CHILD PROTECTION REGISTRY FEE S.B. 708: COMMITTEE SUMMARY




Senate Bill 708 (as introduced 8-31-05)
Sponsor: Senator Michael D. Bishop
Committee: Technology and Energy


Date Completed: 9-13-05

CONTENT The bill would amend the Michigan Children's Protection Registry Act to increase the amount of the fee stated in the Act for verifying compliance with the Child Protection Registry.

Under the Act, the Department of Labor and Economic Growth (DLEG) must establish and operate the Registry. A parent, guardian, or entity who is responsible for a contact point (e.g., an e-mail address) to which a minor has access may register that contact point with DLEG. Schools or other institutions or entities primarily serving minors also may register contact points.


The Act prohibits a person from sending, causing to be sent, or conspiring with a third party to send a message to a contact point that has been registered for more than 30 calendar days if the message's primary purpose is, directly or indirectly, to advertise or otherwise link to a product or service that a minor is prohibited by law from purchasing, viewing, possessing, participating in, or otherwise receiving. A person who desires to send such a message must use a mechanism as established by DLEG to verify compliance with the Registry, and pay DLEG a fee for access to the mechanism. The Department must set the fee. The fee must be based on the number of contact points checked against the Registry for each time a contact point is checked. Currently, the Act states that the fee may not exceed 0.03 cent.


Eighty-five percent of the fees must be credited to the Children's Protection Registry Fund, and at least 15% must be credited to the Attorney General, for the administration, investigation, enforcement, and defense costs of the Act.


The bill would increase the maximum fee from 0.03 cent to 3 cents.


MCL 752.1063 Legislative Analyst: Julie Koval

FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government. The bill clarifies the fee pursuant to the original intent of the Legislature to charge 3 cents.

Fiscal Analyst: Maria Tyszkiewicz

Analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent. sb708/0506