Bill Text: CA SB355 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Economy hotels: police calls.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-02-01 - Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56. [SB355 Detail]

Download: California-2009-SB355-Amended.html

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BILL NUMBER: SB 355	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  APRIL 16, 2009

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Romero

                        FEBRUARY 25, 2009

   An act to add Chapter 35 (commencing with Section 22949) to
Division 8 of the Business and Professions Code, relating to economy
hotels.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 355, as amended, Romero. Economy hotels: police calls.
   Existing law provides for special business regulations for certain
businesses.
   This bill would make legislative findings regarding the rate of
crime at economy hotels. The bill would require any person operating
one or more economy hotels in California to post, on the Internet Web
site operated by that person for the purpose of taking reservations
for the hotel, the total number of calls for police service and the
ratio of calls for police service per guest room during the most
recent calendar year. The bill would  also  require
that the information be posted at the front desk of each economy
hotel in a conspicuous location for public inspection.  The bill
would also require an online travel company, as defined, doing
business in California to obtain that   information from an
economy hotel in California and to post the information on its
Internet Web site listing for the economy hotel. 
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
   (a) As a group, economy hotels and motels attract crime at a rate
higher than other hotels and motels.
   (b) Management practices play a key role in limiting crime and the
need for police attention at properties.
   (c) The number of calls for police service per number of guest
rooms provides a standardized tool for evaluating problem levels
across motels of different sizes and for comparison within markets.
   (d) Consumers have a right to know the comparative risk of crime
when they make room reservations.
   (e) By requiring economy hotels and motels to post the rate of
police emergency calls, guests will have access to information that
indicates the level of police attention required at the property.
This will help the traveling public evaluate the relative safety of
economy hotels and motels. Such a system will provide an economic
incentive for economy hotel and motel operators to adhere to the best
practices possible to deter crime and nuisance at their properties.
  SEC. 2.  Chapter 35 (commencing with Section 22949) is added to
Division 8 of the Business and Professions Code, to read:
      CHAPTER 35.  ECONOMY HOTELS


   22949.  (a) Any person operating one or more economy hotels in
California shall post, on the Internet Web site operated by that
person for the purpose of taking reservations for the hotel, all of
the following information for each economy hotel:
   (1) The total number of calls for police service during the most
recent calendar year.
   (2) The ratio of calls for police service per guest room during
the most recent calendar year.
   (b) The information required by subdivision (a) shall be posted on
the same page of the Internet Web site with information describing
the amenities of the hotel or motel under the title "Calls for Police
Service for the Previous Calendar Year" and "Calls for Police
Service per Room for the Previous Calendar Year."
   (c) The information required by subdivision (a) shall also be
posted at the front desk of each economy hotel in a conspicuous
location for public inspection. 
   (d) An online travel company shall obtain the information
specified in subdivision (a) from an operator of an economy hotel in
California and post the information on its Internet Web site listing
for the economy hotel in accordance with subdivision (b). 

   (d) 
    (e)  For the purposes of this section, the following
definitions apply:
   (1) "Average daily rate" means the average rental income per
occupied room over the previous calendar year. Average daily rate
shall be calculated by dividing the room revenue by the number of
rooms sold.
   (2) "Calls for police service" means the number of
citizen-initiated 911 or officer-initiated service calls for police
services, as recorded in daily logs by local law enforcement
agencies.
   (3) "Economy hotel" means any hotel, motel, or other transient
lodging facility with 10 or more guestrooms, for which the average
daily rate during the most recent calendar year is less than one
hundred dollars($100).
   (4) "Guest room" means the portion of an economy hotel that may be
used by a guest as a temporary residence, including single rooms and
suites. 
   (5) "Online travel company" means an entity doing business in
California that allows consumers to make reservations over the
Internet for an economy hotel in California.  
   (5) 
    (6)   "Person" means an individual, corporation,
partnership, limited partnership, limited liability partnership,
limited liability company, business trust, estate, trust,
association, joint venture, agency, instrumentality, or any other
legal or commercial entity, whether domestic or foreign.