SENATE LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE

 

STATEMENT TO

 

SENATE, No. 1679

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

DATED: JANUARY 23, 1997

 

      The Senate Law and Public Safety Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 1679.

      This bill repeals the current statutory provision (section 8 of P.L.1983, c.135; C.56:8-33) that establishes maximum premiums that are permitted to be charged by ticket agents when selling or reselling tickets of admission to places of entertainment. This bill also repeals section 1 of P.L.1995, c.169, which established an 18-month period in which the resale price of each ticket subject to the provisions of P.L.1983, c.135 (C.56:8-33) is not limited to the price charged for the ticket and printed on its face.

      The bill provides that any person who is licensed pursuant to P.L.1983, c.135 (C.56:8-26 et seq.) to engage in the business of reselling tickets for admission to places of entertainment must clearly and conspicuously disclose his license number in advertisements to resell tickets.

      It is the committee's understanding that the bill is intended to establish a permanent "free market" for the resale of entertainment tickets. It is also the committee's understanding that the bill is a response to the need to reduce government regulation of entertainment ticket sales and to make these tickets available to consumers in the secondary market at competitive prices.