California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly Bill No. 1395

Introduced by Assembly Member Salas

February 27, 2015

An act to amend Section 17539.1 of the Government Code, relating to business.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 1395, as introduced, Salas. Unfair business practices: contests and sweepstakes.

Existing law generally regulates false advertising and specifically prohibits certain unfair acts or practices undertaken by, or omissions of, a person in the operation of a contest or sweepstakes, including, among others, misrepresenting the number of participants in a contest or sweepstakes or representing, directly or by implication, that any tie breaker puzzle may be entered upon the payment of money qualifying the contestant for an extra cash or any other type prize or prizes except as specified.

This bill would make nonsubstantive changes to 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 17539.1 of the Business and Professions
Code is amended to read:

17539.1.  

(a) The following unfair acts or practices undertaken
by, or omissions of, any person in the operation of any contest or
sweepstakes are prohibited:

(1) Failing to clearly and conspicuously disclose, at the time of
the initial contest solicitation, at the time of each precontest
promotional solicitation and each time the payment of money is
required to become or to remain a contestant, the total number of
contestants anticipated based on prior experience and the
percentages of contestants correctly solving each puzzle used in
the three most recently completed contests conducted by the person.
If the person has not operated or promoted three contests he or she
shall disclose for each prior contest if any, the information required
by this section.

(2) Failing to promptly send to each member of the public upon
his or her request, the actual number and percentage of contestants
correctly solving each puzzle or game in the contest most recently
completed.

(3) Misrepresenting in any manner the odds of winning any
prize.

(4) Misrepresenting in any manner, the rules, terms, or
conditions of participation in a contest.

(5) Failing to clearly and conspicuously disclose with all contest
puzzles and games and with all promotional puzzles and games
all of the following:

(A) The maximum number of puzzles or games that may be
necessary to complete the contest and determine winners.

(B) The maximum amount of money, including the maximum
cost of any postage and handling fees, that a participant may be
asked to pay to win each of the contest prizes then offered.

(C) That future puzzles or games, if any, or tie breakers, if any,
will be significantly more difficult than the initial puzzle.

(D) The date or dates on or before which the contest will
terminate and upon which all prizes will be awarded.

(E) The method of determining prizewinners if a tie remains
after the last tie breaker puzzle is completed.

(F) All rules, regulations, terms, and conditions of the contest.

(6) Failing to clearly and conspicuously disclose the exact nature
and approximate value of the prizes when offered.

(7) Failing to award and distribute all prizes of the value and
type represented.

(8) Representing directly or by implication that the number of
participants has been significantly limited, or that any particular
person has been selected to win a prize unless begin delete such end delete begin insert that end insert is the fact.

(9) Representing directly or by implication that any particular
person has won any money, prize, thing, or other value in a contest
unless there has been a real contest in which a meaningful
percentage, which shall be at least a majority, of the participants
in begin delete such end delete begin insert those end insert contests have failed to win a prize, money, thing, or
other value.

(10) Representing directly or by implication that any particular
person has won any money, prize, thing, or other value without
disclosing the exact nature and approximate value thereof.

(11) Using the word “lucky” to describe any number, ticket,
coupon, symbol, or other entry, or representing in any other manner
directly or by implication that any number, ticket, coupon, symbol,
or other entry confers or will confer an advantage upon the recipient
that other recipients will not have, that the recipient is more likely
to win a prize than are others, or that the number, ticket, coupon,
symbol, or other entry has some value that other entries do not
have.

(12) Using or offering for use any method intended to be used
by a person interacting with an electronic video monitor to simulate
gambling or play gambling-themed games in a business
establishment that (A) directly or indirectly implements the
predetermination of sweepstakes cash, cash-equivalent prizes, or
other prizes of value, or (B) otherwise connects a sweepstakes
player or participant with sweepstakes cash, cash-equivalent prizes,
or other prizes of value. For the purposes of this paragraph,
“business establishment” means a business that has any financial
interest in the conduct of the sweepstakes or the sale of the products
or services being promoted by the sweepstakes at its physical
location. This paragraph does not make unlawful game promotions
or sweepstakes conducted by for-profit commercial entities on a
limited and occasional basis as an advertising and marketing tool
that are incidental to substantial bona fide sales of consumer
products or services and that are not intended to provide a vehicle
for the establishment of places of ongoing gambling or gaming.

(13) Failing to obtain the express written or oral consent of
individuals before their names are used for a promotional purpose
in connection with a mailing to a third person.

(14) Using or distributing simulated checks, currency, or any
simulated item of value unless there is clearly and conspicuously
printed thereon the words: SPECIMEN--NONNEGOTIABLE.

(15) Representing, directly or by implication, orally or in
writing, that any tie breaker puzzle may be entered upon the
payment of money qualifying the contestant for an extra cash or
any other type prize or prizes unless:

(A) It is clearly and conspicuously disclosed that the payments
are optional and that contestants are not required to pay money,
except for reasonable postage and handling fees, to play for an
extra cash or any other type of prize or prizes; and

(B) Contestants are clearly and conspicuously given the
opportunity to indicate they wish to enter begin delete such end delete begin insert that end insert phase of the
contest for free, except for reasonable postage and handling fees
the amount of which shall not exceed one dollar and fifty cents
($1.50) plus the actual cost of postage and which shall be clearly
and conspicuously disclosed at the time of the initial contest
solicitation and each time thereafter that the payment of begin delete such end delete begin insert the end insert
fees is required. The contestants’ opportunity to indicate they wish
to enter for free shall be in immediate conjunction with and in a
like manner as the contestants’ opportunity to indicate they wish
to play for an extra prize.

(b) For the purposes of this section, “sweepstakes” means a
procedure, activity, or event, for the distribution, donation, or sale
of anything of value by lot, chance, predetermined selection, or
random selection that is not unlawful under other provisions of
law, including, but not limited to, Chapter 9 (commencing with
Section 319) and Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 330) of
Title 9 of Part 1 of the Penal Code.

(c) This section does not apply to an advertising plan or program
that is regulated by, and complies with, the requirements of Section
17537.1.

(d) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to render lawful any
activity that is unlawful pursuant to other law, including, but not
limited to, Section 320, 330a, 330b, 330.1, or 337j of the Penal
Code.

(e) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to render unlawful
or restrict otherwise lawful games and methods used by a gambling
enterprise licensed under the Gambling Control Act or operations
of the California State Lottery.