BILL NUMBER: AB 525 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN SENATE JUNE 23, 2015
AMENDED IN SENATE JUNE 15, 2015
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 7, 2015
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 4, 2015
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 6, 2015
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Members Holden, Atkins, Dodd, and Wilk
FEBRUARY 23, 2015
An act to amend Sections 20020, 20021, and 20036 of, to amend the
heading of Article 6 (commencing with Section 20035) of Chapter 5.5
of Division 8 of, to add Sections 20022, 20028, and 20029 to, and to
repeal and add Section 20035 of, the Business and Professions Code,
relating to franchises.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 525, as amended, Holden. Franchise relations: renewal and
termination.
The California Franchise Relations Act sets forth certain
requirements related to the termination, nonrenewal, and transfer of
franchises between a franchisor, subfranchisor, and franchisee, as
those terms are defined.
That act, except as otherwise provided, prohibits a franchisor
from terminating a franchise prior to the expiration of its term,
except for good cause, which includes, but is not limited to, the
failure of the franchisee to comply with any lawful requirement of
the franchise agreement after being given notice and a reasonable
opportunity to cure the failure within 30 days.
This bill would instead limit good cause to the failure of the
franchisee to substantially comply with the franchise agreement after
being given notice at least 60 days in advance and a reasonable
opportunity to cure the failure no less than 60 days from the date of
the notice of noncompliance.
This bill would make it unlawful for a franchise agreement to
prevent a franchisee from selling or transferring a
franchise or a part of an interest of a franchise all
or substantially all of the assets of the franchise business as
defined, or a controlling interest in the franchise business to
another person, provided that the person is qualified under the
franchisor's then-existing and reasonable standards for approval of
new franchisees , as specified . The bill would prohibit a
sale, transfer, or assignment or if a
franchise , or substantially all of the assets or a controlling
interest in the franchise business, without the franchisor's
written consent but would prohibit that consent from being withheld
unless the buyer, transferee, or assignor does not meet standards for
new franchisees.
This bill would require the franchisee, prior to the sale,
assignment, or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of
the franchise business, as defined, or a controlling
interest in the franchise business, to another person, to notify the
franchisor of the franchisee's decision
intent to sell, transfer, or assign the franchise,
franchise or its assets or interest, as specified,
and would require the notice to be in writing and include
specified information. The bill would require the franchisor, within
a specified period, to notify the franchisee of the approval or
disapproval of the sale, assignment, or transfer of the franchise,
and would require the notice to be in writing and be personally
served on the franchisee or sent by certified mail, return
receipt requested. receipted mail. The bill
would deem a proposed sale, assignment, or transfer approved, unless
disapproved by the franchisor, as specified.
The act requires a franchisor that terminates or fails to renew a
franchise, other than in accordance with specified provisions of law,
to offer to repurchase from the franchisee the franchisee's
resalable current inventory, as specified.
This bill would, with certain exceptions, require the franchisor,
upon a lawful termination or nonrenewal of a franchisee, to
compensate the franchisee at the value of price paid minus
depreciation of all inventory, supplies, equipment, fixtures,
and furnishings purchased by the franchisee from the
franchisor, from the franchisor or paid for by the
franchisee, as specified.
This bill would, if a franchisor violates these provisions,
require the finder of fact in awarding damages to reinstate the
franchisee and pay specified damages or at the election of the
franchisee, or if reinstatement is impossible or impracticable,
require the franchisor to pay the franchisee the fair market value of
the franchise and franchise assets and any other damages, as
provided. The bill would provide for injunctive relief in the
event of a violation or threatened violation of these provisions.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 20020 of the Business and Professions Code is
amended to read:
20020. Except as otherwise provided by this chapter, no
franchisor may terminate a franchise prior to the expiration of its
term, except for good cause. Good cause shall be limited to the
failure of the franchisee to substantially comply with the franchise
agreement after being given notice at least 60 days in advance of the
termination and a reasonable opportunity, which in no event shall be
less than 60 days from the date of the notice of noncompliance, to
cure the failure.
