Consumer Protection in Event Ticket Sales

The bill amends consumer protection laws regarding ticket sales and resales for events. The bill requires operators and resellers to guarantee refunds to purchasers of tickets under certain circumstances. The bill prohibits an operator from denying an individual access to an event because the individual's ticket was bought through a reseller. The bill clarifies that an operator may revoke or restrict tickets for reasons relating to a violation of venue policies, for safety of patrons, or to address fraud or misconduct.

The bill also expands the actions that constitute a deceptive trade practice during the sale or resale of tickets. A person engages in a The bill establishes that it is a deceptive trade practice when, in the course of the a person's business, vocation, or occupation, the person:

• Displays trademarked, copyrighted, or substantially similar web designs, URLs, or other images and symbols with the intent to mislead a purchaser;
• Sells a ticket to an event without disclosing the total cost of the ticket, including the cost of any service charge or other fees that must be paid, or displays service charges and fees less prominently than the total price of the ticket; or
• Increases the price of a ticket once the ticket has been selected for purchase, with the exception of adding delivery fees.

(Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.)

(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)