Researcher: MH Page 1 3/21/24
OLR Bill Analysis
SB 15
AN ACT REQUIRING FEE DISCLOSURES.
SUMMARY
This bill prohibits individuals or legal entities doing business in
Connecticut from advertising, displaying, or offering pricing for certain
items or services unless they disclose the total price in a clear and
obvious way. This applies to (1) event tickets in any form, whether
issued by a primary or secondary (i.e., reselling) ticket platform and (2)
consumer goods or services on food delivery platforms, lodging
platforms, or primary or secondary ticket platforms. Under the bill, the
total price must include all mandatory fees or charges, other than taxes.
A violation of the bill is an unfair or deceptive trade practice (see
BACKGROUND) .
EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2024
DEFINITIONS
Under the bill, a ”consumer good or service” is any good or service
that is purchased, leased, or rented primarily for personal, family, or
household purposes, specifically including the items covered by this bill
(e.g., event tickets). A “consumer” is a state resident and prospective
recipient of these goods or services.
A “food delivery platform” is any digital platform, operated by third-
party delivery services, that facilitates any consumer’s effort to order
any food or beverage online or get it delivered.
A “lodging platform” is any short-term rental platform and digital
platform that facilitates any consumer’s effort to search for and purchase
the right to occupy any hotel or motel room or similar lodging. 2024SB-00015-R000067-BA.DOCX
Researcher: MH Page 2 3/21/24
A “primary ticket platform” is any digital platform that provides or
facilitates event ticket sales to consumers. A “secondary ticket platform”
is any digital platform that provides or facilities event ticket resales to
consumers, including primary ticket platforms that also provide or
facilitate resales.
BACKGROUND
Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act (CUTPA)
The law prohibits businesses from engaging in unfair and deceptive
acts or practices. CUTPA allows the consumer protection commissioner
to issue regulations defining what constitutes an unfair trade practice,
investigate complaints, issue cease and desist orders, order restitution
in cases involving less than $10,000, enter into consent agreements, ask
the attorney general to seek injunctive relief, and accept voluntary
statements of compliance. It also allows individuals to sue. Courts may
issue restraining orders; award actual and punitive damages, costs, and
reasonable attorney’s fees; and impose civil penalties of up to $5,000 for
willful violations and $25,000 for violation of a restraining order.
Entertainment Ticket Charge Disclosures
Generally, existing law requires anyone advertising entertainment
event ticket prices to conspicuously disclose the total price for each
ticket and the amount of that price attributable to service charges
imposed for the sale of the ticket at the event site.
The law also requires anyone who facilitates ticket sales or resales for
an entertainment event to disclose the (1) total ticket price, including all
service charges, and (2) portion of the charged ticket attributable to
service charges. These disclosures must be displayed in the ticket listing
before the ticket is selected for purchase.
Operators who charge an admission price for a place of entertainment
must disclose on each ticket face for an event the (1) established ticket
price and (2) final ticket price if the operator or his or her agent sells or
resells it (CGS § 53-289a).
Related Bills 2024SB-00015-R000067-BA.DOCX
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sSB 3, § 3, favorably reported by the General Law Committee,
generally prohibits businesses that offer to sell, lease, or provide
consumer goods or services from advertising, displaying, or offering the
good or service at a price unless it includes any charges and fees, other
than taxes.
sSB 201, § 1, favorably reported by the General Law Committee,
prohibits anyone from advertising, displaying, or offering any price in
trade or commerce unless the price includes all charges and fees, other
than taxes.
COMMITTEE ACTION
General Law Committee
Joint Favorable
Yea 22 Nay 0 (03/07/2024)