'Terry's Law' makes it through state Legislature

Proposed law comes after man with dementia sold $8K worth of beauty products

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Senate Bill 726, also known as "Terry's Law," is making its way through the state Legislature.

The bill, which was filed By Sen. Jeremy Ring on Feb. 5 and introduced on March 3, was drafted following a Local 10 News Investigation last November.

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Friends said 67-year-old Terry Owens was lured into a beauty store and sold $8,000 worth of beauty products, including 24-karat gold facial serum.

Owens suffers from advanced stages of dementia and friends said he's not capable of making rational decisions.

The owner of Luxury Beauty, near the Galt Ocean Mile, refused to return Owen's money and take back the products until Local 10's Jeff Weinsier got involved.

Ring saw the Local 10 News story and drafted legislation.

"There is clearly something lacking in the law," Ring said.

The proposed law would require retail sales establishments that sell goods to the public to grant a refund if returned by a consumer who has been adjudicated incapacitated, or if they have documentation from a physician of a certain medical condition. The merchandise purchased would have to total $1,000 or more.

The bill is currently in committee.

An identical version, House Bill 0793, was also filed in the House of Representatives by Rep. Richard Stark.

If passed, the law would become effective July 1.

Follow Jeff Weinsier on Twitter @jweinsier

Follow Local 10 News on Twitter @WPLGLocal10