(a) A seller of travel is exempt from the requirements of subdivisions (a) to (f), inclusive, of Section 17550.15 for all transactions in which the seller of travel is in compliance with paragraphs (1) to (6), inclusive, or with paragraph (7).
(1) The seller of travel sells, provides, furnishes, contracts for, or arranges air or sea transportation in transactions with persons in California, only from locations in California, and the air or sea transportation or travel services are to be furnished by (A) a registered seller of travel that is in compliance with this article and Article 2.7 (commencing with Section 17550.35) or (B) an air or sea carrier.
(2) The seller of travel forwards the passenger’s funds, without offsetting or reducing the amount forwarded by any amounts due or claimed in connection with any other transaction, to (A) the provider of the transportation or travel services, (B) the Airlines Reporting Corporation, (C) the trust account identified in the registration of the seller of travel to whom the funds are forwarded, or (D) a registered seller of travel whose registration states that the registered seller is exempt pursuant to subdivision (b) or (c) from the requirements of Section 17550.15, and the seller of travel who forwards funds pursuant to subparagraph (C) or (D) obtains and keeps a copy of the registration referred to in subparagraph (C) or (D).
(3) The seller of travel is an officially appointed agent in good standing of the Airlines Reporting Corporation and the air transportation, if any, is sold to the passenger pursuant to that agency appointment.
(4) The seller of travel has been in business under the same ownership for a period of three years, unless acquired or formed by a registered seller of travel that has been in business under the same ownership for a period of three years. For the purposes of this paragraph, the following shall not constitute a change in ownership:
(A) Any structural change involving a change in the type of entity, such as from a corporation to a partnership, and not involving the addition of any new, underlying ownership interest.
(B) The deletion of any owner or ownership interest.
(5) The seller of travel sells, provides, furnishes, contracts for, or arranges air or sea transportation or travel services only at retail directly to the general public and not through any other seller of travel, all of which air or sea transportation and travel services are to be furnished by other, unrelated providers or sellers of travel.
(6) The seller of travel is in compliance with the requirements of Section 17550.20 and Article 2.7 (commencing with Section 17550.35). Any seller of travel seeking to qualify for this exemption shall provide all information necessary for the Attorney General or his or her delegate to determine that the seller of travel meets the criteria set forth in paragraphs (1) to (6), inclusive.
(7) A seller of travel in a transaction where the air or sea transportation or travel services are furnished by a business entity that (A) is located and providing transportation or travel services outside of the United States and (B) is not in compliance with the provisions of this article is exempt from the requirements of Section 17550.15 for that transaction if the seller of travel obtains each passenger’s written acknowledgment of receiving, prior to making any payment, a clear, conspicuous, and complete written disclosure that the provider of transportation or travel services is not in compliance with the Seller of Travel Law and the transaction is not covered by the Travel Consumer Restitution Fund, and of the attendant risks and consequences thereof.
(8) If the Attorney General or his or her delegate finds, pursuant to Section 17550.52, that the Travel Consumer Restitution Corporation has failed or ceased to operate, a seller of travel who was a participant in the Travel Consumer Restitution Fund shall no longer be exempt from compliance with the requirements of Section 17550.15 and 17550.17.
If Article 2.7 (commencing with Section 17550.35) ceases to operate for any reason, including, but not limited to, repeal pursuant to Section 17550.59, no seller of travel shall be exempt from compliance with the requirements of Sections 17550.15 and 17550.17 unless in compliance with subdivision (b) or (c).
(b) A seller of travel who is a participant, with respect to all sales of air or sea transportation and travel services, in a Consumer Protection Deposit Plan that meets the criteria of paragraphs (1) to (3), inclusive, and who complies with paragraph (4) need not comply with Section 17550.15.
