ftp://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/asm/ab_3301-3350/ab_3320_bill_960502_amend ed_asm Jackie Speier's at it again! Now she's proposing AB3320, a bill to regulate sales of goods and services to protect consumers on the Internet. It's in its third revision, and much improved, but still obviously doesn't get it - the bill talks a lot about physical delivery of services or tangible goods (use or copying of information appears to fall through the rather wide cracks here) and providing written notices and toll-free telephone numbers, not quite realizing that an electronic mail address would do fine. The original bill was a proposal to require computer BBSs that charge for their services to register with the State at a cost of $50. It was marked up into a hybrid bill, and then into current form. I'm not sure what Assemblymember Speier is trying to accomplish, but she's clearly thrashing around trying to define it and do _something_ helpful to consumers. Those of you in her district may wish to get in touch with her and help her understand the Net and electronic commerce and international connectivity and such. Alternatively, if your Senator or Assemblymember is on the committee, you may want to talk to him/her. Here's the current bill status, according to leginfo. MEASURE : A.B. No. 3320 AUTHOR(S) : Speier. TOPIC : Telephone, mail order, and catalog sales: Internet. HOUSE LOCATION : ASM +LAST AMENDED DATE : 05/02/96 LAST HIST. ACT. DATE: 05/06/96 LAST HIST. ACTION : Re-referred to Com. on C.P.,G.E. & E.D. COMM. LOCATION : ASM CONSUMER PRO., GOVT. EFFICIENCY, ECON. DEVELOPMENT COMM. ACTION DATE : 05/07/96 COMM. ACTION : Do pass as amended. COMM. VOTE SUMMARY : Ayes: 09 Noes: 00 PASS 31 DAYS IN PRINT : 03/26/96 TITLE : An act to amend Section 17538 of the Business and Professions Code, relating to sales. ======= Here's a quote some of you privacy supporters may enjoy.... (The {- -} and {+ +} are some kind of addition/deletion markup.) =============== (d) Any {- person -} {+ vendor +} subject to this section who uses the Internet to conduct sales or leases of goods or services shall provide {- an -} {+ a conspicuous +} on-screen notice that discloses the procedures for resolving billing, sales, and service disputes, including the {- person's -} {+ vendor's +} return policy, {- and -} the address where the {- person -} {+ vendor +} may be contacted {+ , and a toll-free telephone number or other cost-free method to communicate the buyer's request for a full refund. Any vendor conducting business from an electronic e-mail or other electronic address shall disclose the legal name and address of that business in writing on any transaction form provided to the buyer +}