Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability
Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability

General Revenue Savings Possible in Consumer Protection Program

Report 01-51, November 2001




Report Summary

The Consumer Protection Program is beneficial to the state and should be continued. However, the Legislature and the department could reduce the need for general revenue and trust funds by $4.8 million and improve program efficiency by

  • increasing regulatory fees to levels that fully support program costs;
  • allowing program inspectors to work four-day workweeks to reduce travel costs, implementing risk-based inspection methods for fair rides and weights and measures inspections to improve efficiency, and enacting rider misbehavior provisions to reduce fair ride accidents;
  • privatizing the operation of the consumer services telephone call center and fair ride inspections;
  • consolidating administration of the Lemon Law within the Department of Legal Affairs; and
  • monitoring whether the program's regulation of small industries continues to provide a public benefit and considering eliminating regulation when a public benefit is no longer demonstrated.


Related Reports
  1. Further Actions Need to Be Taken to Improve the State's Consumer Complaint System
    Report 08-33 May 2008
  2. Florida's System for Handling Consumer Complaints Could Be Improved
    Report 06-51 June 2006
  3. Progress Report: Consumer Protection Program Increases Some Fees; Some Revenue and Efficiency Opportunities Remain
    Report 04-29 March 2004
  4. New Security Rules Have Minimal Cost Impact on Aerial Application Industry
    Report 02-64 December 2002
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
agriculture, privatization, lemon law, consumer protection, fees, fair rides, pesticides, weights and measures, inspections, motor vehicles repair shops