What's happening
This bill requires ticket sellers to display the full price, including all fees except delivery fees, at the start of a sale.
Why it matters
Promotes transparency for consumers. by requiring ticket sellers to show the full price (including all service charges and fees) at the very start of a sale, making it easier to comparison shop and avoid “hidden” fees that appear late in the process.
Reduces the potential for misleading advertising. by ensuring that the price initially displayed matches what the consumer will ultimately pay (except for delivery fees), making pricing practices more honest and reducing “sticker shock.”
Applies to both online and in-person ticket sales. , meaning consumers are protected across different types of transactions, not just digital ones.
Requires delivery fees to be clearly disclosed before the sale is finalized. , preventing last-minute surprises but still allowing flexibility for variable delivery costs.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Show All-In Ticket Prices
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to investigations and government operations
- Committed to rules
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.410
- Referred to investigations and government operations
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3617
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 11, 2019
Introduced by Sen. GAUGHRAN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Investigations and Government Operations
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 is amended by adding a new subdivision 3 to read as follows:
3. 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.
§ 2. Section 25.29 of the arts and cultural affairs law is amended by adding a new subdivision 3 to read as follows:
3. 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. 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.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09406-01-9
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
2017-2018: S.3753 Investigations and Government Operations/ A.5214 Tour- ism, Parks, Arts and Sports Development 2015-16: S.S2615 Investigations and Government Operations/ A.6805 Tour- ism, Parks, Arts and Sports Development 2013-14:S. S.6962-A Rules/ No Same As
Fiscal implications
None to the State.
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.