H.R. 7132 · 117th Congress · House

Safe Connections Act of 2022

Enacted· Became Public Law No: 117-223.
Introduced
Mar 17, 22
Passed House
Jul 27, 22
Passed Senate
Nov 17, 22
Sent to President
Dec 2, 22
Signed into Law
Dec 7, 22

Executive Summary

Safe Connections Act of 2022

This act establishes requirements concerning access to communication services for survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, and related harms.

At a survivor's request, a mobile service provider must separate from a shared mobile service contract the survivor's line (and the line of any individual in the survivor's care) from the abuser's line unless separation is operationally or technologically infeasible. A survivor requesting this must (1) verify through appropriate documentation that an individual under the contract committed or allegedly committed an act of domestic violence, trafficking, or a related criminal act against the survivor; and (2) assume financial responsibility for services after a line separation.

A provider may not charge fees or impose other requirements on such requests. Additionally, a provider must

  • separate the line within two business days of receiving a request;
  • allow requests to be made remotely (if feasible);
  • meet conditions related to confidentiality of, disposal of, and other matters concerning communications about requests; and
  • make information about the process for requests available through consumer-facing communications (e.g., websites).

The act (1) provides liability protection for providers' acts or omissions undertaken to comply with such requests, and (2) requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to adopt rules for these requests.

Additionally, the FCC must (1) expand access to federally subsidized communication services for survivors facing financial hardship, and (2) evaluate this expanded access.

The FCC must also consider rules requiring communication service providers to omit from consumer-facing logs calls and texts to hotlines for domestic violence and similar issues while retaining internal records.

Previous Versions

55Nov 17, 2022

Safe Connections Act of 2022

This bill establishes requirements concerning access to communication services for survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, and related harms.

At a survivor's request, a mobile service provider must separate from a shared mobile service contract the survivor's line (and the line of any individual in the survivor's care) from the abuser's line unless separation is operationally or technologically infeasible. A survivor requesting this must (1) verify through appropriate documentation that an individual under the contract committed or allegedly committed an act of domestic violence, trafficking, or a related criminal act against the survivor; and (2) assume financial responsibility for services after a line separation.

A provider may not charge fees or impose other requirements on such requests. Additionally, a provider must

  • separate the line within two business days of receiving a request;
  • allow requests to be made remotely (if feasible);
  • meet conditions related to confidentiality of, disposal of, and other matters concerning communications about requests; and
  • make information about the process for requests available through consumer-facing communications (e.g., websites).

The bill (1) provides liability protection for providers' acts or omissions undertaken to comply with such requests, and (2) requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to adopt rules for these requests.

Additionally, the FCC must (1) expand access to federally subsidized communication services for survivors facing financial hardship, and (2) evaluate this expanded access.

The FCC must also consider rules requiring communication service providers to omit from consumer-facing logs calls and texts to hotlines for domestic violence and similar issues while retaining internal records.

53Jul 27, 2022

Safe Connections Act of 2022

This bill establishes requirements concerning access to communication services for survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, and related harms.

At a survivor's request, a mobile service provider must separate from a shared mobile service contract the survivor's line (and the line of any individual in the survivor's care) from the abuser's line unless separation is operationally or technologically infeasible. A survivor requesting this must (1) verify through appropriate documentation that an individual under the contract committed or allegedly committed an act of domestic violence, trafficking, or a related criminal act against the survivor; and (2) assume financial responsibility for services after a line separation.

A provider may not charge fees or impose other requirements on such requests. Additionally, a provider must

  • separate the line within two business days of receiving a request;
  • allow requests to be made remotely (if feasible);
  • meet conditions related to confidentiality of, disposal of, and other matters concerning communications about requests; and
  • make information about the process for requests available through consumer-facing communications (e.g., websites).

The bill (1) provides liability protection for providers' acts or omissions undertaken to comply with such requests, and (2) requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to adopt rules for these requests.

Additionally, the FCC must (1) expand access to federally subsidized communication services for survivors facing financial hardship, and (2) evaluate this expanded access.

The FCC must also consider rules requiring communication service providers to omit from consumer-facing logs calls and texts to hotlines for domestic violence and similar issues while retaining internal records.

07Jul 26, 2022

Safe Connections Act of 2022

This bill establishes requirements concerning access to communication services for survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, and related harms.

At a survivor's request, a mobile service provider must separate from a shared mobile service contract the survivor's line (and the line of any individual in the survivor's care) from the abuser's line unless separation is operationally or technologically infeasible. A survivor requesting this must (1) verify through appropriate documentation that an individual under the contract committed or allegedly committed an act of domestic violence, trafficking, or a related criminal act against the survivor; and (2) assume financial responsibility for services after a line separation.

A provider may not charge fees or impose other requirements on such requests. Additionally, a provider must

  • separate the line within two business days of receiving a request;
  • allow requests to be made remotely (if feasible);
  • meet conditions related to confidentiality of, disposal of, and other matters concerning communications about requests; and
  • make information about the process for requests available through consumer-facing communications (e.g., websites).

The bill (1) provides liability protection for providers' acts or omissions undertaken to comply with such requests, and (2) requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to adopt rules for these requests.

Additionally, the FCC must (1) expand access to federally subsidized communication services for survivors facing financial hardship, and (2) evaluate this expanded access.

The FCC must also consider rules requiring communication service providers to omit from consumer-facing logs calls and texts to hotlines for domestic violence and similar issues while retaining internal records.

