a. It shall be a violation of the act to which this act is a supplement for any franchisor, directly or indirectly, through any officer, agent, or employee, to prohibit any franchisee engaged in the retail sale of motor gasoline from purchasing any suitable alternate motor fuel from whatever authorized source that it is available; to reduce allocations of motor gasoline to any franchisee because of the purchase by the franchisee of an alternate motor fuel; or to prohibit the use of franchisor issued credit cards to purchase a suitable alternate motor fuel; provided that:

(1) The franchisee has shown that reasonable efforts to secure adequate supplies of the alternate motor fuel from the franchisor have failed;

(2) The franchisee continues to meet all other terms and conditions of the franchise agreement;

(3) The franchisee shall adequately inform consumers of the alternate motor fuel of the change in type or trade name with reasonable labeling of pumps dispensing the alternate motor fuel to indicate, where appropriate, that such alternate motor fuel is not manufactured, distributed, or sold by such franchisor.

b. As used in this section, “alternate motor fuel” means diesel fuel or any liquid which is the product of the combination of motor gasoline and any other liquid or gaseous substance which is not derivative of petroleum, and which is used for the purpose of operating a mechanical device powered by internal combustion.

L.1981, c. 127, s. 1, eff. April 27, 1981.