This bill requires that an individual or entity that organizes, hosts, sponsors, or promotes a public school athletic event and that is responsible for choosing the forms of payment that are accepted for admission to and the purchase of concessions or other items sold at the public school athletic event ("organizer") must, as payment for admission to or for purchase of concessions or other items at the event:
(1) Accept cash as a form of payment; and
(2) Not charge a cash price that exceeds the prices to purchase the same item if payment is made by credit or debit card.
PENALTIES
A violation of this provision constitutes an unfair or deceptive act or practice affecting trade or commerce and a violation of the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act of 1977 (the "act") and is subject to that act's penalties and remedies, in addition to any other penalties and remedies available under Tennessee law. If the attorney general and reporter reasonably believes that any person has violated this provision, then this bill authorizes the attorney general and reporter to initiate a proceeding under the act.
ON MARCH 18, 2024, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 1998, AS AMENDED.
AMENDMENT #1 rewrites the bill to, instead, prohibit an LEA or public charter school governing body from participating in a public school athletic activity that is hosted by an organizer who does not allow students of a public school that is participating in the public school athletic activity to purchase tickets for admission to the public school athletic activity with cash, either in advance of the public school athletic event or at the site of the public school athletic event, or both.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 47-18-104(b), 47-18-104