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A02595 Memo:

NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY
MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION
submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
 
BILL NUMBER: A2595        Revised 2/17/23
 
SPONSOR: Paulin
  TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the arts and cultural affairs law, in relation to requiring ticket distributors to refund the purchase price of tickets within forty-five days after a cancelled or rescheduled event   PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL: To require ticket distributors to refund the full price of a ticket to a purchaser requesting a refund within forty-five days of the originally scheduled date of the performance or the event;   SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS: Section one amends subdivision 1: of section 23.08 of the arts and culture law to require: a ticket distributor refund the full price of a ticket to each ticket purchaser requesting a refund within forty-five days of the originally scheduled date of the performance or the event. Section two provides the effective date.   JUSTIFICATION: When New York State locked down in early March 2020 due to COVID-19, many concerts were cancelled or postponed indefinitely {1}. In New York, ticket distributors such as StubHub and Ticket Master ate obligated to disburse refunds to purchasers {2}. While ticket distributors continued to offer refunds, many customers have still not received their refunds. Many ticket purchasers have been understandably outraged Attorney Gener- al Letitia James has received over100 complaints about delayed or refused refunds {3}. The New York Times estimates that across the nation, over 30,000 events have been disrupted, with consumers paying over $1 billion in tickets for disrupted shows {4} This loophole can be exploited by ticket distributors to indefinitely delay refunds, leaving purchasers without recourse. Some companies have self-imposed policies regarding how long it will take them to refund a. ticket but codifying a timeframe for refunds will stop malfeasance in the future. This bill requires ticket distributors to issue a refund to a ticket purchaser, when requested, within forty-five days after the cancelled event was originally scheduled,   PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: A.6195 of 2021 and 2022, referred to tourism, parks, arts and sports development.   FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: This bill will have no fiscal impact to the State.   EFFECTIVE DATE: This act would take effect immediately. {1} https://www.billboard.aom/articlesibusinessitouring/93236477 /concertscanceled7coronavirus-list/ {2} http://www.4y.senate.g0V/Iegislation/laws/AC08 https://newyork.cbslocal.cdm/2020/08/20/stubhub-ticketmas:ters-corona virus-cancelled-concerts-sporting-events-covid-19/ {4} https//www,nytimes.com/2020/0:4/16/arts/muSicegreentsicketmasterrefunds. html
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