00Mar 17, 2022

Safe Connections Act of 2022

This bill establishes requirements concerning access to communication services for survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, and related harms.

At a survivor's request, a mobile service provider must separate from a shared mobile service contract the survivor's line (and the line of any individual in the survivor's care) from the abuser's line unless separation is operationally or technologically infeasible. A survivor requesting this must (1) verify through appropriate documentation that an individual under the contract committed or allegedly committed an act of domestic violence, trafficking, or a related criminal act against the survivor; and (2) assume financial responsibility for services after a line separation.

A provider may not charge fees or impose other requirements on such requests. Additionally, a provider must

  • separate the line within two business days of receiving a request;
  • allow requests to be made remotely (if feasible);
  • meet conditions related to confidentiality of, disposal of, and other matters concerning communications about requests; and
  • make information about the process for requests available through consumer-facing communications (e.g., websites).

The bill (1) provides liability protection for providers' acts or omissions undertaken to comply with such requests, and (2) requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to adopt rules for these requests.

Additionally, the FCC must (1) expand access to federally subsidized communication services for survivors facing financial hardship, and (2) evaluate this expanded access.

The FCC must also consider rules requiring communication service providers to omit from consumer-facing logs calls and texts to hotlines for domestic violence and similar issues while retaining internal records.

Action Timeline

28
  1. DEC 07, 2022BecameLaw

    Signed by President.

  2. DEC 07, 2022President

    Signed by President.

  3. DEC 07, 2022BecameLaw

    Became Public Law No: 117-223.

    117Yea
    223Nay
    0NV
  4. DEC 07, 2022President

    Became Public Law No: 117-223.

    117Yea
    223Nay
    0NV
  5. DEC 02, 2022President

    Presented to President.

  6. DEC 02, 2022Floor

    Presented to President.

  7. NOV 25, 2022Floor

    Message on Senate action sent to the House.

  8. NOV 17, 2022Floor

    Passed/agreed to in Senate

    Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S6770)

  9. NOV 17, 2022Floor

    Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent

    (consideration: CR S6770)

  10. JUL 28, 2022IntroReferral

    Received in the Senate, read twice.

  11. JUL 27, 2022Floor

    Pursuant to the provisions of H

    Res. 1254, proceedings on H.R. 7132 are considered vacated.

  12. JUL 27, 2022Floor

    Passed/agreed to in House

    Pursuant to section 5 of H. Res. 1254, and the motion offered by Mr. Kildee, the following bills passed under suspension of the rules: H.R. 623, as amended; H.R. 3952, as amended; H.R. 3962, as amended; H.R. 4551; H.R. 5313, as amended; H.R. 6933; H.R. 7132, as amended; H.R. 7361; H.R. 7569; H.R. 7624, as amended; H.R. 7733, as amended; and H.R. 7981, as amended.(consideration: CR H7197-7211, H7219-7220, H7223-7237; text: 07/26/2022 CR H7103-7105)

    7197Yea
    7211Nay
    0NV
  13. JUL 27, 2022Floor

    Pursuant to section 5 of H

    Res. 1254, and the motion offered by Mr. Kildee, the following bills passed under suspension of the rules: H.R. 623, as amended; H.R. 3952, as amended; H.R. 3962, as amended; H.R. 4551; H.R. 5313, as amended; H.R. 6933; H.R. 7132, as amended; H.R. 7361; H.R. 7569; H.R. 7624, as amended; H.R. 7733, as amended; and H.R. 7981, as amended. (consideration: CR H7197-7211, H7219-7220, H7223-7237; text: 07/26/2022 CR H7103-7105)

    7197Yea
    7211Nay
    0NV
  14. JUL 26, 2022Committee

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 117-438.

    117Yea
    438Nay
    0NV
  15. JUL 26, 2022Committee

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 117-438.

    117Yea
    438Nay
    0NV
  16. JUL 26, 2022Calendars

    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 342.

  17. JUL 26, 2022Floor

    Mr

    Doyle, Michael F. moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

  18. JUL 26, 2022Floor

    Considered under suspension of the rules

    (consideration: CR H7103-7106)

    7103Yea
    7106Nay
    0NV
  19. JUL 26, 2022Floor

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 7132.

  20. JUL 26, 2022Floor

    At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered

    Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

  21. JUL 13, 2022Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

  22. JUL 13, 2022Committee

    Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 53 - 0.

    53Yea
    0Nay
    0NV
  23. JUN 15, 2022Committee

    Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

  24. JUN 15, 2022Committee

    Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by the Yeas and Nays: 29 - 0 .

    29Yea
    0Nay
    0NV
  25. MAR 18, 2022Committee

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.

  26. MAR 17, 2022IntroReferral

    Introduced in House

  27. MAR 17, 2022IntroReferral

    Introduced in House

  28. MAR 17, 2022IntroReferral

    Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Committees

6

Energy and Commerce Committee

hsif00

Referred: Jul 26, 2022

Active

Energy and Commerce Committee

hsif00

Referred: Jul 13, 2022

Active

Communications and Technology Subcommittee

hsif16

Referred: Jun 15, 2022

Active

Communications and Technology Subcommittee

hsif16

Referred: Jun 15, 2022

Active

Communications and Technology Subcommittee

hsif16

Referred: Mar 18, 2022

Active

Energy and Commerce Committee

hsif00

Referred: Mar 17, 2022

Active