Legis Daily

Safe Connections Act of 2022

USA117th CongressS-120| Senate 
| Updated: 3/24/2022
Brian Schatz

Brian Schatz

Democratic Senator

Hawaii

Cosponsors (8)
Rick Scott (Republican)Dianne Feinstein (Democratic)Catherine Cortez Masto (Democratic)Jacky Rosen (Democratic)Deb Fischer (Republican)Ron Wyden (Democratic)Richard Blumenthal (Democratic)Shelley Moore Capito (Republican)

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
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.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
3 versions available

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Timeline
Jan 28, 2021
Introduced in Senate
Jan 28, 2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Apr 28, 2021
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Dec 16, 2021
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cantwell with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Dec 16, 2021
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 193.
Mar 17, 2022
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.(text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S1257-1259)
Mar 17, 2022
Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote. (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S1257-1259)
Mar 17, 2022
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S1246-1248)
Mar 17, 2022
The committee substitute withdrawn by Unanimous Consent.
Mar 22, 2022
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Mar 24, 2022
Received in the House.
Mar 24, 2022
Held at the desk.
Dec 7, 2022

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 117-7132
Signed by President.
  • January 28, 2021
    Introduced in Senate


  • January 28, 2021
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.


  • April 28, 2021
    Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.


  • December 16, 2021
    Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cantwell with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.


  • December 16, 2021
    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 193.


  • March 17, 2022
    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.(text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S1257-1259)


  • March 17, 2022
    Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote. (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S1257-1259)


  • March 17, 2022
    Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S1246-1248)


  • March 17, 2022
    The committee substitute withdrawn by Unanimous Consent.


  • March 22, 2022
    Message on Senate action sent to the House.


  • March 24, 2022
    Received in the House.


  • March 24, 2022
    Held at the desk.


  • December 7, 2022

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 117-7132
    Signed by President.

Science, Technology, Communications

Related Bills

  • HR 117-7132: Safe Connections Act of 2022
Administrative law and regulatory proceduresAssault and harassment offensesBusiness recordsCivil actions and liabilityCongressional oversightConsumer affairsCrimes against womenCrime victimsDomestic violence and child abuseEmergency communications systemsFederal Communications Commission (FCC)Government information and archivesHuman traffickingRight of privacySex offensesTelecommunication rates and feesTelephone and wireless communication

Safe Connections Act of 2022

USA117th CongressS-120| Senate 
| Updated: 3/24/2022
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.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
3 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Jan 28, 2021
Introduced in Senate
Jan 28, 2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Apr 28, 2021
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Dec 16, 2021
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cantwell with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Dec 16, 2021
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 193.
Mar 17, 2022
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.(text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S1257-1259)
Mar 17, 2022
Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote. (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S1257-1259)
Mar 17, 2022
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S1246-1248)
Mar 17, 2022
The committee substitute withdrawn by Unanimous Consent.
Mar 22, 2022
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Mar 24, 2022
Received in the House.
Mar 24, 2022
Held at the desk.
Dec 7, 2022

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 117-7132
Signed by President.
  • January 28, 2021
    Introduced in Senate


  • January 28, 2021
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.


  • April 28, 2021
    Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.


  • December 16, 2021
    Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cantwell with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.


  • December 16, 2021
    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 193.


  • March 17, 2022
    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.(text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S1257-1259)


  • March 17, 2022
    Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote. (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S1257-1259)


  • March 17, 2022
    Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S1246-1248)


  • March 17, 2022
    The committee substitute withdrawn by Unanimous Consent.


  • March 22, 2022
    Message on Senate action sent to the House.


  • March 24, 2022
    Received in the House.


  • March 24, 2022
    Held at the desk.


  • December 7, 2022

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 117-7132
    Signed by President.
Brian Schatz

Brian Schatz

Democratic Senator

Hawaii

Cosponsors (8)
Rick Scott (Republican)Dianne Feinstein (Democratic)Catherine Cortez Masto (Democratic)Jacky Rosen (Democratic)Deb Fischer (Republican)Ron Wyden (Democratic)Richard Blumenthal (Democratic)Shelley Moore Capito (Republican)

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

Science, Technology, Communications

Related Bills

  • HR 117-7132: Safe Connections Act of 2022
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Administrative law and regulatory proceduresAssault and harassment offensesBusiness recordsCivil actions and liabilityCongressional oversightConsumer affairsCrimes against womenCrime victimsDomestic violence and child abuseEmergency communications systemsFederal Communications Commission (FCC)Government information and archivesHuman traffickingRight of privacySex offensesTelecommunication rates and feesTelephone and wireless communication