Section 1 of this bill enacts certain provisions relating to a third-party reservation service platform, which section 1 defines to mean, with certain exceptions, an Internet website, online service or mobile application which offers or arranges for a reservation, appointment or booking for a customer at an establishment and which is owned and operated by a person other than the person who owns the establishment. Section 1 also defines “third-party reservation service platform provider” to mean a person who operates a third-party reservation service platform. Section 1 prohibits a third-party reservation service platform provider from listing, advertising, promoting or selling a reservation, appointment or booking for a customer at any establishment through the third-party reservation service platform of the provider unless the provider has entered into a written agreement with the establishment or a designee of the establishment that expressly authorizes the provider to engage in such activities. Section 1 makes it a deceptive trade practice for a third-party reservation service platform provider to violate that prohibition. Sections 1 and 2 of this bill provide that a person who violates the provisions of section 1 is not subject to any criminal penalty set forth in existing law for engaging in a deceptive trade practice, meaning such a person is subject only to the various civil enforcement measures, including civil penalties, set forth in existing law for engaging in a deceptive trade practice. Section 1 also exempts a document preparation service from the provisions of section 1.

Statutes affected:
Reprint 1: 598.0999
Reprint 2: 598.0999
As Enrolled: 598.0999