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 Friday
Facts - Archives -
Month of May 2005Current
Week
May 27, 2005
State Senate passes Gift card bill
Strong CRMA grass roots effort made the difference
CRMA Golf Classic just weeks away
We are very pleased to report this week that late last
evening the CT State Senate passed SB 123, An Act Concerning
the Escheating of Gift Certificates.
The bill now moves to the House of Representatives where a
vote could come some time next week.
Changes to CTs gift card law, are a major priority for the
CRMA this legislative session.
Our position all along has been that the changes that were
made by the General Assembly 2 years ago (PA 03-1) were unfair
to consumers and retailers.
The bill that passed the State Senate last night removes the
three year escheat requirement that is currently called for in
the law.
As you know, that law forbids retailers from placing an
expiration date on gift cards, yet it requires retailers to
escheat any unused portion of the gift card to the State
Treasury after a three year period.
Our bill, if passed by the House, would simply eliminate the
three year escheat so that the true spirit of the law, no
expiration dates on gift cards can be realized.
Simply put our amendment that the Senate passed without
opposition last night calls for no expiration date no
escheating.
We will update you in next weeks FF on any action the House
takes on the bill.
CRMA member calls and emails made the
difference in the State Senate:
In the last 48 hours, the number of members that took the
time to call and or email their State Senator in support of
our efforts to get SB 123 passed made a huge difference.
To those that made calls and emails, we thank you.
It was important to our efforts that you took the time out
of your busy schedule to make those calls or send those
emails.
Our work is not completely done. We need to ask you one more
time to make the same effort with key members of the House of
Representatives.
Look for another special notice from us early next week
outlining our plans for the House vote.
CRMA Golf Classic update:
The 4th annual CRMA is now just 3 weeks away. Have you
purchased your foursome yet?
Please help us with this event. The golf tournament is a
major fundraiser for the Association. The money raised keeps
the association strong so that we have the resources to
continue fighting for retailers.
If you have not already purchased a foursome there is still
time.
Call our office today at 860-527-1044 or visit our website,
www.crmaonline.com for more information.
Memorial Day closing:
Our office will be closed on Monday in observance of
Memorial Day and we want to wish all members a great weekend!
May 13, 2005
Connecticut General Assembly in the Final Weeks of the Regular
Session
Many Issues Facing Retailers Still Need to be Resolved
CRMA / ICSC Legislative Reception, May 18th at the State
Capitol
CRMA Golf Classic Update
Retail News & Notes
As the Connecticut General Assembly heads into its final
month of regular session, a number of important issues still
face retailers.
In addition to our issues, the General Assembly must also
pass a budget and adopt a tax package.
We will be working around the clock these final four weeks
on behalf of retailers and we keep you up to date on the
latest information coming out of Hartford.
Meanwhile, we encourage all members to join in on the CRMA
Legislative Committee conference calls that will now take
place every Thursday morning until the close of Session on
June 8th.
Also, dont forget our upcoming events, including our
Legislative Reception and our Annual Golf Classic.
Repeal of Gift Card Law Tops CRMA
Agenda.
As we head into the home stretch of the Legislative Session,
one of our top priorities is the repeal of the Connecticut
gift card law.
As you know the current law, which was adopted over our
objections, requires that retailers do not place expiration
dates on gift cards, but still requires that any unused
portion of the gift card be escheated to the state Treasure
after three years.
There are other provisions of the act that are problematic
for retailers including the requirement that you collect the
name and address of the purchaser of the gift card, even
thought they are not likely to purchase a gift card for
themselves.
The bottom line is; the current law in unworkable for
retailers and we need to fix it.
This year we think we can. S.B. 123, AN ACT CONCERNING THE
EXPIRATION OF GIFT CARDS, would take out the three year
escheating requirement and allow for no expiration date and no
more escheating.
S.B.123 is not awaiting action in the Senate, where we
believe we have the support to pass it and send it to the
House for final action.
Hopefully in next weeks Friday Facts we will have some good
news on that front.
Play or Pay Still Alive
We are concerned about a health care bill that will impact
all retailers despite what its proponents say. SB 1147, AN ACT
CONCERNING EMPLOYEE HEALTH SECURITY would create a Connecticut
version of a play or pay health care bill.
To bring you up to date on this bill, the Finance Committee
reported out S.B.1147 with some amendments added. Among the
major change was that the bill now applies only to employers
with 5,000 or more full time employees.
However, we did some lobbying of legislators this week and
found out that still more changes are being considered
including lowering the number from 5,000 to 1,000 and
including part timers as well.
Because of these conversations, the CRMA Legislative
Committee will be holding a special conference call next
Tuesday, May 17, 2005 at 3:00 EST to discuss strategy on this
bill.
