Small Business Motor Fuel Marketer Preservation Act of 1980
Latest action. Reported to House from the Committee on Small Business with amendent, H. Rept. 96-1238 (Part I).
(Reported to House from the Committee on Small Business with amendment, H. Rept. 96-1238 (Part I)) Small Business Motor Fuel Marketer Preservation Act of 1980 - Amends the Small Business Act to authorize the Small Business Administration (SBA) to make loans to small businesses acquiring gas stations from a refiner, including the acquisition of land. Makes it unlawful for a refiner, other than an independent or small refiner, to operate a gas station in the United States. Requires a refiner, in disposing of any interest in such a station, to offer a right of first refusal to the dealer at such station. Sets forth the requirements for such an offer, including an independent appraisal (whose cost shall be divided equally between the refiner and the dealer) in the event the two parties cannot reach an agreed upon price. Requires the SBA to prescribe the manner and procedure for such appraisal. Makes it unlawful for a refiner to: (1) exceed specified annual sales limitations; and (2) sell motor fuel at any time at any point of transfer at different prices (except for price differentials which reflect manufacturing, sale, or delivery differences). Stipulates that a refiner shall: (1) be in violation of this Act if such refiner withholds available motor fuel from a purchaser and then resells such fuel at a lower price to refiner-operated stations; and (2) not be prevented from charging a uniform surcharge in connection with a sale of motor fuel as consideration for the purchaser's use of a refiner's trademark or other such identifying symbol. Makes it unlawful for any person to interfere in any way with the purchasing, selling, or storing or motor fuel by a dealer. Permits contracts requiring a dealer to purchase motor fuel exclusively from a particular dealer or supplier if such contract assures the dealer the right to purchase fuel elsewhere if the refiner does not have such fuel readily available. Makes it unlawful for any dealer at a station displaying a trademark or identifying symbol of a particular refiner to sell motor fuel not refined by such refiner without providing notice to purchasers. Requires each refiner within 90 days of enactment and annually thereafter to provide to the Federal Trade Commission information regarding the number of: (1) gallons of motor fuel sold at its U.S. stations during the preceding year; (2) gallons of motor fuel manufactured in the United States during the preceding year; and (3) gallons of crude oil produced and refined during the preceding year. Requires such information to be provided for fiscal year 1978. Prohibits the Commission from requiring any refiner to provide it with information that can be obtained from other Government agencies or departments. Defines specified terms for purposes of this Act. Permits civil actions to be brought against a party in violation of the Act in a U.S. district court (regardless of the amount in controversy) located in any judicial district in which such party does business. Requires the Commission to prescribe the required initial regulations within 180 days of enactment of this Act.
Written by analysts at the Congressional Research Service and published on Congress.gov, not by Civibrief. Summarized at the "Reported to House amended, Part I" stage on August 20, 1980. It describes the bill, it is not the legal text.
Where is it in the process, and what happens next?
4 steps remain before this bill could become law.
The record's latest action, on August 20, 1980: Reported to House from the Committee on Small Business with amendent, H. Rept. 96-1238 (Part I).
- Clearing the committees it was referred to, and being scheduled for a floor vote
- Passage by the House
- Passage by the Senate
- The President's signature. If the President vetoes it, two-thirds of both chambers must vote to override.
How likely is it to become law?
Civibrief does not forecast outcomes and this page has no opinion about this one. What the record supports is a base rate, which is a fact about the whole pile, not a prediction about this measure.
In the 96th Congress (1979-80), 613 of the 12,581 bills and joint resolutions introduced became law, about 4.9 percent. That count covers every measure at every stage, including the many that never left committee.
This one is not there yet: 4 steps are still outstanding, listed above.
Has anyone actually voted on it?
No. No roll call in this Congress cites this measure. That is the ordinary outcome: most measures never reach a recorded floor vote, and a committee ends most of them simply by not acting.
A vote is not the only thing that happens to a measure. Hearings, markups, and referrals are all recorded actions, and none of them is a vote of the full chamber.
Who is behind it?
BERKLEY BEDELL (D-IA) introduced it on March 6, 1980, and 77 members have since signed on as cosponsors.
Cosponsoring is a formal signature on the text. It is not a commitment to vote for the measure, it does not bind anyone's party, and a long list of cosponsors is a measure of attention rather than of prospects.
How long has it been in play?
It was introduced on March 6, 1980, 16989 days ago. The most recent recorded action was 16822 days ago, on August 20, 1980.
Measures do not carry over. Anything the 96th Congress has not finished by January 3, 1981 dies when the term ends, and has to be introduced again from the start in the next Congress.
Every answer above is assembled from this measure's own record on Congress.gov and from published counts of what Congress has passed before. Civibrief does not predict outcomes and takes no position on any measure.
Vote history
- HouseIn committee, no floor vote yet
- SenateAwaits House passage
- PresidentAwaits both chambers