Safe Connections Act of 2022

Bill: 117-hr-7132
Sponsor: Rep. Kuster, Ann M. [D-NH-2]
Introduced: 2022-03-17 in the House
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Domestic violence and child abuse
Human trafficking
Internet, web applications, social media
Right of privacy
Telephone and wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2022-03-17
text: 

Safe Connections Act of 2022

 
This bill establishes requirements concerning access to communication services for survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, and related harms.
 
At a survivor's request, a mobile service provider must separate from a shared mobile service contract the survivor's line (and the line of any individual in the survivor's care) from the abuser's line unless separation is operationally or technologically infeasible. A survivor requesting this must (1) verify through appropriate documentation that an individual under the contract committed or allegedly committed an act of domestic violence, trafficking, or a related criminal act against the survivor; and (2) assume financial responsibility for services after a line separation.
 
A provider may not charge fees or impose other requirements on such requests. Additionally, a provider must
 
 
separate the line within two business days of receiving a request;
 
allow requests to be made remotely (if feasible);
 
meet conditions related to confidentiality of, disposal of, and other matters concerning communications about requests; and
 
make information about the process for requests available through consumer-facing communications (e.g., websites).
 
 
The bill (1) provides liability protection for providers' acts or omissions undertaken to comply with such requests, and (2) requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to adopt rules for these requests.
 
Additionally, the FCC must (1) expand access to federally subsidized communication services for survivors facing financial hardship, and (2) evaluate this expanded access.
 
The FCC must also consider rules requiring communication service providers to omit from consumer-facing logs calls and texts to hotlines for domestic violence and similar issues while retaining internal records. 

action_date: 2022-07-26
text: 

Safe Connections Act of 2022

 
This bill establishes requirements concerning access to communication services for survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, and related harms.
 
At a survivor's request, a mobile service provider must separate from a shared mobile service contract the survivor's line (and the line of any individual in the survivor's care) from the abuser's line unless separation is operationally or technologically infeasible. A survivor requesting this must (1) verify through appropriate documentation that an individual under the contract committed or allegedly committed an act of domestic violence, trafficking, or a related criminal act against the survivor; and (2) assume financial responsibility for services after a line separation.
 
A provider may not charge fees or impose other requirements on such requests. Additionally, a provider must
 
 
separate the line within two business days of receiving a request;
 
allow requests to be made remotely (if feasible);
 
meet conditions related to confidentiality of, disposal of, and other matters concerning communications about requests; and
 
make information about the process for requests available through consumer-facing communications (e.g., websites).
 
 
The bill (1) provides liability protection for providers' acts or omissions undertaken to comply with such requests, and (2) requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to adopt rules for these requests.
 
Additionally, the FCC must (1) expand access to federally subsidized communication services for survivors facing financial hardship, and (2) evaluate this expanded access.
 
The FCC must also consider rules requiring communication service providers to omit from consumer-facing logs calls and texts to hotlines for domestic violence and similar issues while retaining internal records.

action_date: 2022-07-27
text: 

Safe Connections Act of 2022

 
This bill establishes requirements concerning access to communication services for survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, and related harms.
 
At a survivor's request, a mobile service provider must separate from a shared mobile service contract the survivor's line (and the line of any individual in the survivor's care) from the abuser's line unless separation is operationally or technologically infeasible. A survivor requesting this must (1) verify through appropriate documentation that an individual under the contract committed or allegedly committed an act of domestic violence, trafficking, or a related criminal act against the survivor; and (2) assume financial responsibility for services after a line separation.
 
A provider may not charge fees or impose other requirements on such requests. Additionally, a provider must
 
 
separate the line within two business days of receiving a request;
 
allow requests to be made remotely (if feasible);
 
meet conditions related to confidentiality of, disposal of, and other matters concerning communications about requests; and
 
make information about the process for requests available through consumer-facing communications (e.g., websites).
 
 
The bill (1) provides liability protection for providers' acts or omissions undertaken to comply with such requests, and (2) requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to adopt rules for these requests.
 
Additionally, the FCC must (1) expand access to federally subsidized communication services for survivors facing financial hardship, and (2) evaluate this expanded access.
 
The FCC must also consider rules requiring communication service providers to omit from consumer-facing logs calls and texts to hotlines for domestic violence and similar issues while retaining internal records.

action_date: 2022-11-17
text: 

Safe Connections Act of 2022

 
This bill establishes requirements concerning access to communication services for survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, and related harms.
 
At a survivor's request, a mobile service provider must separate from a shared mobile service contract the survivor's line (and the line of any individual in the survivor's care) from the abuser's line unless separation is operationally or technologically infeasible. A survivor requesting this must (1) verify through appropriate documentation that an individual under the contract committed or allegedly committed an act of domestic violence, trafficking, or a related criminal act against the survivor; and (2) assume financial responsibility for services after a line separation.
 
