I am sure that most of you are aware of this bill. Here is an extract for those who are not. The full text can be found at
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2001-02/Senate/6400-6424/6412-s_pl_03122002.txt
At the moment it only affects the State of Washington but it is only a matter of time before it may be introduced nationally.
ENGROSSED SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 6412
_______________________________________________
AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
Passed Legislature - 2002 Regular Session
State of Washington 57th Legislature 2002 Regular Session
By Senate Committee on Labor, Commerce & Financial Institutions
(originally sponsored by Senators Kohl-Welles, Costa, Prentice,
Winsley, Long, Keiser and Benton)
READ FIRST TIME 02/06/2002.
AN ACT Relating to international matchmaking organizations;
amending RCW 43.43.760; adding a new chapter to Title 19 RCW; and
providing an effective date.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
{+ NEW SECTION. +} Sec. 1. The legislature intends to provide
increased consumer awareness on the part of persons living abroad
regarding Washington residents who utilize international matchmaking
services for purposes of establishing relationships with those living
abroad. The legislature recognizes that persons living abroad are
already required to provide background information to the federal
government during visa applications, but, unlike residents of the
United States, are unlikely to have the means to access and fully
verify personal history information about prospective spouses residing
in the United States. The legislature does not intend to impede the
ability of any person to establish a marital or romantic relationship,
but rather to increase the ability of persons living abroad to make
informed decisions about Washington residents.
The legislature does not intend to adversely impact in any way
those businesses who offer international matchmaking services on a not
for fee basis.
{+ NEW SECTION. +} Sec. 2. (1) Each international matchmaking
organization doing business in Washington state shall disseminate to a
recruit, upon request, state background check information and marital
history information relating to any Washington state resident about
whom any information is provided to the recruit, in the recruit's
native language. The organization shall notify all recruits that
background check and marital history information is available upon
request. The notice that background check and marital history
information is available upon request shall be in the recruit's native
language and shall be displayed in a manner that separates it from
other information, is highly noticeable, and in lettering not less than
one-quarter of an inch high.
(2) If an international matchmaking organization receives a request
for information from a recruit pursuant to subsection (1) of this
section, the organization shall notify the Washington state resident of
the request. Upon receiving notification, the Washington state
resident shall obtain from the state patrol and provide to the
organization the complete transcript of any background check
information provided pursuant to RCW 43.43.760 based on a submission of
fingerprint impressions and provided pursuant to RCW 43.43.838 and
shall provide to the organization his or her marital history
information. The organization shall require the resident to affirm
that marital history information is complete and accurate, and includes
any information regarding marriages, annulments, and dissolutions which
occurred in other states or countries. The organization shall refrain
from knowingly providing any further services to the recruit or the
Washington state resident in regards to facilitating future interaction
between the recruit and the Washington state resident until the
organization has obtained the requested information and provided it to
the recruit.
(3) This section does not apply to a traditional matchmaking
organization of a religious nature that otherwise operates in
compliance with the laws of the countries of the recruits of such
organization and the laws of the United States nor to any organization
that does not charge a fee to any party for the service provided.
(4) As used in this section:
(a) "International matchmaking organization" means a corporation,
partnership, business, or other legal entity, whether or not organized
under the laws of the United States or any state, that does business in
the United States and for profit offers to Washington state residents,
including aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residence and residing
in Washington state, dating, matrimonial, or social referral services
involving citizens of a foreign country or countries who are not
residing in the United States, by: (i) An exchange of names, telephone
numbers, addresses, or statistics; (ii) selection of photographs; or
(iii) a social environment provided by the organization in a country
other than the United States.
(b) "Marital history information" means a declaration of the
person's current marital status, the number of times the person has
previously been married, and whether any previous marriages occurred as
a result of receiving services from an international matchmaking
organization.
(c) "Recruit" means a noncitizen, nonresident person, recruited by
an international matchmaking organization for the purpose of providing
dating, matrimonial, or social referral services.
{+ NEW SECTION. +} Sec. 3. For purposes of establishing personal
jurisdiction under this act, an international matchmaking organization
is deemed to be doing business in Washington and therefore subject to
specific jurisdiction if it contracts for matchmaking services with a
Washington resident or if it is considered to be doing business under
any other provision or rule of law.
