A proposal in the Arizona Senate to stop price gouging was sidelined despite an appeal from the state’s top lawyer.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Jay Tibshraeny, R-Chandler, would have penalized companies that boost the prices of fuel or other commodities during an emergency, such as the one caused this past year by a ruptured fuel pipeline near Tucson.

Tibshraeny decided to pull SB1112 from consideration, saying he would rather wait for recommendations from a panel appointed in the wake of the crisis by Gov. Janet Napolitano, The Arizona Republic reported. The panel’s recommendations are expected by May, too late for legislation this year.

“I think it is important to have a bill that has a chance to get through the Legislature,” said Tibshraeny, who chairs the Senate Government Committee. “This bill was not going to get through the process.”

Attorney General Terry Goddard helped write the measure after receiving more than 1,000 complaints about price gouging when fuel prices in some locations rose above $2 a gallon after the pipeline break. He told the committee March 2 he had no authority to investigate the complaints or to help people affected by the practice.

The bill would have given the attorney general the power to investigate complaints of price gouging. Company owners convicted of the practice could have lost their business licenses for 30 days and faced criminal penalties. The measure would have applied to anything that put residents’ health or public safety at risk, including electricity, natural gas and water concerns.