HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4454

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, February 26, 2020.

The committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure, to whom were referred the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 273) of Bradley H. Jones, Jr., and others relative to membership fees at health clubs for certain physically or medically disabled persons, and the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 280) of Jack Patrick Lewis and Maria Duaime Robinson relative to requiring health clubs to display their membership fees, reports recommending that the accompanying bill (House, No. 4454) ought to pass.

For the committee,

TACKEY CHAN.

        FILED ON: 2/4/2020

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4454

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)

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An Act relative to health clubs membership fees.

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, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding after section 78A the following new section:

Section 78B. A health club shall be required to have their membership categories clearly posted for consumers to view.  Such posting shall contain the cost per category.  Such categories shall include senior citizen discounts, public employee discounts, second member of a family discount, new member fees, and any other membership fee category that the Health Club offers to consumers.

SECTION 2. Section 80 of said chapter 93 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting at the end thereof the following new paragraphs:-

If a buyer becomes physically or medically disabled for a period in excess of 3 months during the membership term, they shall have the option to be relieved of liability for payment on that portion of the contract term for which the buyer is disabled, or to extend the duration of the contract at no additional cost for a period equal to the duration of the disability.

No contract shall impose any type of fee for a period of 3 months if the buyer becomes physically and medically disabled and the disability is verified by a licensed physician.