HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1674        FILED ON: 1/17/2013

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1289

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Geoff Diehl

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to functions and function facilities.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Geoff Diehl

7th Plymouth

1/17/2013


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1674        FILED ON: 1/17/2013

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1289

By Mr. Diehl of Whitman, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1289) of Geoff Diehl relative to the cancellation of function facility contracts involving facilities undergoing changes in ownership or management.  The Judiciary.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 3285 OF 2011-2012.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the Year Two Thousand Thirteen

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An Act relative to functions and function facilities.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1.  Chapter 93 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-

Section 115.  Every contract for a hall or room rental for an event shall provide clearly and conspicuously in writing that such contract may be cancelled, at the option of the consumer or lessee, within 30 days after the date of receipt by said consumer or lessee of notice from the owner or manager of the facility that there will be a change in ownership or management of said facility.  The owner or manager of the facility shall, upon receipt of information that the ownership of the facility is changing, immediately notify in writing by first class mail, all consumers or lessees, of such change and their option to cancel. The consumer or lessee shall have 30 days from the date of receipt of said notice to cancel the scheduled event at the facility without penalty.  Any deposit or monies paid pursuant to the contract by the consumer or lessee to the facility shall be refunded within 15 business days of receipt of such notice of cancellation, and the contract for the hall or room rental for an event shall be void upon cancellation.

Any violation of this section shall be punishable by a fine of $50 per day.