BILL REQ. #:  S-0602.2 

Read first time 01/28/2003.   Referred to Committee on Children & Family Services & Corrections.

     AN ACT Relating to international matchmaking organizations; and amending RCW 19.220.010.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1   RCW 19.220.010 and 2002 c 115 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Each international matchmaking organization doing business in Washington state shall disseminate to a recruit, upon request, state background check information and ((marital)) personal history information relating to any Washington state resident about whom any information is provided to the recruit, in the recruit's native language. The organization shall notify all recruits that background check and ((marital)) personal history information is available upon request. The notice that background check and ((marital)) personal history information is available upon request shall be in the recruit's native language and shall be displayed in a manner that separates it from other information, is highly noticeable, and in lettering not less than one-quarter of an inch high.
     (2) If an international matchmaking organization receives a request for information from a recruit pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, the organization shall notify the Washington state resident of the request. Upon receiving notification, the Washington state resident shall obtain from the state patrol and provide to the organization the complete transcript of any background check information provided pursuant to RCW 43.43.760 based on a submission of fingerprint impressions and provided pursuant to RCW 43.43.838 and shall provide to the organization his or her ((marital)) personal history information. The organization shall require the resident to affirm that ((marital)) personal history information is complete and accurate((, and includes any information regarding marriages, annulments, and dissolutions which occurred in other states or countries)). The organization shall refrain from knowingly providing any further services to the recruit or the Washington state resident in regards to facilitating future interaction between the recruit and the Washington state resident until the organization has obtained the requested information and provided it to the recruit.
     (3) This section does not apply to a traditional matchmaking organization of a religious nature that otherwise operates in compliance with the laws of the countries of the recruits of such organization and the laws of the United States nor to any organization that does not charge a fee to any party for the service provided.
     (4) As used in this section:
     (a) "International matchmaking organization" means a corporation, partnership, business, or other legal entity, whether or not organized under the laws of the United States or any state, that does business in the United States and for profit offers to Washington state residents, including aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residence and residing in Washington state, dating, matrimonial, or social referral services involving citizens of a foreign country or countries who are not residing in the United States, by: (i) An exchange of names, telephone numbers, addresses, or statistics; (ii) selection of photographs; or (iii) a social environment provided by the organization in a country other than the United States.
     (b) "((Marital)) Personal history information" means a declaration of the person's current marital status, the number of ((times)) previous marriages, annulments, and dissolutions for the person ((has previously been married)), and whether any previous marriages occurred as a result of receiving services from an international matchmaking organization; founded allegations of child abuse or neglect; and any existing no contact or antiharrassment protection orders. Personal history information shall include information from the state of Washington and any information from other states or countries.
     (c) "Recruit" means a noncitizen, nonresident person, recruited by an international matchmaking organization for the purpose of providing dating, matrimonial, or social referral services.