II 109th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 2436 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 16 (legislative day, March 15), 2006 Mr. Nelson of Florida (for himself and Mr. Menendez) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation A BILL To establish an Office of Consumer Advocacy and Outreach within the Federal Trade Commission to protect consumers from certain unfair or deceptive acts or practices, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Federal Trade Commission Consumer Advocacy Act.

2.

Establishment of the Office of Consumer Advocacy and Outreach

There is established within the Federal Trade Commission an Office of Consumer Advocacy and Outreach.

3.

Purpose of the Office of Consumer Advocacy and Outreach

The purpose of the Office of Consumer Advocacy and Outreach is to protect minority consumers, disabled consumers, and other targeted consumers from unfair or deceptive acts or practices that violate section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 45).

4.

Responsibilities of the Office of Consumer Advocacy and Outreach

The head of the Office of Consumer Advocacy and Outreach shall— (1)assist law enforcement personnel in— (A)investigating unfair or deceptive acts or practices that violate section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 45) and that affect minority, disabled, or other targeted consumers; and (B)increasing the amount of information available about such acts or practices through the Consumer Sentinel database system or an equivalent database system; (2)provide consumers, including minority, disabled, or other targeted consumers, information regarding detecting unfair or deceptive acts or practices; (3)administer a program that permits individuals to anonymously report information regarding an unfair or deceptive act or practice that affects minority, disabled, or other targeted consumers; (4)carry out a program to provide a monetary reward to an individual who reports an unfair or deceptive act or practice that affects minority, disabled, or other targeted consumers if such report results in the Federal Trade Commission obtaining a civil penalty from a person liable for such act or practice; and (5)carry out a public awareness campaign in Spanish to inform Spanish-speaking consumers about the services provided by the Office and the award program described in paragraph (4).