Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives
in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same,
as follows:
Chapter 140/of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
section 12
the following four sections:-
Section 12A. For the purpose of sections 12B to 12D, inclusive, the word
"hotel"
shall mean a hotel, motel, resort, boarding house, or inn, which is kept, used
or
advertised as, or held out to the public to be, a place where sleeping or
housekeeping accommodations are supplied for pay to guests for transient
occupancy.
Section 12B. An innkeeper may remove or cause to be removed from a hotel a
guest
or other person who: refuses or is unable to pay for accommodations or
services;
while on the premises of the hotel acts in an obviously intoxicated or
disorderly
manner, destroys or threatens to destroy hotel property, or causes or threatens
to cause a disturbance; or violates a rule of the hotel that is clearly and
conspicuously posted at or near the front desk and on the inside of the
entrance door of every guest room. If the guest has paid in advance, the
innkeeper shall tender to the guest any unused portion of the advanced payment
at
the time of removal.
Section 12C. (a) An innkeeper may refuse to admit or refuse service or
accommodation in the hotel to a person who: while on the premises of the hotel
acts in an obviously intoxicated or disorderly manner, destroys or threatens to
destroy hotel property, or causes or threatens to cause a public disturbance;
or
refuses or is unable to pay for the accommodations or services. An innkeeper
may
require the prospective guest to demonstrate an ability to pay. An innkeeper
may
require a parent or guardian of a minor to accept liability for the proper
charges for the minor's accommodation, board, room, or lodging; and any damages
to the guest room or its furniture or furnishings caused by the minor, and
provide a credit card to cover the charges. When the parent or guardian cannot
provide a credit card, the innkeeper may require the parent or guardian to make
an advance cash deposit in an amount not exceeding $100 for payment of any
additional charges by the minor or any damages to the guest room or its
furnishings. The innkeeper shall refund the damage deposit to the extent it is
not used to cover any reasonable charges or damages.
(b) An innkeeper may limit the number of persons who may occupy a particular
guest room in the hotel.
Section 12D. (a) A person who negligently or intentionally causes damage
to the
hotel or any furniture or furnishings within the hotel, shall be liable for
damages
sustained by the innkeeper, including the hotel's loss of revenue resulting
from
the inability to rent or lease rooms while the damage is being repaired.
(b) A person who negligently or intentionally causes injury to any other
person or
damage to any personal property of such other person on the hotel premises
shall be
liable
for
the injury or damage.
(c) A parent or guardian of a minor shall be liable for acts of the minor
described in
subsections (a) and (b), if the parent or guardian provides a credit card or
an
advance cash deposit.
Approved August 4, 2000.