HB 2667-S - DIGEST

(DIGEST OF PROPOSED 1ST SUBSTITUTE)

     Finds that foreign women entering the United States and the state of Washington as brides through businesses that match foreign women to men in the United States often suffer emotional and physical abuse at the hands of their husbands.

     Declares an intent to provide protection to these women by regulating businesses that match foreign women to men in the United States by requiring these businesses to provide: To foreign women, information about their rights under the laws, including the right to be free from emotional and physical abuse and the resources available to them to combat such abuse; and to men in the United States who are seeking social referral services with foreign women, information on the culture and customs of the foreign women.

     Declares that a person or business may not offer foreign social referral services in the state of Washington without having first obtained a foreign social referral service license issued by the department.

     Authorizes the director to investigate complaints concerning practice by unlicensed persons or business for which a license is required by this act.

     Declares that a person who attempts to obtain, obtains, or attempts to maintain a license by willful misrepresentation or fraudulent representation is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.

     Provides that an application for license must be made to the department on forms provided by the department and must contain that information as the department reasonably requires.  An application for license must be accompanied by a license fee established by the department under RCW 43.24.086.