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Gift cards are useful. They are easy to use and eliminate the guesswork of finding the perfect present. But they often stay forgotten in wallets or are thrown away with dollars still left on them.

There is already a partial solution to that issue in Massachusetts. A state law already allows consumers to ask for money when they have used up to 90 percent of the amount on the card.

Now the Legislature is taking another consumer-friendly step. They may soon have the choice to cash money from refillable cards, when they have $5 or less left.

"The consumer is well served by being able to cash this amount," said state Rep. Betty Poirier, R-North Attleboro, who supports the bill. "This legislation is a good idea."

Filed by Sen. Michael Morrissey, D-Quincy, the bill updates current gift cards' legislation by clarifying the status of the cards with this new provision. Businesses would have to specify in writing all the hidden costs, such as fees for activation, cancellation, etc., and consumers' rights. Businesses that fail to provide the information would face a $300 penalty if the bill is passed.

But for consumers, the more important aspect might be the ability to retrieve the small amounts of cash left on the cards.

Under the bill, people would be able to ask for money back when they have $5 or less left on rechargeable cards, like those issued by Dunkin' Donuts, or getting $5 in cash after buying a $45 pair of shoes with a $50 gift card.

"If you have a gift card for $100, and you use $95, the amount left is not that important so you may never use it," Poirier said. "It happens to a lot of people."

Massachusetts would be the fourth state to pass such legislation.

Although the issue is not a major one for consumers, local lawmakers have taken note.

"In two years, I had a couple of people complaining about it," said Rep. Richard Ross, R-Wrentham, another supporter of the bill. "They were worried about not being able to get full value for their cards."

Janet Domenitz, director of the consumer advocate organization MassPirg, said although she has not received many complaints, the issue of leftover cash on gift cards is enough of a problem to pass legislation.

"We are satisfied with it," she said. "But given the tremendous boon that gift cards are for businesses, we would prefer $10."

"Vendors are doing very well (off the gift cards), and the consumers are not," Domenitz said. Domenitz said the legislation won't affect one key fact. She said consumers' advocates estimate that 40 percent to 50 percent of gift cards are never redeemed.

According to their own reports, big retailers are making money from unredeemed cards. During fiscal 2007, Borders made $151 million from the gift cards; Home Depot, $43 million; and Best Buy, $46 million.

Alex, a manager at the Borders on Route 1 in North Attleboro who declined to give his last name, said that the new legislation would not have an impact.

"There is no problem, we do everything to please the client," he said. "We don't have a lot of people asking for cash back."

Borders Corporate office could not be reached for comment.