Title: An act relating to radio frequency identification notification.

Brief Description: Regarding notification of radio frequency identification tags.

Sponsors: Senators Fairley and Oemig.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Consumer Protection & Housing: 2/22/07.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON CONSUMER PROTECTION & HOUSING

Staff: Jacob White (786-7448)

Background: Radio frequency identification (RFID) is a term for technologies that use radio waves to automatically identify people or objects. There are several methods of identification, but the most common is to store a serial number that identifies a person or object on a microchip that is attached to an antenna. The chip and the antenna together are called a RFID transponder or a RFID tag. The antenna enables the chip to transmit the identification information to a reader. The reader converts the radio waves reflected back from the RFID tag into digital information that can then be passed on to computers.
   
Articles have raised privacy rights' concerns about RFID technology. Other states, including Utah, California, Missouri, Nevada, and Massachusetts, have considered legislation regarding privacy concerns relating to RFID technology.

Summary of Bill: Those who produce, manufacture, package, distribute, or sell a retail product with a RFID must properly label the product or its package. A proper label must: inform the consumer; be in a conspicuous location; and, be printed in a conspicuous manner. A retailer may not sell a product that is not properly labeled if they know or reasonably should know that it contains a RFID.

Any business that uses RFID must disclose this to its customers.

The consumer protection act applies to this act.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.