88R30810 MPF-D
 
  By: Hinojosa S.B. No. 1835
 
  (Longoria)
 
  Substitute the following for S.B. No. 1835:  No.
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to certain contract and notice requirements for the
  cancellation of a health spa membership.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 702.304, Occupations Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 702.304.  CANCELLATION AND REFUND NOTICE. (a)  Except
  as provided by Subsection (b), a contract must state in at least
  10-point type that is boldfaced, capitalized, underlined, or
  otherwise conspicuously distinguished from surrounding written
  material:
               (1)  "NOTICE TO PURCHASER:  DO NOT SIGN THIS CONTRACT
  UNTIL YOU READ IT OR IF IT CONTAINS BLANK SPACES."
               (2)  "IF YOU DECIDE YOU DO NOT WISH TO REMAIN A MEMBER
  OF THIS HEALTH SPA, YOU MAY CANCEL THIS CONTRACT BY PROVIDING NOTICE
  [MAILING] TO THE HEALTH SPA BY MIDNIGHT OF THE THIRD BUSINESS DAY
  AFTER THE DAY YOU SIGN THIS CONTRACT [A NOTICE] STATING YOUR DESIRE
  TO CANCEL THIS CONTRACT.  [THE WRITTEN NOTICE MUST BE MAILED BY
  CERTIFIED MAIL TO THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS:
  [(Address of the health spa home office).]"
               (3)  "IF AFTER MIDNIGHT OF THE THIRD BUSINESS DAY AFTER
  THE DAY YOU SIGN THIS CONTRACT YOU DECIDE YOU DO NOT WISH TO REMAIN A
  MEMBER OF THIS HEALTH SPA, YOU MAY CANCEL THIS CONTRACT BY PROVIDING
  30 DAYS' NOTICE TO THE HEALTH SPA."
               (4) [(3)]  "IF THE HEALTH SPA GOES OUT OF BUSINESS AND
  DOES NOT PROVIDE FACILITIES WITHIN 10 MILES OF THE FACILITY IN WHICH
  YOU ARE ENROLLED OR IF THE HEALTH SPA MOVES MORE THAN 10 MILES FROM
  THE FACILITY IN WHICH YOU ARE ENROLLED, YOU MAY:
                     (A)  CANCEL THIS CONTRACT BY PROVIDING [MAILING BY
  CERTIFIED MAIL A WRITTEN] NOTICE STATING YOUR DESIRE TO CANCEL THIS
  CONTRACT, ACCOMPANIED BY PROOF OF PAYMENT ON THE CONTRACT TO THE
  HEALTH SPA [AT THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS:
  [(Address of the health spa home office)]; AND
                     (B)  FILE A CLAIM FOR A REFUND OF YOUR UNUSED
  MEMBERSHIP FEES AGAINST THE BOND OR OTHER SECURITY POSTED BY THE
  HEALTH SPA WITH THE TEXAS SECRETARY OF STATE.  TO MAKE A CLAIM
  AGAINST THE SECURITY PROVIDE A COPY OF YOUR CONTRACT TOGETHER WITH
  PROOF OF PAYMENTS MADE ON THE CONTRACT TO THE TEXAS SECRETARY OF
  STATE.  THE REQUIRED CLAIM INFORMATION MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE
  SECRETARY OF STATE NOT LATER THAN THE 90TH DAY AFTER THE DATE NOTICE
  OF THE CLOSURE OR RELOCATION IS FIRST POSTED ON THE SECRETARY OF
  STATE'S INTERNET WEBSITE."
               (5)  "IF YOU MOVE YOUR RESIDENCE MORE THAN 25 MILES FROM
  A HEALTH SPA OPERATED BY (insert: the name of the health spa
  registration holder), YOU MAY CANCEL THIS CONTRACT BY PROVIDING
  NOTICE TO THE HEALTH SPA STATING YOUR DESIRE TO CANCEL THIS
  CONTRACT.  THE HEALTH SPA MAY REQUIRE REASONABLE PROOF OF THE MOVE."
               (6)  "IF ON A DOCTOR'S ORDER, YOU CANNOT PHYSICALLY
  RECEIVE THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE HEALTH SPA FOR A PERIOD OF MORE
  THAN THREE MONTHS BECAUSE OF A SIGNIFICANT PHYSICAL DISABILITY, YOU
  MAY CANCEL THIS CONTRACT BY PROVIDING NOTICE TO THE HEALTH SPA.  THE
  HEALTH SPA MAY REQUIRE REASONABLE PROOF OF THE DISABILITY."
               (7) [(4)]  "IF YOU DIE OR BECOME TOTALLY AND
  PERMANENTLY DISABLED AFTER THE DATE THIS CONTRACT TAKES EFFECT, YOU
  OR YOUR ESTATE MAY CANCEL THIS CONTRACT AND RECEIVE A PARTIAL REFUND
  OF YOUR UNUSED MEMBERSHIP FEE BY PROVIDING [MAILING A] NOTICE TO THE
  HEALTH SPA STATING YOUR DESIRE TO CANCEL THIS CONTRACT.  THE HEALTH
  SPA MAY REQUIRE REASONABLE PROOF OF DISABILITY OR DEATH.  [THE
  WRITTEN NOTICE MUST BE MAILED BY CERTIFIED MAIL TO THE FOLLOWING
  ADDRESS:
  [(Address of the health spa home office).]"
         (b)  A health spa operator is required to include the
  statement under Subsection (a)(4)(B) [(a)(3)(B)] in a contract only
