Bill Text: NJ A4344 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Addresses fees charged for tickets for entry to places of entertainment and format in which tickets can be issued to ticket buyer.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-07-02 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Consumer Affairs Committee [A4344 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2020-A4344-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman RONALD S. DANCER
District 12 (Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean)
SYNOPSIS
Addresses fees charged for tickets for entry to places of entertainment and format in which tickets can be issued to ticket buyer.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning tickets to places of entertainment, and amending and supplementing P.L.1983, c.135.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. (New section) a. A primary seller selling tickets for entry to a place of entertainment through means other than a physical box office, including, but not limited to, an Internet website, a mobile website or a mobile application, shall:
(1) provide the option for a ticket buyer to receive a paper ticket; and
(2) notify the ticket buyer of any fees included in the total price of a ticket, including, but not limited to, any service fee, convenience fee, or venue fee.
b. A violation of this section shall be an unlawful practice pursuant to P.L.1960, c.39 (C.56:8-1 et seq.).
c. As used in this section:
"Paper ticket" means a physical ticket issued by a primary seller.
"Primary seller" means an owner or operator of a venue or a sports team, a manager or provider of an event, or a provider of ticketing services, or an agent of such owner, operator, manager, or provider, that engages in the primary sale of tickets for an event or retains the authority to otherwise distribute tickets.
2. Section 8 of P.L.1983, c.135 (C.56:8-33) is amended to read as follows:
8. a. The seller of a ticket shall notify a ticket purchaser of the full purchase price of a ticket, including the base price of the ticket and a list of any fees, including, but not limited to, any service fee, convenience fee, or venue fee, added to the base price, prior to the purchase of that ticket from that ticket seller by that purchaser.
b. No reseller other than a registered ticket broker shall resell or purchase with the intent to resell a ticket for admission to a place of entertainment at a maximum premium in excess of 20% of the ticket price or $3.00, whichever is greater, plus lawful taxes. No registered ticket broker shall resell or purchase with the intent to resell a ticket for admission to a place of entertainment at a premium in excess of 50% of the price paid to acquire the ticket, plus lawful taxes.
c. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection a. or b. of this section, nothing shall limit the price for the resale or purchase of a ticket for admission to a place of entertainment sold by any reseller other than a registered ticket broker, provided such resale or purchase is made through an Internet web site.
(cf: P.L.2018, c.117, s.2)
3. This act shall take effect on the first day of the seventh month next following enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill establishes that primary sellers of tickets to places of entertainment are required to provide the ticket buyer the option to purchase a paper ticket and to notify ticket buyers of any fees added to the total price of a ticket, including, but not limited to, service fees, convenience fees, or venue fees. A violation of the bill's provisions is an unlawful practice under the consumer fraud act. An unlawful practice under the consumer fraud act is punishable by a monetary penalty of not more than $10,000 for a first offense and not more than $20,000 for any subsequent offense. In addition, violations of the bill may result in cease and desist orders issued by the Attorney General, the assessment of punitive damages, and the awarding of treble damages and costs to the injured party.
The bill also amends current law to require the full price of a ticket purchased by a ticket broker, including the base price and fees, including, but not limited to, any service fee, convenience fee, or venue fee that is added to the base price, be disclosed prior to the purchase of a ticket.
