Senate Bill S1759

2023-2024 Legislative Session

Relates to online dating services

download bill text pdf

Sponsored By

Current Bill Status Via A1057 - Passed Senate


  • Introduced
    • In Committee Assembly
    • In Committee Senate
    • On Floor Calendar Assembly
    • On Floor Calendar Senate
    • Passed Assembly
    • Passed Senate
  • Delivered to Governor
  • Signed By Governor

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Bill Amendments

2023-S1759 - Details

Law Section:
General Business Law
Laws Affected:
Amd §394-c, Gen Bus L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:
2019-2020: S6300
2021-2022: S1781

2023-S1759 - Summary

Relates to how online dating services handle fraudulent members; requires certain disclosures.

2023-S1759 - Sponsor Memo

2023-S1759 - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   1759
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 13, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. SKOUFIS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Consumer Protection
 
 AN ACT to amend the general business law, in relation to  online  dating
   services
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section 1. Section 394-c of the general business law,  as  amended  by
 chapter 468 of the laws of 1996, is amended to read as follows
   §  394-c.  Limitations  on certain contracts involving social referral
 services.  1. As used in this section, the following  terms  shall  have
 the following meanings:
   (a)  "social  referral  service"  shall  include any service for a fee
 providing matching of members [of the opposite sex], by use of  computer
 or  any  other  means, for the purpose of dating [and] OR general social
 contact.
   (b) "ancillary services" shall refer to goods or services directly  or
 indirectly  related  to  or to be provided in connection with the social
 referral service process, including  but  not  limited  to  photography,
 grooming,  cosmetology,  dating  etiquette,  dating counseling, or other
 services.
   (C) "ONLINE DATING SERVICE" SHALL MEAN  ANY  SOCIAL  REFERRAL  SERVICE
 WHERE  THE SERVICES ARE OFFERED PRIMARILY ONLINE, SUCH AS BY MEANS OF AN
 INTERNET WEBSITE OR A MOBILE APPLICATION.
   (D) "BANNED MEMBER" SHALL MEAN THE MEMBER WHOSE ACCOUNT OR PROFILE  IS
 THE SUBJECT OF A FRAUD BAN.
   (E)  "FRAUD  BAN"  SHALL  MEAN  WHEN  A MEMBER'S ACCOUNT OR PROFILE IS
 BARRED FROM AN ONLINE  DATING SERVICE BECAUSE, IN THE  JUDGMENT  OF  THE
 SERVICE,  THE  MEMBER  POSES  A SIGNIFICANT RISK OF ATTEMPTING TO OBTAIN
 MONEY FROM OTHER MEMBERS THROUGH FRAUDULENT MEANS.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD03780-01-3
 S. 1759                             2
 
              

2023-S1759A - Details

Law Section:
General Business Law
Laws Affected:
Amd §394-c, Gen Bus L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:
2019-2020: S6300
2021-2022: S1781

2023-S1759A - Summary

Relates to how online dating services handle fraudulent members; requires certain disclosures.

2023-S1759A - Sponsor Memo

2023-S1759A - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  1759--A
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 13, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. SKOUFIS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee  on  Consumer  Protection  --
   committee  discharged,  bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and
   recommitted to said committee
 
 AN ACT to amend the general business law, in relation to  online  dating
   services

   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Section 394-c of the general business law,  as  amended  by
 chapter 468 of the laws of 1996, is amended to read as follows:
   §  394-c.  Limitations  on certain contracts involving social referral
 services.  1. As used in this section, the following  terms  shall  have
 the following meanings:
   (a)  "social  referral  service"  shall  include any service for a fee
 providing matching of members [of the opposite sex], by use of  computer
 or  any  other  means, for the purpose of dating [and] OR general social
 contact.
   (b) "ancillary services" shall refer to goods or services directly  or
 indirectly  related  to  or to be provided in connection with the social
 referral service process, including  but  not  limited  to  photography,
 grooming,  cosmetology,  dating  etiquette,  dating counseling, or other
 services.
   (C) "ONLINE DATING SERVICE" SHALL MEAN  ANY  SOCIAL  REFERRAL  SERVICE
 WHERE  THE SERVICES ARE OFFERED PRIMARILY ONLINE, SUCH AS BY MEANS OF AN
 INTERNET WEBSITE OR A MOBILE APPLICATION.
   (D) "BANNED MEMBER" SHALL MEAN THE MEMBER WHOSE ACCOUNT OR PROFILE  IS
 THE SUBJECT OF A FRAUD BAN.
   (E)  "FRAUD  BAN"  SHALL  MEAN  WHEN  A MEMBER'S ACCOUNT OR PROFILE IS
 BARRED FROM AN ONLINE  DATING SERVICE BECAUSE, IN THE  JUDGMENT  OF  THE
 SERVICE,  THE  MEMBER  POSES  A SIGNIFICANT RISK OF ATTEMPTING TO OBTAIN
 MONEY FROM OTHER MEMBERS THROUGH FRAUDULENT MEANS.

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD03780-05-3
              

co-Sponsors

2023-S1759B (ACTIVE) - Details

Law Section:
General Business Law
Laws Affected:
Amd §394-c, Gen Bus L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:
2019-2020: S6300
2021-2022: S1781

2023-S1759B (ACTIVE) - Summary

Relates to how online dating services handle fraudulent members; requires certain disclosures.

2023-S1759B (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2023-S1759B (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  1759--B
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 13, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. SKOUFIS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee  on  Consumer  Protection  --
   committee  discharged,  bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and
   recommitted to said committee -- committee discharged,  bill  amended,
   ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee

 AN  ACT  to amend the general business law, in relation to online dating
   services
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  Section  394-c of the general business law, as amended by
 chapter 468 of the laws of 1996, is amended to read as follows:
   § 394-c. Limitations on certain contracts  involving  social  referral
 services.    1.  As used in this section, the following terms shall have
 the following meanings:
   (a) "social referral service" shall include  any  service  for  a  fee
 providing  matching of members [of the opposite sex], by use of computer
 or any other means, for the purpose of dating [and]  OR  general  social
 contact.
   (b)  "ancillary services" shall refer to goods or services directly or
 indirectly related to or to be provided in connection  with  the  social
 referral  service  process,  including  but  not limited to photography,
 grooming, cosmetology, dating etiquette,  dating  counseling,  or  other
 services.
   (C)  "ONLINE  DATING  SERVICE"  SHALL MEAN ANY SOCIAL REFERRAL SERVICE
 WHERE THE SERVICES ARE OFFERED PRIMARILY ONLINE, SUCH AS BY MEANS OF  AN
 INTERNET WEBSITE OR A MOBILE APPLICATION.
   (D)  "BANNED MEMBER" SHALL MEAN THE MEMBER WHOSE ACCOUNT OR PROFILE IS
 THE SUBJECT OF A FRAUD BAN.
   (E) "FRAUD BAN" SHALL MEAN WHEN  A  MEMBER'S  ACCOUNT  OR  PROFILE  IS
 BARRED  FROM  AN ONLINE   DATING SERVICE BECAUSE, IN THE JUDGMENT OF THE
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD03780-06-3
 S. 1759--B                          2
              

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