SEC. 2. Section 20021 of the Business and Professions Code is
amended to read:
20021. If during the period in which the franchise is in effect,
there occurs any of the following events which is relevant to the
franchise, immediate notice of termination without an opportunity to
cure, shall be deemed reasonable:
(a) The franchisee or the business to which the franchise relates
has been the subject of an order for relief in bankruptcy, judicially
determined to be insolvent, all or a substantial part of the assets
thereof are assigned to or for the benefit of any creditor, or the
franchisee admits his or her inability to pay his or her debts as
they come due;
(b) The franchisee abandons the franchise by failing to operate
the business for five consecutive days during which the franchisee is
required to operate the business under the terms of the franchise,
or any shorter period after which it is not unreasonable under the
facts and circumstances for the franchisor to conclude that the
franchisee does not intend to continue to operate the franchise,
unless such failure to operate is due to fire, flood, earthquake, or
other similar causes beyond the franchisee's control;
(c) The franchisor and franchisee agree in writing to terminate
the franchise;
(d) The franchisee makes any material misrepresentations relating
to the acquisition of the franchise business or the franchisee
engages in conduct which reflects materially and unfavorably upon the
operation and reputation of the franchise business or system;
(e) The franchisee fails, for a period of 10 days after
notification of noncompliance, to comply with any federal, state, or
local law or regulation, including, but not limited to, all health,
safety, building, and labor laws or regulations applicable to the
operation of the franchise;
(f) The franchisee, after curing any failure in accordance with
Section 20020 engages in the same noncompliance whether or not such
noncompliance is corrected after notice;
(g) The franchisee repeatedly fails to comply with one or more
requirements of the franchise, whether or not corrected after notice;
(h) The franchised business or business premises of the franchise
are seized, taken over, or foreclosed by a government official in the
exercise of his or her duties, or seized, taken over, or foreclosed
by a creditor, lienholder, or lessor, provided that a final judgment
against the franchisee remains unsatisfied for 30 days (unless a
supersedeas or other appeal bond has been filed); or a levy of
execution has been made upon the license granted by the franchise
agreement or upon any property used in the franchised business, and
it is not discharged within five days of such levy;
(i) The franchisee is convicted of a felony or any other criminal
misconduct which is relevant to the operation of the franchise;
(j) The franchisee fails to pay any franchise fees or other
amounts due to the franchisor or its affiliate within five days after
receiving written notice that such fees are overdue; or
(k) The franchisor makes a reasonable determination that continued
operation of the franchise by the franchisee will result in an
imminent danger to public health or safety.
SEC. 3. Section 20022 is added to the Business and Professions
Code, to read:
20022. (a) Upon a lawful termination or nonrenewal of a
franchisee, the franchisor shall compensate the franchisee, at the
value of price paid minus depreciation, of all inventory, supplies,
equipment, fixtures, and furnishings purchased or
paid for by the franchisee from the franchisor or its approved
suppliers and sources under the terms of the franchise agreement or
any ancillary or collateral agreement.
agreement, and, at the time of the notice of termination or
nonrenewal, are in possession of the franchisee or used in the
franchise business.
(b) This section shall not require the franchisor to purchase any
personalized items, inventory, supplies, equipment, fixtures,
or furnishings not reasonably required to conduct the operation
of the franchise business in accordance with the franchise agreement
or any ancillary or collateral agreement.
(c) This section shall not apply when the franchisee declines a
bona fide offer of renewal from the franchisor.
(d) This section shall not apply if the franchisee retains control
of the premises principal place of the
franchise business.
(e) This section shall not apply to any termination or nonrenewal
of a franchisee due to a publicly announced and
nondiscriminatory decision by the franchisor to completely withdraw
from all franchise activity within the relevant geographic market
area in which the franchise is located. For the purpose of this
section "relevant geographic market area" shall have the same meaning
as Section 20999.
(f) This section shall not apply to any inventory, supplies,
equipment, fixtures, or furnishings that are sold by the franchisee
between the date of the notice of termination or nonrenewal, and the
cessation of operation of the franchise business, by the franchisee,
pursuant to the termination or nonrenewal.
(f)
(g) Upon the termination of a franchisee, a franchisor
may offset against amounts owed to a franchisee under this section
any amounts owed by such franchisee to the franchisor.
SEC. 4. Section 20028 is added to the Business and Professions
Code, to read:
20028. (a) It is unlawful for a franchisor to prevent a
franchisee from selling or transferring a franchise or a
part of an interest of a franchise to another person,
all or substantially all of the assets of the franchise business, or
a controlling interest in the franchise business, to another person
provided that the person is qualified under the franchisor's
then-existing and reasonable standards
standards, as consistently applied to similarly situated
franchisees operating within the franchise brand, for the
approval of new or renewing franchisees.
(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), a franchisee shall not have
the right to sell, transfer, or assign the franchise, or any
right thereunder, franchise or substantially all of
the assets of the franchise business, or a controlling interest in
the franchise business, without the written consent of the
franchisor, except that the consent shall not be withheld unless the
buyer, transferee, or assignor does not meet the standards for new or
renewing franchisees described in subdivision (a).
(c) Nothing in this section shall prohibit a franchisor from
exercising the contractual right of first refusal to purchase a
franchise after receipt of a bona fide offer to purchase the
franchise by a proposed purchaser of the franchise. A franchisor
exercising the contractual right of first refusal shall offer the
franchisee payment at least equal to or greater
than the value offered in the bona fide offer.
(d) For the purpose of this section "franchise business" shall
include a legal entity that is a party to a franchise agreement.
