For the purposes of this chapter, the term:
(1) “Natural disaster” means the actual or imminent consequence of any disaster, catastrophe, or emergency, including fire, other than a fire caused by human error or arson, flood, earthquake, storm, or other serious act of nature, which threatens the health, safety, or welfare of persons or causes damage to property in the District of Columbia.
(2) “Normal average retail price” means:
(A) In the case of services, not more than 10% more than the price at which similar services were sold or offered in the Washington Metropolitan Area during the 90-day period that preceded an emergency that resulted from a natural disaster, if an emergency is declared pursuant to § 28-4102(b); or
(B) In the case of merchandise, the price equal to the wholesale cost plus a retail mark-up that is the same percentage over wholesale cost as the retail mark-up for similar merchandise sold in the Washington Metropolitan Area during the 90-day period that immediately preceded an emergency that resulted from a natural disaster, if an emergency has been declared pursuant to § 28-4102(b).
(3) “Person” means a corporation, firm, agency, company, association, organization, partnership, society, joint stock company, or an individual.
CREDIT(S)
(Mar. 20, 1992, D.C. Law 9-80, § 2, 39 DCR 675; Feb. 5, 1994, D.C. Law 10-68, § 27(g), 40 DCR 6311; May 16, 1995, D.C. Law 10-255, § 23, 41 DCR 5193.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Prior Codifications
1981 Ed., § 28-4101.
Legislative History of Laws
Law 9-80, the “Natural Disaster Consumer Protection Act of 1992,” was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 9-78, which was referred to the Committee on Consumer and Regulatory Affairs. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on December 3, 1991, and January 7, 1992, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on January 28, 1992, it was assigned Act No. 9-137 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review. D.C. Law 9-80 became effective on March 20, 1992.
Law 10-68, the “Technical Amendments Act of 1993,” was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 10-166, which was referred to the Committee of the Whole. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on June 29, 1993, and July 13, 1993, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on August 23, 1993, it was assigned Act No. 10-107 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review. D.C. Law 10-68 became effective on February 5, 1994.
Law 10-255, the “Technical Amendments Act of 1994,” was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 10-673, which was referred to the Committee of the Whole. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on June 21, 1994, and July 5, 1994, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on July 25, 1994, it was assigned Act No. 10-302 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review. D.C. Law 10-255 became effective May 16, 1995.