We encourage all members, large and small, to join in on
this important call.
Other News from the State Capitol
The minimum wage will increase thanks in large part to
Governor Rell. The Governor stated that she had no problem
with an increase in the minimum wage.
That statement came after House Republicans put up a fierce
battle opposing the increase. After the Governors statement,
Sen. Republicans did not what to put up a battle they would
lose and allowed the bill, H.B. 6228, AN ACT INCREASING THE
MINIMUM WAGE, to pass the Senate on consent.
The increase in the minimum wage will go from its current
$7.10 to $7.40 on January 1, 2006 and to $7.65 on January 1st
2007
CRMA continues to work closely on S.B. 650, AN ACT REQUIRING
CONSUMER CREDIT BUREAUS TO OFFER SECURITY FREEZES, to ensure
that our members are protected. This bill would allow for any
consumer to freeze his/her credit file.
We are concerned that legislators are not considering the
unintended consequences that this bill has, and have been
working closely with Rep. Chris Stone (D-East Hartford), the
House Chair of the General Law committee, on making changes to
this bill.
We should have more to report next week.
Finally, we expect next week that the State Senate will take
action on, S.B. 652, AN ACT REGARDING THE RETURN POLICY OF
RETAIL STORES.
This bill requires that retailers make changes to their
return policy in terms of notification and signage to
consumers. Simply put, the proponents of this bill want
retailers to curb the use of software that allows them to
monitor consumer returns.
We have been working with the proponents of the bill and
feel confident that when the bill is acted on next week by the
State Senate, it will be much more workable for retailers.
We once again encourage all members to join the CRMA
Legislative Committee to review these bills and any other
issues that are before the General Assembly. Call our office
today, 860-527-1044, and we will give you the necessary
information to join the call.
Our regular Legislative Committee conference call is
scheduled for Thursday May 19, 2005 at 9:30 A.M. EST. All
members are encouraged to join the call.
CRMA / ICSC Legislative Reception, May 18th at the State
Capitol
Our Annual Legislative Reception will be held on Wednesday
May 18, 2005 at the State Capitol Building in the Old
Judiciary Room from 5:00-7:00 PM.
This event helps our legislative efforts at the Capitol and
we urge all of our members to attend. This is great
opportunity for you to meet your legislators in a casual
setting and talk about the issues that are important to you.
The event is free of charge. Please make every effort to
join us on Wednesday. Call or email Cathy in our office to
RSVP, 860-527-1044, cathy@crmaonline.com
CRMA Golf Classic Update
With our Annual Golf Classic just one month away we would
like to urge all of our members to attend or participate.
It will be held on Tuesday, June 14, 2005 at Blackledge
Country Club in Hebron. If you have not registered for the
event and would like to, there is still time!
If you cannot play, consider purchasing a tee sign or
donating a raffle prize.
Please call or email Cathy in our office for more
information or to register at 860-527-1044 or
cathy@crmaonline.com.
Retail News & Notes
Retail distribution center planned for Waterbury WATERBURY,
Conn. -- City officials are expecting some 200 new jobs for
Waterbury after word that a vacant building is being leased by
an affiliate of a Massachusetts-based retailer for use as a
distribution center. A company formed by The TJX Companies
Inc., which operates retailers T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, Bob's
Stores and others, will lease the 200,000-square-foot building
on Progress Lane... May 11, 2005 Associated Press http://www.courant.com/news/local/statewire/hc-11075702.apds.m0218.bc-ct--watemay11,0,5712968.story
Approval given for store in Orange ORANGE, Conn. -- After
nearly nine years, Orange officials have approved a plan by
Stew Leonard's to build a massive dairy store. The Planning
and Zoning Commission on Thursday approved a zone change and a
site plan for the project, the latest planned by company that
touts itself as the "World's Largest Dairy Store." May 13,
2005 Associated Press http://www.courant.com/news/local/statewire/hc-13081356.apds.m0491.bc-ct--stewmay13,0,1635960.story
Soft Patch Wasn't All That Soft Widespread Sales Increases
Reported WASHINGTON -- Retail sales jumped 1.4 percent in
April, the strongest showing in six months, as consumers
streamed back into auto showrooms and shopping malls in what
was viewed as a signal that this year's economic slowdown was
short-lived. The Commerce Department said Thursday the
increase in sales showed widespread strength across a number
of retail categories and followed a weak 0.4 percent advance
in March. May 13, 2005 By Martin Crutsinger, Associated Press
http://www.courant.com/business/hc-econ0513.artmay13,0,1327928.story?coll=hc-headlines-business
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