Georgia House of Representatives - 1995/1996 Sessions

HB 166 - Dating Service Act of 1995; enact

Page Numbers - 1/ 2/ 3

Code Sections - 10-1-393.5

1. Bannister  77th        2. Johnson  97th


House Comm: Ind        /                Senate Comm:            /                                   
House Vote: Yeas       Nays             Senate Vote: Yeas     Nays                                  
              ----------------------------------------                                              
               House          Action         Senate                                                 
              ----------------------------------------                                              
              1/12/95  Read 1st Time                                                                
              1/13/95  Read 2nd Time                                                                
              2/8/96   Favorably Reported                                                           
              Sub      Committee Amend/Sub                                                          
              ----------------------------------------                                              
                                                                                                    
Code Sections amended: 10-1-1000, 10-1-1001, 10-1-1002, 10-1-1003, 10-1-1004,                       
10-1-1005, 10-1-1006, 10-1-1007, 10-1-1008, 10-1-1009, 10-1-1010, 10-1011,                          
10-1-1012, 10-1-1013, 10-1-1014, 10-1-1015                                                          


HB 166                                            LC 18 7359S






                        A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
                               AN ACT


  1- 1  To amend Part 2 of Article 15 of Chapter 1 of Title 10 of
  1- 2  the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, the "Fair Business
  1- 3  Practices Act of 1975," so as to provide for the regulation
  1- 4  of dating or introduction services; to provide for a
  1- 5  definition; to provide for requirements regarding contracts;
  1- 6  to provide for cancellation procedures; to provide an
  1- 7  effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other
  1- 8  purposes.

  1- 9       BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

                         SECTION 1.

  1-10  Part 2 of Article 15 of Chapter 1 of Title 10 of the
  1-11  Official Code of Georgia Annotated, the "Fair Business
  1-12  Practices Act of 1975," is amended by adding a new paragraph
  1-13  immediately following paragraph (3) of subsection (a) of
  1-14  Code Section 10-1-392, relating to definitions, to be
  1-15  designated paragraph (3.1), to read as follows:

  1-16      "(3.1) 'Dating or introduction service' means an
  1-17      establishment which provides, as one of its primary
  1-18      purposes, a referral and dating service for its members.
  1-19      For a fee, the dating service purportedly refers
  1-20      compatible candidates to other members of the service
  1-21      after a detailed comparison of the member's physical
  1-22      characteristics, including but not limited to age, sex,
  1-23      or race; education; occupation; hobbies and certain
  1-24      specified preferences, including but not limited to
  1-25      smoker or nonsmoker, religious preference, or other
  1-26      preferences."

                         SECTION 2.

  1-27  Said part is further amended by adding a new Code section
  1-28  immediately following Code Section 10-1-393.4, to be
  1-29  designated Code Section 10-1-393.5, to read as follows:





                                 -1- (Index)

                                                 LC 18 7359S

  2- 1    "10-1-393.5. (Index)

  2- 2    (a) Dating or introduction services shall comply with the
  2- 3    provisions of this Code section.

  2- 4    (b) A written contract shall be employed which shall
  2- 5    constitute the entire agreement between the parties.  A
  2- 6    fully completed copy of such contract shall be furnished
  2- 7    to the consumer at the time of its execution and shall
  2- 8    show the dates of the transaction and the name and address
  2- 9    of the seller.

  2-10    (c) Such contract shall state clearly on its face the
  2-11    cancellation policies of the seller.  Each such contract
  2-12    shall contain the following, appropriately filled out, in
  2-13    14 point boldface type at least as legible as Helvetica
  2-14    font and in bolder print than any other material in the
  2-15    contract:

  2-16      'You (the buyer) have 14 business days to cancel this
  2-17      contract.  To cancel, mail or hand deliver a letter to
  2-18      the following address:

  2-19        ______________________________________
  2-20        Name of dating or introduction service

  2-21        ______________________________________
  2-22        Address

  2-23        ______________________________________
  2-24        City, State, ZIP Code

  2-25      It is recommended that you send your cancellation notice
  2-26      by registered or certified mail, return receipt
  2-27      requested, or if hand delivered, you should obtain a
  2-28      dated, signed statement from a representative of the
  2-29      seller acknowledging receipt of your cancellation
  2-30      notice.'

  2-31    (d) Upon cancellation, the buyer shall be entitled to a
  2-32    refund of all moneys paid.  If payment was made by credit
  2-33    card, the seller will immediately cause a credit to be
  2-34    issued to buyer's credit account.

  2-35    (e) Upon cancellation or expiration of the buyer's dating
  2-36    service contract, all personal information about the buyer
  2-37    including, but not limited to, forms, video tapes, and
  2-38    photographs shall be returned to the buyer."





                                 -2- (Index)

                                                 LC 18 7359S

                         SECTION 3.

  3- 1  This Act shall become effective upon its approval by the
  3- 2  Governor or upon its becoming law without such approval.

                         SECTION 4.

  3- 3  All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are
  3- 4  repealed.









































                                 -3- (Index)