Gerlach Authors Bill to Expand Ticket-Selling Abilities

Ticketmaster likely is the most well known name in event ticket sales.

But Sen. Chris Gerlach (R-District 37), Apple Valley, last week introduced SF0425 in the state Senate that would give greater freedom to secondary ticket sellers who want to resell what they've bought from the ticket-sales giant or another agency.

The purpose is to create a freer market in ticket sales, Gerlach said, preventing a "monopoly control."

If someone buys an event ticket, it should then be considered their property and they should be able to sell it as they see fit, he said.

"We don't want Ticketmaster to have control over that process," he said.

The bill is scheduled for a Wednesday hearing in the Commerce and Consumer Protection committee.

Week's highlights

Here’s what happened last week with some bills authored or co-authored by Apple Valley's legislators:

New Bills

Sen. Chris Gerlach—Gerlach is chief author of a bill to give people a right to have a legal occupation without "arbitrary" or "unnecessary" statutes regulating it. SF0380, introduced Feb. 21.

Sen. Chris Gerlach—Gerlach is chief author of a bill that would provide $9 million in bonding money for the Cedar Avenue bus rapid transit project. SF0463, introduced Feb. 24.

Sen. Chris Gerlach—Gerlach is an author of a bill to modify hours and wages for state highway and construction projects. SF0454, introduced Feb. 24.

Sen. Chris Gerlach—Gerlach is an author of a bill to reduce the limitation period for civil actions. SF0373, introduced Feb. 21.

Reps. Tara Mack and Kurt Bills—Mack is an author of a bill to extend civil immunity to cities that donate public safety equipment. HF0695, introduced Feb. 24.

Rep. Tara Mack—Mack is an author of a bill to allow a person with a brewer's license to operate an on-sale facility. HF0703, introduced Feb. 24.

Rep. Tara Mack—Mack is an author of a bill to make several changes to policies relating to local governments. HF705, introduced Feb. 24.

Rep. Kurt Bills—Bills was added as chief author of a bill to prevent public school employees from using public funds to advocate for or against a political candidate or ballot issue. HF0329, introduced Feb. 2.

Rep. Kurt Bills—Bills is chief author of a bill to reduce legislator compensation if balanced budget provisions are not enacted in a timely manner. HF0686, introduced Feb. 24

Rep. Kurt Bills—Bills is chief author of a bill to provide a refundable re-employment credit to military members. HF0687, introduced Feb. 24.

Rep. Kurt Bills—Bills is an author of a bill to regulate seatbelt evidence admissibility in civil action cases. HF0704, introduced Feb. 24.

Existing Bills

Rep. Tara Mack —The bill that would establish the sale or possession of synthetic marijuana as a gross misdemeanor was passed by the House on Feb. 24, 124-4. Mack is an author of the bill. HF0057, introduced Jan. 10.

Rep. Kurt Bills—Bills is an author of a bill to modify postsecondary enrollment options and require high school students to take a college course. HF0512, introduced Feb. 14.

Rep. Kurt Bills—Bills is an author of a bill to make optional the disclosures of public appraisals by a government body. HF0601, introduced Feb. 17.

Rep. Tara Mack—Mack is an author of a bill to extend Dakota County's interest in lands occupied by the Minnesota Zoo. HF0486, introduced Feb. 14.

Sen. Chris Gerlach—Gerlach is chief author of a bill to modify the eligibility for petroleum tank release cleanup fund reimbursement, SF0356, introduced Feb. 17.

Rep. Kurt Bills—Bills is an author of a bill to establish inspections and filing fees for limited-use farm trucks. HF0472, introduced Feb. 10.

Rep. Tara Mack—Mack is an author of a bill to extend the radiation therapy facility construction moratorium. HF0383, introduced Feb. 7.

Rep. Tara Mack—Mack is chief author of a bill to provide bonding money for the Cedar Avenue Bus Rapid Transit project. HF0443, introduced Feb. 10.

