Amendment #466 to H5150

Transferable Ticketing System

Mr. Moran of Boston moves to amend the bill by inserting the following new sections:

SECTION XXX. Section 185A of Chapter 140 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting at the end thereof the following:-

As used in this chapter, the following words shall have the following meaning:

“Non-Transferable Ticketing System” means restricting, though contractual or technological means, a ticket purchaser’s ability to freely use, give away, or resell the tickets they have purchased.

“Ticket issuer” means any person that makes tickets available, directly or indirectly, to an entertainment event, and may include the operator of a venue; the sponsor or promoter of an entertainment event; a sports team participating in an entertainment event or a league whose teams are participating in an entertainment event; a theatre company, musical group or similar participant in an entertainment event; or an agent of any such person.

“Ticket Platform” means a marketplace that enables consumers to purchase and sell tickets.

SECTION XXX. Section 185D of said chapter 140, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting at the end thereof the following:-

Notwithstanding any contrary terms or conditions, a) a ticket issuer may employ a non-transferable ticketing system only if the consumer is offered an option at the time of initial sale to purchase the same ticket in a transferable form that allows tickets to be given away or resold independent of and without requiring the consumer to log into the ticket issuer’s preferred ticket platform, without penalty or discrimination, and b) a ticket buyer or seller shall not be penalized, discriminated against, or denied access to an event solely on the grounds that, or the ticket platform through which, the ticket or tickets were resold.

SECTION XXX. Said chapter 140, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding after section 185H following new section:-

Section 185I. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, a ticket issuer or venue operator may:

a)Maintain and enforce policies with respect to conduct, behavior, or age at the venue or entertainment event;

b)Establish limits on the quantity of tickets that may be purchased;

c)Elect not to offer tickets in a transferable form if those tickets are sold or given to individuals or groups as part of a private event, or a targeted promotion at a discounted price offered because of the individuals or groups status or affiliation, including, but not limited to groups or individuals characterized by a disability, membership in a religions or civic organization, or economic hardship.Tickets issued through a non-transferable ticketing system pursuant to the exemption in this subsection shall not be offered promotionally to the general public and must be clearly marked as a ticket restricted to the specified individual or group.

Additional co-sponsor(s) added to Amendment #466 to H5150

Transferable Ticketing System