A provider may not charge fees or impose other requirements on such requests. Additionally, a provider must
 
 
separate the line within two business days of receiving a request;
 
allow requests to be made remotely (if feasible);
 
meet conditions related to confidentiality of, disposal of, and other matters concerning communications about requests; and
 
make information about the process for requests available through consumer-facing communications (e.g., websites).
 
 
The bill (1) provides liability protection for providers' acts or omissions undertaken to comply with such requests, and (2) requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to adopt rules for these requests.
 
Additionally, the FCC must (1) expand access to federally subsidized communication services for survivors facing financial hardship, and (2) evaluate this expanded access.
 
The FCC must also consider rules requiring communication service providers to omit from consumer-facing logs calls and texts to hotlines for domestic violence and similar issues while retaining internal records.

action_date: 2022-12-07
text: 

Safe Connections Act of 2022

 
This act establishes requirements concerning access to communication services for survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, and related harms.
 
At a survivor's request, a mobile service provider must separate from a shared mobile service contract the survivor's line (and the line of any individual in the survivor's care) from the abuser's line unless separation is operationally or technologically infeasible. A survivor requesting this must (1) verify through appropriate documentation that an individual under the contract committed or allegedly committed an act of domestic violence, trafficking, or a related criminal act against the survivor; and (2) assume financial responsibility for services after a line separation.
 
A provider may not charge fees or impose other requirements on such requests. Additionally, a provider must
 
 
separate the line within two business days of receiving a request;
 
allow requests to be made remotely (if feasible);
 
meet conditions related to confidentiality of, disposal of, and other matters concerning communications about requests; and
 
make information about the process for requests available through consumer-facing communications (e.g., websites).
 
 
The act (1) provides liability protection for providers' acts or omissions undertaken to comply with such requests, and (2) requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to adopt rules for these requests.
 
Additionally, the FCC must (1) expand access to federally subsidized communication services for survivors facing financial hardship, and (2) evaluate this expanded access.
 
The FCC must also consider rules requiring communication service providers to omit from consumer-facing logs calls and texts to hotlines for domestic violence and similar issues while retaining internal records.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-12-07
text: Became Public Law No: 117-223.
action_date: 2022-12-07
text: Became Public Law No: 117-223.
action_date: 2022-12-07
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2022-12-07
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2022-12-02
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2022-12-02
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2022-11-25
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2022-11-17
text: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S6770)
action_date: 2022-11-17
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S6770)
action_date: 2022-07-28
text: Received in the Senate, read twice.
action_date: 2022-07-27
text: Pursuant to section 5 of H. Res. 1254, and the motion offered by Mr. Kildee, the following bills passed under suspension of the rules: H.R. 623, as amended; H.R. 3952, as amended; H.R. 3962, as amended; H.R. 4551; H.R. 5313, as amended; H.R. 6933; H.R. 7132, as amended; H.R. 7361; H.R. 7569; H.R. 7624, as amended; H.R. 7733, as amended; and H.R. 7981, as amended. (consideration: CR H7197-7211, H7219-7220, H7223-7237; text: 07/26/2022 CR H7103-7105)
action_date: 2022-07-27
text: Passed/agreed to in House: Pursuant to section 5 of H. Res. 1254, and the motion offered by Mr. Kildee, the following bills passed under suspension of the rules: H.R. 623, as amended; H.R. 3952, as amended; H.R. 3962, as amended; H.R. 4551; H.R. 5313, as amended; H.R. 6933; H.R. 7132, as amended; H.R. 7361; H.R. 7569; H.R. 7624, as amended; H.R. 7733, as amended; and H.R. 7981, as amended.(consideration: CR H7197-7211, H7219-7220, H7223-7237; text: 07/26/2022 CR H7103-7105)
action_date: 2022-07-27
text: Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 1254, proceedings on H.R. 7132 are considered vacated.
action_date: 2022-07-26
text: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
action_date: 2022-07-26
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 7132.
action_date: 2022-07-26
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7103-7106)
action_date: 2022-07-26
text: Mr. Doyle, Michael F. moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2022-07-26
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 342.
action_date: 2022-07-26
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 117-438.
action_date: 2022-07-26
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 117-438.
action_date: 2022-07-13
text: Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 53 - 0.
action_date: 2022-07-13
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2022-06-15
text: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by the Yeas and Nays: 29 - 0 .
action_date: 2022-06-15
text: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2022-03-18
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.
action_date: 2022-03-17
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2022-03-17
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2022-03-17
text: Introduced in House

Enacted as: number: 117-223