HB1279: Third party food delivery services.

Legislative Summary

Third party food delivery services. Establishes in the Indiana Code article concerning regulated businesses a new chapter governing third party food delivery services. Defines: (1) "covered establishment" as a: (A) restaurant; or (B) food service establishment; that offers, whether directly or through a third party food delivery service, the sale and same-day delivery or pick up of food and beverages to customers; and (2) "third party food delivery service" as a person that: (A) uses an online modality or platform to offer or arrange for the sale, and same-day delivery or pick up, of food and beverages prepared or provided by one or more covered establishments; and (B) provides these services either for consideration or for the purpose of obtaining customer data. Prohibits a third party food delivery service from providing any services related to facilitating, processing, or delivering an online order for a covered establishment unless the covered establishment expressly agrees to allow the third party food delivery service to provide those services. Provides that if a covered establishment cancels its contract with a third party food delivery service, the third party food delivery service shall, not later than the time specified in the contract or, if a time for compliance is not specified in the contract, not later than 72 hours after the covered establishment provides notice of cancellation: (1) comply with any terms and conditions for cancellation specified in the contract; and (2) unless otherwise specified in the contract: (A) remove all menus associated with the covered establishment from all online modalities or platforms of the third party food delivery service; and (B) cease to offer, arrange, or perform any activities related to the sale, and same-day delivery or pickup, of food and beverages prepared or provided by the covered establishment. Provides that if a third party food delivery service violates the bill's provisions with respect to a covered establishment, the covered establishment may bring an action against the third party food delivery service, in which: (1) the court may grant a temporary injunction enjoining the third party food delivery service from providing food delivery services with relation to the covered establishment during the pendency of the action; and (2) a covered establishment that prevails is entitled to: (A) actual damages; (B) temporary or permanent injunctive relief; (C) liquidated damages of not more than $50,000 per transaction; and (D) court costs and attorney's fees.