Combating Egregious Advertising through Sentencing Enhancement Act or the CEASE Act
This bill prohibits and, increases the penalties for, certain commercial practices during the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) public health emergency.
Specifically, during such time period, it increases the criminal penalties for false advertising (1) for a first offense from not more than six months in prison and a $5,000 fine to not more than one year in prison and a $50,000 fine and (2) for subsequent offenses from not more than one year in prison and a $10,000 fine to not less than one year or not more than five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The bill also increases the civil penalty for unfair methods of competition (e.g., creating monopolies) and unfair or deceptive acts or practices (e.g., misleading price claims or sale of defective products) during such time period from $10,000 to $50,000 for a first offense and $250,000 for subsequent offenses.
Additionally, the bill makes it unlawful to engage in unfair or deceptive commercial practices that relate to the COVID-19 pandemic during such time period.