California Background Check Legislation; Michigan Moving Forward, California Dead in the Water

OPW SCOOP -- Mar 23 -- My source is council for a major online dating company and informs me that Michigan is moving forward full steam and is debating the legislation right now.  Two weeks ago the bill passed through the Michigan Senate judiciary committee where Match.com and Netcoalition opposed the bill.  Also, a letter from a number of companies opposing the bill was presented.  The legislation was on the floor of Michigan senate earlier today where it came up under 'general orders,' but is not expected to come up for vote until the week of April 11^th, after a two week recess (spring break).  If successful the bill would still need to go through the Michigan house of representatives.  If it passes there, it would go on to the Michigan governor and would pass into law as long as the governor didn't veto it.  So, the industry has an opportunity to weigh in over the next couple of weeks.  Regarding California; the bill’s author has indicated she does not plan to pursue the legislation this year.  It’s dead in the water, for now.  My alternate source is Ravi Mehta of Capitol-Advocates, a lobbyist who has been monitoring the bill, and he affirms that the author of the California bill is not moving forward.  However, there is another bill in California (ab766 chavez) that calls for online dating sites to remove profiles when users request them to be removed.  There’s always the chance that this bill (or others) could be amended with some of the language from the background checks legislation. 

Mark Brooks: Marc has the bills published in their entirety at idate2005.com fyi