Bill Text: NJ S2896 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires refunds for payments made to venues for events canceled due to coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and caps additional venue charges at no more than rate of inflation for rescheduled events.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-09-14 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Commerce Committee [S2896 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2020-S2896-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator VIN GOPAL
District 11 (Monmouth)
SYNOPSIS
Requires refunds for payments made to venues for events canceled due to coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and caps additional venue charges at no more than rate of inflation for rescheduled events.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning refunds and additional charges from venues related to events impacted by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, rule or regulation to the contrary, any payments made to a venue for an event shall be refunded to the payer if the event is canceled as a result of:
(1) the public health emergency declared by the Governor in Executive Order 103 of 2020 concerning the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic; or
(2) as a result of actions taken by businesses or individuals due to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic that rendered the occurrence of the event impossible.
b. If an individual requests to reschedule an event at a venue as a result of the public health emergency declared pursuant to Executive Order 103 of 2020, the venue shall not charge additional fees for rescheduling that exceed the rate of inflation. The rate of inflation is to be calculated from the date on which a deposit was given by the payer to the venue to the date on which a request to reschedule is received by the venue.
2. This act shall take effect immediately, be retroactive to March 9, 2020, and expire upon the expiration of Executive Order 103 of 2020, or any extension thereof or any replacement therefor.
STATEMENT
The bill requires venues to refund to a payer any payments made for an event at the venue and subsequently canceled as a result of the public health emergency declared by the Governor in Executive Order 103 of 2020 concerning the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, or as a result of actions taken by businesses or individuals due to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic that rendered the occurrence of the event impossible. Additionally, if an individual requests to reschedule an event at a venue as a result of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, the venue is not to charge additional fees that are greater than the rate of inflation. The rate of inflation is to be calculated from the date on which a deposit was given by the payer to a venue to the date on which a request to reschedule was received by the venue.
