Washington State
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research
BILL
ANALYSIS
Consumer Protection & Business Committee
HB 1860
Brief Description: Establishing stay-to-play requirements.
Sponsors: Representatives Volz, Riccelli, Couture, Leavitt and Schmidt.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Prohibits entities from requiring participants of an extracurricular activity to stay at a specific lodging accommodation as a requirement for participation.
Hearing Date: 1/23/24
Staff:

Carter Gale (786-7290) and Megan Mulvihill (786-7304).
Background:

The Consumer Protection Act (CPA) prohibits unfair or deceptive practices in trade or commerce.  It includes anti-competitive behavior and restraints on trade.  The Legislature has enacted statutes covering specific areas of the marketplace, which include prohibiting certain practices.  Violations of those prohibitions constitute violations of the CPA.  The Attorney General and private consumers may bring actions to enforce violations of the CPA.  

 

The maximum civil penalty for a violation of the prohibition on unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices in trade or commerce is $7,500 for each violation.  When the Attorney General brings an action in the name of the state, or on behalf of a private citizen, to restrain a person from engaging in unlawful acts under the CPA, the court may award costs, including reasonable attorneys' fees, to the prevailing party.
Summary of Bill:

An entity is prohibited from requiring a team or participant of an extracurricular activity to stay at a specific lodging accommodation as a requirement for participation in an event or tournament.  A violation of this prohibition is considered an unfair method of competition and an unfair or deceptive act in trade or commerce under the CPA. 
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Preliminary fiscal note available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.