Sec. 21a-435. Online dating operator. Definitions.
Sec. 21a-440. Online dating operator. Online safety center and harassment report policy.
Sec. 21a-446. Automated kiosks for consumer electronics.
Sec. 21a-435. Online dating operator. Definitions. As used in this section and sections 21a-436 to 21a-440, inclusive:
(1) “Connecticut user” means a user who provides a Connecticut home address or zip code when registering with an online dating operator or a user who is known or determined by an online dating operator or its online dating platform to be in Connecticut at the time of registration;
(2) “Criminal background screening” means a name search for an individual's history of criminal convictions that is conducted by searching an (A) available and regularly updated government public record database that in the aggregate provides national coverage for searching an individual's history of criminal convictions; or (B) a regularly updated database maintained by a private vendor that provides national coverage for searching an individual's history of criminal convictions and sexual offender registries;
(3) “Criminal conviction” means a conviction for a crime in this state, another state, or under federal law;
(4) “Online dating” means the act of using a digital service to initiate relationships with other individuals for the purpose of romance, sex or marriage;
(5) “Online dating operator” means a person who operates a software application designed to facilitate online dating;
(6) “Online dating platform” means a digital service designed to allow users to interact through the Internet to participate in online dating; and
(7) “User” means an individual who uses the online dating services of an online dating operator.
(P.A. 22-82, S. 1; P.A. 23-56, S. 14.)
History: P.A. 23-56 substituted reference to Sec. 21a-440 for reference to Sec. 21a-439 in introductory language, effective January 1, 2024.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 21a-439. Online dating operator. Fines, investigations and hearings. Powers of the Department and Commissioner of Consumer Protection. (a) The Department of Consumer Protection may issue fines of not more than twenty-five thousand dollars per violation, accept an offer in compromise, or take other actions permitted by the general statutes or the regulations of Connecticut state agencies if an online dating operator fails to comply with the provisions of sections 21a-435 to 21a-438, inclusive, and section 21a-440.
(b) The Commissioner of Consumer Protection, or the commissioner's designee, may conduct investigations and hold hearings on any matter under the provisions of this section, sections 21a-435 to 21a-438, inclusive, and section 21a-440. The commissioner, or the commissioner's designee, may issue subpoenas, administer oaths, compel testimony and order the production of books, records and documents. If any person refuses to appear, to testify or to produce any book, record or document when so ordered, upon application of the commissioner or the commissioner's designee, a judge of the Superior Court may make such order as may be appropriate to aid in the enforcement of this section.
(c) The Attorney General, at the request of the commissioner or the commissioner's designee, may apply in the name of the state to the Superior Court for an order temporarily or permanently restraining and enjoining any person from violating any provision of this section, sections 21a-435 to 21a-438, inclusive, and section 21a-440.
(P.A. 22-82, S. 5; P.A. 23-56, S. 16.)
History: P.A. 23-56 added references to Sec. 21a-440 throughout, effective January 1, 2024.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 21a-440. Online dating operator. Online safety center and harassment report policy. (a) Each online dating operator that offers services to Connecticut users shall maintain an online safety center, which shall be reasonably designed to provide Connecticut users with resources concerning safe dating. Each online safety center maintained pursuant to this subsection shall provide: (1) An explanation of the online dating operator's reporting mechanism for harmful or unwanted behavior; (2) safety advice for use when communicating online and meeting in person; (3) a link to an Internet web site or a telephone number where a Connecticut user may access resources concerning domestic violence and sexual harassment; and (4) educational information concerning romance scams.
(b) Each online dating operator that offers services to Connecticut users shall adopt a policy for the online dating platform's handling of harassment reports by or between users.
(P.A. 23-56, S. 15.)
History: P.A. 23-56 effective January 1, 2024.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 21a-446. Automated kiosks for consumer electronics. (a) For the purposes of this section, “automated kiosk for consumer electronics” or “kiosk” means an interactive device that allows consumers to recycle or sell their used personal electronic devices.
(b) No person shall operate an automated kiosk for consumer electronics in this state except in accordance with the provisions of this section. Each automated kiosk for consumer electronics in this state shall:
(1) Be installed inside a secure retail space;
(2) Verify each consumer's identity by remotely examining a current, valid and government-issued photo identification card issued to such consumer and comparing the image on such card to real-time images of such consumer captured by such kiosk;
(3) Remit to each consumer a cash or electronic payment for each used personal electronic device such consumer recycles or sells through such kiosk;
(4) Securely store all used personal electronic devices a consumer recycles or sells through such kiosk at the end of each transaction;
(5) Capture and store images of each consumer who recycles or sells any used personal electronic device through such kiosk and each such used personal electronic device; and
(6) Be capable of reporting all transactional data and images to state and local law enforcement agencies and officers.
(c) Each automated kiosk for consumer electronics in this state shall maintain a record of all information such kiosk collects pursuant to subsection (b) of this section for three years following the date of the transaction in which such kiosk collected such information. At any time during such three-year period, a state or local law enforcement agency or officer may request that the operator of such kiosk provide such information to such law enforcement agency or officer. Such operator shall provide such information to the requesting state or local law enforcement agency or officer during normal business hours and not later than ten business days after such operator receives such request.
(d) No automated kiosk for consumer electronics in this state may recycle, sell or otherwise dispose of any used personal electronic device a consumer sells to such kiosk for fifteen days after the consumer sells such used personal electronic device to such kiosk. At any time during such fifteen-day period, a state or local law enforcement agency or officer may request that the operator of such kiosk provide such used personal electronic device to such law enforcement agency or officer for inspection. Such operator shall provide such used personal electronic device to the requesting state or local law enforcement agency or officer for inspection during normal business hours and not later than ten business days after such operator receives such request.
(e) No automated kiosk for consumer electronics in this state may purchase any used personal electronic device from a person who is younger than eighteen years of age.
(f) (1) No automated kiosk for consumer electronics in this state that satisfies the requirements established in subsections (a) to (e), inclusive, of this section shall be deemed to be a junk yard, as defined in section 21-9, or a recycling facility or recycling center, as such terms are defined in section 22a-207.
(2) No person who operates an automated kiosk for consumer electronics in this state in compliance with the provisions of subsections (a) to (e), inclusive, of this section shall be deemed to be a junk dealer, as defined in section 21-9, or a pawnbroker or secondhand dealer, as such terms are defined in section 21-39a.
(P.A. 23-109, S. 1.)
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |