Purpose

The bill aims to protect consumers by requiring disclosures for handheld electronic devices used in retail settings that charge for games or other entertainment. It would codify these disclosure requirements into Minnesota law (Minnesota Statutes chapter 325G).

Main Provisions

• Applicability: Applies to retail establishments that offer consumers the use of handheld electronic devices that require payment for games or other entertainment.
• Pre-purchase disclosure: The handheld device must display a disclosure before a game or entertainment is purchased.
• Age affirmation: The disclosure must require the user to affirm that the user is 16 years of age or older.
• Price visibility: The disclosure must display the payment amount required (the price) in at least a ten-point font and in text that is larger than all other text viewable on the screen at that time.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• New statutory requirement: Adds a new set of rules to Minnesota Statutes chapter 325G to govern disclosures for handheld electronic devices in contexts where payment is required for games or entertainment.
• Age verification element: Introduces an explicit age-affirmation requirement (16 years or older) as part of the disclosure.
• Readability and prominence standard: Establishes specific formatting standards (ten-point font, and the price text must be larger than other on-screen text) for price disclosures at the point of purchase.

Practical Implications

• For retailers: Businesses would need to implement or adjust user interfaces on handheld devices to ensure the disclosure appears before purchase, includes the age-affirmation prompt, and shows the price clearly with the required font size and prominence.
• For consumers: Increased transparency about costs and a clearer indication of age suitability before spending money on games or entertainment.

Enforcement and Compliance (Notes)

• The excerpt does not specify penalties or enforcement mechanisms; that detail may appear in the full bill or related statutory provisions.

Related Terminology and Concepts (to keep in mind)

• handheld electronic devices
• disclosures
• consumer protection
• display the payment amount / price
• ten-point font
• larger than all other text
• before a purchase
• affirm age 16 or older
• Minnesota Statutes chapter 325G
• retail establishments
• games and entertainment

Relevant Terms handheld electronic devices disclosures consumer protection payment amount price ten-point font larger than all other text before purchase age affirmation 16 years of age or older Minnesota Statutes chapter 325G retail establishments games entertainment