(1) The plan is operated and administered by an entity who demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Attorney General or his or her delegate that the operating and administering entity is competent and reliable and that the plan will achieve fully the purposes and objectives of this article. Each approved plan shall include provisions requiring that each participating seller of travel (A) has been engaged in business as a seller of travel in the United States under the same ownership for not less than three years, unless acquired or formed by a seller of travel already participating and in good standing in the plan, and (B) has deposited with the administrator of the plan a minimum of one million dollars ($1,000,000) in security in the form of a bond, letter of credit, or certificate of deposit, which security shall be (i) in favor solely of the plan, (ii) held by the plan pursuant to the terms of the plan, (iii) used solely to refund passenger payments or deposits or to complete tours, and (iv) payable solely in the event that (I) the seller of travel fails to refund passenger payments or deposits due as a result of the bankruptcy, insolvency, or cessation of operations of the seller of travel or after the cancellation or material failure by the seller of travel to complete performance of the passenger’s transportation or travel services or (II) the seller of travel fails to replace the security with another meeting the criteria set forth in subparagraph (B) no later than 30 days prior to its expiration.
(2) Claims filed against the Consumer Protection Deposit Plan are decided within 45 days of receipt and paid within 30 days of decision.
(3) The Consumer Protection Deposit Plan has been reviewed and approved in writing by the Attorney General or his or her delegate as meeting the criteria set forth above, including a finding that the plan will effectuate the purposes of this article. Should the approved plan cease to provide the consumer protections set forth in paragraph (1), the Attorney General or his or her delegate shall revoke his or her approval immediately. Upon that revocation, the seller of travel shall no longer be exempt from compliance with the requirements of Sections 17550.15 and 17550.17.
(4) Any participant in a Consumer Protection Deposit Plan seeking to qualify for this exemption shall provide all information necessary for the Attorney General or his or her delegate to determine (A) that the Consumer Protection Deposit Plan in which the seller of travel is a participant meets the criteria set forth in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3), (B) that the seller of travel is a participant in full compliance with the terms and conditions of an approved consumer protection deposit plan, and (C) provide a written agreement from the authorized representative of the Consumer Protection Deposit Plan in which the plan administrator agrees to give the office of the Attorney General, Consumer Law Section, immediate written and telephonic notice in the event of termination of the seller of travel’s participation in the plan.
(c) A seller of travel who utilizes for all transactions a Consumer Protection Escrow Plan which meets the criteria of paragraphs (1) to (6), inclusive, and who complies with paragraph (7) is exempt from the requirements of Section 17550.15.
(1) The plan is operated and administered as escrow holder by a federally insured bank that demonstrates to the Attorney General or his or her delegate that the manner in which it will administer the plan will be consistent with the purposes of this article. Each approved escrow plan shall include provisions requiring that all air tickets sold by participants in the plan be issued through the Airlines Reporting Corporation.
(2) All funds delivered to the escrow holder, by cash, check, charge card, or otherwise, are held and disbursed by the escrow holder for the benefit of, and to protect the interests of, the passenger.
(3) All funds are separately accounted for by booking number and passenger name.
(4) Claims filed against the escrow plan are decided within 45 days of receipt and paid within 30 days of decision.
(5) All passenger funds are to be delivered to the escrow holder as required by Section 17550.15.
(6) The Consumer Protection Escrow Plan has been reviewed and approved in writing by the Attorney General or his or her delegate as meeting the criteria set forth herein, including a finding that the plan will effectuate the purposes and objectives of this article. Should the approved plan cease to provide the consumer protections set forth in paragraphs (1) to (5), inclusive, the Attorney General or his or her delegate shall revoke his or her approval of the plan immediately. Upon that revocation, the seller of travel shall no longer be exempt from compliance with the requirements of Sections 17550.15 and 17550.17.
(7) Any participant in a consumer protection plan seeking to qualify for this exemption shall provide all information necessary for the Attorney General or his or her delegate to (A) determine that the Consumer Protection Escrow Plan in which the seller of travel is a participant meets the criteria set forth in paragraphs (1) to (6), inclusive, (B) determine that the seller of travel is a participant in full compliance with the terms and conditions of an approved Consumer Protection Escrow Plan, and (C) provide a written agreement from the authorized representative of the Consumer Protection Escrow Plan in which the plan administrator agrees to give the office of the Attorney General, Consumer Law Section, immediate written and telephonic notice in the event of termination of the seller of travel’s participation in the plan.
(Amended by Stats. 1999, Ch. 83, Sec. 13. Effective January 1, 2000.)