SEAT Act of 2024

[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9601 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 9601

 To prohibit third-party restaurant reservation services from offering 
or arranging unauthorized reservations for food service establishments, 
                        and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 16, 2024

    Mr. D'Esposito (for himself and Mr. Gottheimer) introduced the 
   following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and 
                                Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To prohibit third-party restaurant reservation services from offering 
or arranging unauthorized reservations for food service establishments, 
                        and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Supporting Equal Access to Tables 
Act of 2024'' or the ``SEAT Act of 2024''.

SEC. 2. LIMITATION ON THIRD-PARTY RESTAURANT RESERVATION SERVICES.

    (a) Requirement.--A provider of a third-party restaurant 
reservation service may only list, promote, sell, or otherwise 
advertise or make available a reservation for a food service 
establishment if there is a written agreement between such service and 
such establishment that permits such service to list, promote, sell, or 
otherwise advertise or make available such reservation.
    (b) Enforcement by Commission.--
            (1) Unfair or deceptive acts or practices.--A violation of 
        this section shall be treated as a violation of a regulation 
        under section 18(a)(1)(B) of the Federal Trade Commission Act 
        (15 U.S.C. 57a(a)(1)(B)) regarding unfair or deceptive acts or 
        practices.
            (2) Powers of commission.--The Commission shall enforce 
        this section in the same manner, by the same means, and with 
        the same jurisdiction, powers, and duties as though all 
        applicable terms and provisions of the Federal Trade Commission 
        Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.) were incorporated into and made a 
        part of this section. Any person who violates this section 
        shall be subject to the penalties and entitled to the 
        privileges and immunities provided in the Federal Trade 
        Commission Act.
    (c) Applicability.--This section shall apply to a provider of a 
third-party restaurant reservation service beginning on the date that 
is 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
    (d) Indemnification Provisions.--An agreement entered into pursuant 
to subsection (a) may not include a provision that requires a food 
service establishment to indemnify a third-party restaurant reservation 
service, any independent contractor acting on behalf of such third-
party restaurant reservation service, or any registered agent of such 
third-party restaurant reservation service for any damages or harm by 
an act or omission initiated by the third-party restaurant reservation 
service. If an agreement entered into pursuant to subsection (a) 
contains such a provision, such provision shall be deemed void and 
unenforceable.
    (e) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Federal 
        Trade Commission.
            (2) Food service establishment.--The term ``food service 
        establishment''--
                    (A) means a restaurant, food stand, food truck, 
                food cart, saloon, inn, tavern, bar, lounge, brewpub, 
                tasting room, taproom, licensed facility or premise of 
                a beverage alcohol producer where the public may taste, 
                sample, or purchase products, or other similar place of 
                business in or at which the public or patrons assemble 
                for the primary purpose of being served food or drink; 
                and
                    (B) includes an entity described in subparagraph 
                (A) that is located in a larger establishment or 
                complex, including an airport terminal or other 
                transportation facility, amusement park, sports 
                stadium, entertainment venue, hotel or hotel complex, 
                or retail store or retail complex.
            (3) Third-party restaurant reservation service.--The term 
        ``third-party restaurant reservation service'' means any 
        website, mobile application, or other internet-based service 
        that--
                    (A) lists, promotes, sells, or otherwise advertises 
                or makes available reservations for on-premises service 
                for a customer at a food service establishment; and
                    (B) is provided by a person other than the person 
                who provides such food service establishment.
                                 <all>