What's happening
This bill requires ticket sellers in New York to disclose the full price, including all fees except delivery, at the start of a ticket sale.
Why it matters
Consumers will have greater price transparency. at the start of the ticket buying process, making it easier to compare prices and avoid surprises from added fees later in the transaction.
Ticket sellers—both online and in-person—will be held to the same disclosure standards. , potentially reducing confusion and deceptive practices across different sales channels.
Only delivery fees are excluded from the initial price disclosure. , but these must still be revealed before a purchase is finalized, reducing the likelihood of hidden costs appearing at the very last moment.
The law empowers the Attorney General to enforce these rules alongside local district attorneys. , potentially increasing the likelihood of compliance and providing more robust consumer protection.
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Show Full Ticket Price
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to investigations and government operations
- Committee discharged and committed to investigations and government operations
- Referred to cultural affairs, tourism, parks and recreation
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Show Full Ticket Price Upfront
In Assembly Committee · Tourism, Parks, Arts And Sports Development · Sponsor Daniel O'Donnell
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3753
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 26, 2017
Introduced by Sen. MARCELLINO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recreation
AN ACT to amend the arts and cultural affairs law, in relation to ticket pricing
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 25.23 of the arts and cultural affairs law, as amended by chapter 106 of the laws of 2005, is amended to read as follows:
§ 25.23. Posting of price lists; information to purchaser. 1. In every principal office or branch office, bureau, agency or sub-agency of any licensee under this article, there shall be conspicuously posted and at all times displayed a price list showing the established price charged by the operator of the place of entertainment for which a ticket is being sold by such licensee, together with the price being charged by such licensee for the resale of such ticket, so that all persons visiting such place may readily see the same. The licensee shall also on request furnish each purchaser of a ticket with a receipt showing the same information. Further, if the licensee conducts business through the use of the internet, the same price list, or hyperlink to the same, shall be conspicuously displayed on the internet page on which tickets are accessed. In addition the licensee shall publish in a conspicuous place, or hyperlink to on the internet a statement clearly detailing the required guarantees required by section 25.07 of this article.
2. The price of admission disclosed at the initiation of a sale (including face-to-face transactions) shall include the entire price to be paid inclusive of all service charges and fees, although such charges and fees included within the entire price may be described separately or through links that display the components of the entire price. Delivery
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09206-01-7
S. 3753 2
fees do not need to be included in the entire price, but must be disclosed prior to completion of a sale.
§ 2. Section 25.29 of the arts and cultural affairs law, as amended by chapter 61 of the laws of 2007, subdivision 1 as amended by chapter 151 of the laws of 2010, is amended to read as follows:
§ 25.29. Unlawful charges in connection with tickets. 1. No operator of any place of entertainment, or his or her agent, representative, employee or licensee shall, if a price be charged for admission thereto, exact, demand, accept or receive, directly or indirectly, any premium or price in excess of the established price plus lawful taxes whether designated as price, gratuity or otherwise; provided, however: (a) nothing in this article shall be construed to prohibit a reasonable service charge by the operator or agents of the operator for special services, including but not limited to, sales away from the box office, credit card sales or delivery; and (b) nothing in this article shall be construed to prohibit an operator or its agent from offering for initial sale tickets by means of an auction.
2. Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision one of this section, the price of admission disclosed at the initiation of a sale (including face-to-face transactions) shall include the entire price to be paid inclusive of all service charges and fees, although such charges and fees included within the entire price may be described separately or through links that display the components of the entire price. Delivery fees do not need to be included in the entire price, but must be disclosed prior to completion of a sale.
3. In any prosecution under this section the attorney general shall have concurrent jurisdiction with any district attorney and in any such prosecution he or she or his or her deputy shall exercise all the powers and perform all the duties which the district attorney would otherwise be authorized to exercise or perform therein.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that:
a. the amendments to section 25.23 of the arts and cultural affairs law made by section one of this act shall not affect the repeal of such section and shall be deemed repealed therewith; and
b. the amendments to section 25.29 of the arts and cultural affairs law made by section two of this act shall not affect the repeal of such section and shall be deemed repealed therewith.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the arts and cultural affairs law, in relation to ticket pricing
Purpose
To require the advertised price for admission to show the full price, including charges and fees.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 amends section 25.23 of the Arts and Cultural Affairs Law by adding that the advertised price for admission shall include the entire price including charges and fees, although charges and fees included within the entire price may be described separately or through links on websites that display the total price.
Section 2 amends section 25.29 subdivision 1 of the Arts and Cultural Affairs Law by adding section 2 stating that the advertised price for admission shall include the entire price to be paid including charges and fees, although charges included within the entire price may be described separately or through links on the websites that display the total price.
Justification
The fees added to ticket sales are rising quickly. They come under a variety of names such as the facility fee, handling fee, processing fee, printing fee, but in the end, consumers are paying up to 25% more per ticket than the stated price.
Ticket sales companies and event venues are entitled to make a profit, but consumers should have full knowledge of the total cost of the ticket they are purchasing up front, not after they have already decided on a seat and have navigated through complicated box offices, phone calls, or website requests.
This bill would just require the posting and advertising of the full price of a ticket, including fees and charges so consumers will know the complete price prior to purchase. This bill in no way restricts a venue or ticket sales company in setting their ticket prices.
Legislative history
2016-16:S. 2615 Investigations and Government Operations/ A. 6805 Tourism, Parks, Arts and Sports Development 2013-14:S. 6962-A Rules/ No Same As
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that: A. The amendments to section 25.23 of the Arts and Cultural Affairs Law made by section one of this act shall not affect the repeal of such section and shall be deemed repealed therewith; and B. The amendments to section 25.29 of the Arts and Cultural Affairs Law made by section two of this act shall not affect the repeal of such section and shall be repealed therewith.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.