SEC. 5. Section 20029 is added to the Business and Professions
Code, to read:
20029. (a) The franchisee shall, prior to the sale, assignment,
or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the
franchise business, or a controlling interest in the franchise
business, to another person, notify the franchisor, of the franchisee'
s decision intent to sell, transfer, or
assign the franchise. franchise or
substantially all of the assets of the franchise business, or a
controlling interest in the franchise business. The
notice shall be in writing writing, delivered
to the franchisor by business courier or by receipted mail and
include all of the following:
(1) The proposed transferee's name and address.
(2) A copy of all agreements related to the sale, assignment, or
transfer of the franchised business or its assets.
(3) The proposed transferee's application for approval to become
the successor franchisee. The application shall include all forms,
financial disclosures, and related information generally utilized by
the franchisor in reviewing prospective new franchisees, if those
forms are readily made available to the existing franchisee. If the
forms are not readily available, the franchisee shall request and the
franchisor shall deliver the forms to the franchisee by business
courier or receipted mail within 15 calendar days. As soon as
practicable after the receipt of the proposed transferee's
application, the franchisor shall notify, in writing, the franchisee
and the proposed transferee of any additional information or
documentation necessary to complete the transfer application.
(b) (1) The franchisor shall, within 60 days after the receipt of
all of the necessary information and documentation required pursuant
to subdivision (a), or as specified by written agreement between the
franchisor and the franchisee, notify the franchisee of the approval
or disapproval of the sale, assignment, or transfer of the franchise.
The notice shall be in writing and be personally served on
the franchisee or sent by certified mail, return receipt requested.
and shall be deliv ered to the franchisor
by business courier or receipted mail within 15 calendar days.
A proposed sale, assignment, or transfer shall be deemed approved,
unless disapproved by the franchisor in the manner provided by this
subdivision. If the proposed sale, assignment, or transfer is
disapproved, the franchisor shall include in the notice of
disapproval a statement setting forth the reasons for the
disapproval.
(2) In any action in which the franchisor's disapproval of a sale,
assignment, or transfer pursuant to this subdivision is an issue,
the reasonability reasonableness of the
franchisor's decision shall be a question of fact requiring
consideration of all existing circumstances. For purposes of this
paragraph, the finder of fact may be an arbitrator specified in the
franchise agreement and who satisfies the requirements of Section
20040. Nothing in this paragraph shall prohibit summary judgment
when the reasonableness of transfer approval or disapproval can be
decided as a matter of law.
(3) Nothing in this subdivision requires a franchisor to exercise
a contractual right of first refusal.
(c) Nothing in this section shall prohibit a franchisor from
exercising the contractual right of first refusal to purchase a
franchise after receipt of a bona fide offer to purchase the
franchise by a proposed purchaser of the franchise. Any franchisor
exercising the contractual right of first refusal shall offer the
franchisee payment at least equal to or greater
than the value offered in the bona fide offer.
(d) For the purpose of this section "franchise business" shall
include a legal entity that is a party to a franchise agreement.
SEC. 6. The heading of Article 6 (commencing with Section 20035)
of Chapter 5.5 of Division 8 of the Business and Professions Code is
amended to read:
Article 6. Remedies
SEC. 7. Section 20035 of the Business and Professions Code is
repealed.
SEC. 8. Section 20035 is added to the Business and Professions
Code, to read:
20035. In the event a franchisor violates this chapter, the
finder of fact in awarding damages shall either require the
franchisor to reinstate the franchisee under the same terms as the
existing franchise agreement and pay all damages caused thereby, or
at the election of the franchisee, or if reinstatement is impossible
or impracticable, require the franchisor to pay the franchisee the
fair market value of the franchise and franchise assets, and any
other damages caused by the violation of this chapter. A court may
grant preliminary and permanent injunctions for a violation of this
chapter.
20035. (a) In the event a franchisor terminates or fails to renew
a franchisee, in violation of this chapter, the franchisee shall be
entitled to either of the following remedies:
(1) Reinstatement of the franchisee under the same terms as the
existing franchise agreement, and the franchisor shall pay all
damages caused to the franchisee from the violation.
(2) Upon request of the franchisee, or if the relief in paragraph
(1) is determined by the finder of fact to be impossible or
impracticable, then the franchisor shall pay the franchisee the fair
market value of the franchise and franchise assets and any other
damages caused by the violation of this chapter.
(b) A court may grant preliminary and permanent injunctions for a
violation or threatened violation of this chapter.
SEC. 9. Section 20036 of the Business and Professions Code is
amended to read:
20036. The franchisor may offset against any remedies made
pursuant to Section 20035 any prior recovery by the franchisee
pursuant to Section 20022 and any sums owed the franchisor or
its subsidiaries by the franchisee pursuant to the franchise or any
ancillary agreement.