The bill stipulates that a person can only resell a ticket at a price exceeding the face value under certain conditions, including venue prohibition and tax compliance. It also prohibits the resale of speculative tickets and mandates that ticket sellers must provide essential information to purchasers, including price breakdowns and cancellation policies. These changes are designed to create a more transparent ticket market and protect consumers from potential exploitation during resale transactions.
Summary
Senate Bill 894, titled 'Revise Law on Sale & Resale of Tickets', aims to update and clarify the laws governing the sale, resale, and offer for sale or resale of admission tickets in North Carolina. The bill establishes new guidelines for how tickets can be sold over the internet, specifically addressing resale prices and venue authority to prohibit resale at higher prices. A key feature of the bill is that it aims to enhance consumer protection by ensuring that clear disclosures about ticket pricing are made during the resale process.
Sentiment
The sentiment surrounding S894 appears mixed. Proponents argue that the bill creates necessary consumer protections and helps standardize ticket resale, leading to a fairer marketplace. However, critics raise concerns about the limitations placed on resale practices and the possible adverse effects this may have on fans and independent resellers. Overall, the discussions highlight a tension between consumer protection and the freedom to conduct transactions as market dynamics dictate.
Contention
Notable points of contention in the discussions revolve around the authority given to venues to control ticket resale practices and the restrictions placed on ticket resellers. Some stakeholders worry that the bill might empower venues excessively, potentially limiting ticket access for consumers. Conversely, others argue that without these regulations, there could be rampant ticket scalping and deceptive practices that harm the consumer experience. The anticipated effective dates for various provisions (2024) also indicate a phased approach to implementing these regulations, allowing time for adjustment among stakeholders.
Enacts into law components of legislation that relate to live event ticket sales; establishes an annual professional reseller renewal fee; requires professional ticket resellers to provide their New York state ticket reseller license number as a condition of utilizing an online resale marketplace to resell tickets (Part A); provides criteria for when a purchaser may obtain a full refund of the amount paid for a ticket (Part B); relates to resale requirements for tickets; requires that if a licensee or other ticket reseller doesn't have possession of the ticket, then they shall have a written contract to obtain the offered ticket at a certain price from a person or entity in possession of the ticket or from a person or entity who has a contractual right to obtain such ticket, and tickets to the event have been placed on sale by the venue or entity hosting the event or its authorized agent before the licensee or reseller can advertise the sale of the tickets (Part C); relates to unlawful charges in connection with tickets; permits reasonable charges for costs actually rendered or otherwise in connection to customer support, technological and software infrastructure, and actual operational costs for sales away from the box office; defines terms (Part D); relates to the availability of tickets for sale to the general public; defines a term (Part E); relates to paperless ticketing systems options (Part F); extends the effectiveness of certain provisions relating to tickets to places of entertainment (Part G).
Enacts into law components of legislation that relate to live event ticket sales; establishes an annual professional reseller renewal fee; requires professional ticket resellers to provide their New York state ticket reseller license number as a condition of utilizing an online resale marketplace to resell tickets (Part A); provides criteria for when a purchaser may obtain a full refund of the amount paid for a ticket (Part B); relates to resale requirements for tickets; requires that if a licensee or other ticket reseller doesn't have possession of the ticket, then they shall have a written contract to obtain the offered ticket at a certain price from a person or entity in possession of the ticket or from a person or entity who has a contractual right to obtain such ticket, and tickets to the event have been placed on sale by the venue or entity hosting the event or its authorized agent before the licensee or reseller can advertise the sale of the tickets (Part C); relates to unlawful charges in connection with tickets; permits reasonable charges for costs actually rendered or otherwise in connection to customer support, technological and software infrastructure, and actual operational costs for sales away from the box office; defines terms (Part D); relates to the availability of tickets for sale to the general public; defines a term (Part E); relates to the resale of tickets included in a subscription or season ticket package (Part F); extends the effectiveness of certain provisions relating to tickets to places of entertainment (Part G).
Relating to the authority of a state agency or the state's air quality state implementation plan to impose certain restrictions with respect to a motor vehicle, including a motor vehicle powered by an engine.
Relating to prohibiting governmental discriminatory practices as well as submissions and trainings that could lead to discriminatory treatment of individuals because of personal identity characteristics including an individual's race, color, ethnicity, sex, national origin or religion and the establishment of remedies and penalties for discriminatory treatment.