(1)  There is created an expendable special revenue fund known as the “Consumer Protection Education and Training Fund.”

Terms Used In Utah Code 13-2-8

  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Fiscal year: The fiscal year is the accounting period for the government. For the federal government, this begins on October 1 and ends on September 30. The fiscal year is designated by the calendar year in which it ends; for example, fiscal year 2006 begins on October 1, 2005 and ends on September 30, 2006.
  • Litigation: A case, controversy, or lawsuit. Participants (plaintiffs and defendants) in lawsuits are called litigants.
  • Restitution: The court-ordered payment of money by the defendant to the victim for damages caused by the criminal action.
(2) 

(a)  Unless otherwise provided by a chapter listed in Section 13-2-1, all money not distributed as consumer restitution that is received by the division from administrative fines and settlements, from criminal restitution, or from civil damages, forfeitures, penalties, and settlements when the division receives the money on its own behalf and not in a representative capacity, shall be deposited into the fund.

(b)  Any portion of the fund may be maintained in an interest-bearing account.

(c)  All interest earned on fund money shall be deposited into the fund.

(3)  Notwithstanding Title 63J, Chapter 1, Budgetary Procedures Act, the division may use the fund with the approval of the executive director of the Department of Commerce in a manner consistent with the duties of the division under this chapter for:

(a)  consumer protection education for members of the public;

(b)  equipment for and training of division personnel;

(c)  publication of consumer protection brochures, laws, policy statements, or other material relevant to the division’s enforcement efforts; and

(d)  investigation and litigation undertaken by the division.

(4)  If the balance in the fund exceeds $1,000,000 at the close of any fiscal year, the excess shall be transferred to the General Fund.

Amended by Chapter 375, 2023 General Session