Sen. Chris Gerlach—Gerlach is an author of a bill to require local government employees to approve or withdraw from the public employees insurance program. SF0247, introduced Feb. 7.

Rep. Tara Mack—Mack was added on Feb. 9 as an author of a bill that would provide a phased-in subtraction from federal taxable income for military retirement pay. HF0082, introduced Jan. 13.

Rep. Kurt Bills—Bills was added on Feb. 9 as an author of a bill that would require zero-based budgeting. It has been referred to the State Government Finance committee. HF0002, introduced Jan. 10.

Rep. Tara Mack—Mack is chief author of a bill to allow paramedics to get certification to perform certain additional medical procedures for patients in-home. HF0262, introduced Jan. 31. The bill was passed to the Health and Human Services Finance committee on Feb. 24.

Sen. Chris Gerlach—Gerlach is an author of a bill to create an exemption to the ban on smoking in restaurants and bars. SF0168, introduced Jan. 31.

Sen. Chris Gerlach—Gerlach is chief author of a nurse licensure compact bill, which would allow nurses to have to deal with fewer licensing issues when practicing in different states. SF0230, introduced Feb. 3.

Sen. Chris Gerlach—Gerlach is chief author of a bill that regulates broker price opinions on residential real estate. SF0167. Introduced Jan. 31. The bill was amended in the Commerce and Consumer Protection committee and passed to the Finance committee.

Rep. Tara Mack—Mack is an author of a bill to limit abortion funding for state-sponsored health programs. HF0201, introduced Jan. 24.

Reps. Kurt Bills and Tara Mack—Bills and Mack are authors of a bill to require voters to show photo identification at the polls, among other election system reforms. HF0210, introduced Jan. 24. The bill has been passed to the State Government Finance committee.

Rep. Kurt Bills—Bills is an author of a bill to modify unlawful or deceptive trade practices. HF0211, introduced Jan. 24. It was passed to the Judiciary Policy and Finance committee on Feb. 21.

Rep. Tara Mack—Mack is an author of a bill to require guaranteed issue of health plans for individuals. HF0222, introduced Jan. 26.

Rep. Kurt Bills—Bills is chief author of a bill to create an early graduation scholarship program. HF0257, introduced Jan. 27.

Reps. Kurt Bills and Tara Mack—The bill to establish the healthy Minnesota contribution program, where certain MinnesotaCare enrollees would receive a contribution to purchase health insurance, was scheduled for hearing in the Health and Human Services Reform committee on Jan. 19. It was passed to the Health and Human Services Finance committee on Feb. 7. HF0008, introduced Jan. 10.

Rep. Tara Mack—Mack is an author of a bill to allow businesses a sales tax exemption on capital equipment at the time of purchase. HF0010, introduced Jan. 10.

Rep. Kurt Bills—Bills is chief author of a bill to increase the research tax credit for corporations, effective after Dec. 31, 2010. HF0011, introduced Jan. 10.

Rep. Kurt Bills—Bills is an author of a bill to limit general fund expenditures during the 2012-13 biennium to forecasted revenues. HF0067, introduced Jan. 13.

Rep. Kurt Bills—Bills is an author of a bill to repeal the teacher contract deadline aid penalty.HF0092, introduced Jan. 13. It was referred to the Education Finance committee on Jan. 31.

Rep. Kurt Bills—Bills is an author of a bill to restore green acres and agricultural classifications to their pre-2008 state. HF0142, introduced Jan. 20.

Rep. Kurt Bills—Bills is an author of a bill to provide health insurance to survivors of peace officers or firefighters killed on duty. HF0149, introduced Jan. 20.

Rep. Kurt Bills—Bills is an author of a new bill to get rid of the prohibition to issue a certificate of need for a new nuclear power plant. HF0170, introduced Jan. 20.

Rep. Kurt Bills—Bills is an author of a bill to create a Sunset Commission and set parameters for the sunset and review of state agencies. HF0173, introduced Jan. 20.