In addition to actions brought by an attorney general of a State under subsection (a), such an action may be brought by officers of such State who are authorized by the State to bring actions in such State on behalf of its residents.

2. 2010

   Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010

   Pub. L. 111–203 title X § 1100C(b) · 124 Stat. 1376

   Inserted · 15 U.S.C. § 6103(d)

   Pub. L. 111–203 inserted “or the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection” after “Commission” wherever appearing

   Source evidence

   Code amendment note
   Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 111–203 inserted “or the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection” after “Commission” wherever appearing.

   Enacted provision · exact public law section
   (b) Amendments to Section 4.— Section 4(d) of the Telemarketing and Consumer Fraud and Abuse Prevention Act (15 U.S.C. 6103(d)) is amended by inserting after “Commission” each place that term appears the following: “or the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection”.

   Effective date note
   Amendment by Pub. L. 111–203 effective on the designated transfer date, see section 1100H of Pub. L. 111–203, set out as a note under section 552a of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

2 of 2 references resolved to an enrolled provision