General Assembly Committee Bill No. 5866
January Session, 2011 LCO No. 3936
*03936HB05866GL_*
Referred to Committee on General Law
Introduced by:
(GL)
General Assembly
Committee Bill No. 5866
January Session, 2011
LCO No. 3936
*03936HB05866GL_*
Referred to Committee on General Law
Introduced by:
(GL)
AN ACT CONCERNING INTERNET DATING SAFETY.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2011) (a) As used in this section:
(1) "Internet dating service" means a person or entity that, for profit, offers, promotes or provides access to dating, relationship, compatibility, matrimonial or social referral services on or through the Internet;
(2) "Internet service provider" means any person or entity that provides any other person or entity in this state with the ability to connect to the Internet through equipment that is located in this state;
(3) "Member" means a customer, client or participant who submits to an Internet dating service information required to access the service for the purpose of engaging in dating, relationship, compatibility, matrimonial or social referral; and
(4) "Connecticut member" means a member who provides a Connecticut billing address or zip code when registering with an Internet dating service.
(b) An Internet dating service offering services to Connecticut members shall provide to such members a safety awareness notification that includes a list and description of safety measures reasonably designed to increase awareness of safer dating practices in a clear and conspicuous manner. Such notification shall include, but not be limited to, the following statements or substantially similar statements: (1) "There is no substitute for acting with caution when communicating with any stranger who wants to meet you."; (2) "Never include your last name, electronic mail address, home address, telephone number, place of work or any other identifying information in your Internet profile or initial electronic mail messages. Stop communicating with anyone who pressures you for personal or financial information or attempts in any way to trick you into revealing it."; and (3) "If you choose to have a face-to-face meeting with another member, always tell someone in your family or a friend where you are going and when you will return. Never agree to be picked up at your home. Always provide your own transportation to and from your date and meet in a public place with many people around.". Such notification shall be given at the time a Connecticut member registers with the service and by way of a link on the main web site, or the first entry point, of the Internet dating service.
(c) A violation of the provisions of subsection (b) of this section shall be deemed an unfair trade or deceptive practice under subsection (a) of section 42-110b of the general statutes.
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1 October 1, 2011 New section
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1
October 1, 2011
New section
Statement of Purpose:
To protect users of Internet dating sites.
[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]
Co-Sponsors: REP. FLEXER, 44th Dist.
Co-Sponsors:
REP. FLEXER, 44th Dist.
H.B. 5866