  if the operator is required to post security with the secretary of
  state under Subchapter D.
         (c)  A health spa operator shall include a statement in a
  contract that any notice a member provides to cancel a contract may
  be given to a health spa:
               (1)  in person, by e-mail, by certified mail, or by
  telephone; or
               (2)  for a contract entered into through an Internet
  website, through an Internet website.
         (d)  A health spa operator shall include a statement in a
  member contract describing the information a member must include in
  a notice to cancel the member's contract.
         SECTION 2.  Section 702.307(a), Occupations Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  A member may cancel a contract and receive a full refund
  of the payments made under the contract by providing to the
  certificate holder for the health spa [sending], not later than
  midnight of the third business day after the contract date,
  [written] notice of cancellation, accompanied by proof of payment
  made under the contract [, by certified mail to the certificate
  holder's home office].
         SECTION 3.  Section 702.308, Occupations Code, is amended by
  amending Subsections (a), (b), and (c) and adding Subsections
  (a-1), (a-2), and (a-3) to read as follows:
         (a)  A member may cancel a contract and receive a refund of
  unearned payments made under the contract by providing to the
  certificate holder for the health spa 30 days' notice accompanied
  by proof of payment made under the contract.
         (a-1)  A member may cancel a contract and receive a refund of
  unearned payments made under the contract by providing [sending
  written] notice of cancellation, accompanied by proof of payment
  made under the contract, [by certified mail] to the certificate
  holder for the health spa [holder's home office] if the certificate
  holder:
               (1)  closes the health spa and fails to provide
  alternative facilities not more than 10 miles from the location of
  the health spa;
               (2)  relocates the health spa more than 10 miles from
  its location preceding the relocation; or
               (3)  fails to provide advertised services.
         (a-2)  Subject to Subsection (a-3), a member may cancel a
  contract and receive a refund of unearned payments made under the
  contract by providing notice of cancellation, accompanied by proof
  of payment made under the contract to the certificate holder for the
  health spa, if the member: 
               (1)  moves the member's residence more than 25 miles
  from any health spa operated by the seller; or
               (2)  on a doctor's order, cannot physically receive the
  services provided by the health spa for more than three months
  because of a significant physical disability.
         (a-3)  If required by the certificate holder for the health
  spa, a member is only entitled to cancel the member's contract and
  receive a refund under Subsection (a-2) if the member provides the
  required reasonable proof of the move under Subsection (a-2)(1) or
  disability under Subsection (a-2)(2), as applicable.
         (b)  A member who dies or becomes totally and permanently
  disabled after the date a contract is entered into, or the member's
  estate, may cancel the contract and receive a refund of the unearned
  payments made under the contract by providing to the certificate
  holder for the health spa [sending written] notice of cancellation
  [by certified mail to the certificate holder's home office].  The
  certificate holder may require the member, or the member's estate,
  to provide reasonable proof of the member's death or disability.
         (c)  A certificate holder who receives notice under
  Subsection (a), (a-1), (a-2), or (b) shall refund the unearned
  payments made under the contract to the member, or the member's
  estate, as appropriate, not later than [that] the 30th day after the
  date notice is received.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.