,i #aad? ,,congress #a/ ,session ,h4 ,r4 #baaj ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,( ,,repres5tatives ,april #bi1 #bjae ,mr4 ,issa 7= himself1 ,mr4 ,swalwell ( ,cali=nia1 ,mr4 ,%]man1 ,mr4 ,f>5?old1 ,ms4 ,e%oo1 & ,mr4 ,coh57 introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,en]gy & ,comm]ce ,a ,,bill ,to prohibit ! use ( c]ta9 clauses 9 =m contracts t re/rict ! ability ( a consum] to communicate reg>d+ ! goods or s]vices t 7 ! subject ( ! contract4 #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z ! ,consum] ,review ,fre$om ,act ( #bjae4 #b4 ,protect+ consum] spee* 7a7 ,prohibition ,a provision ( a =m contract is void f ! inception ( su* contract if su* provision-- 7#a7 prohibits or re/ricts ! ability ( a p]son :o is a p>ty to ! =m contract to engage 9 a cov]$ communication2 7#b7 imposes a p5alty or fee aga9/ a p]son :o is a p>ty to ! =m contract = engag+ 9 a cov]$ communication2 or 7#c7 transf]s or requires ! individual to transf] to any p]son or bus9ess any intellectual prop]ty rights t ! individual may h 9 any o!rwise lawful cov]$ communication ab\t ! p]son or ! goods or s]vices provid$ by ! p]son or bus9ess2 7b7 ,rule ( con/ruction ,no?+ 9 subsection 7a7 %all be con/ru$ to affect-- 7#a7 any duty ( confid5tiality impos$ by law 7includ+ ag5cy guidance72 or 7#b7 any civil action = defamation1 libel1 or sl&]1 or any simil> cause ( action4 7c7 ,exceptions ,subsection 7a7 %all n apply to ! ext5t t a provision ( a =m contract prohibits disclosure ( ! foll[+3 7#a7 ,trade secrets or comm]cial or f9ancial in=mation obta9$ f a p]son & consid]$ privileg$ or confid5tial4 7#b7 ,p]sonnel & m$ical files & simil> files ! disclosure ( :i* w\ld con/itute a cle>ly unw>rant$ invasion ( p]sonal privacy4 7#c7 ,records or in=mation compil$ = law en=cem5t purposes1 ! disclosure ( :i* w\ld con/itute a cle>ly unw>rant$ invasion ( p]sonal privacy4 7d7 ,unlawful conduct ,x %all be unlawful = a bus9ess to (f] or ent] into a =m contract conta9+ a provision describ$ z void 9 subsection 7a74 7e7 ,p5alty ,! ,attorney ,g5]al %all br+ an action aga9/ any bus9ess :o violates subsection 7d7 = a civil p5alty ( n m ?an #af1jjj = ea* day t ! bus9ess s requires ! use ( su* a contract by a di/9ct p]son4 7f7 ,/ate en=cem5t ,! attorney g5]al ( a ,/ate may file an action to en=ce subsection 7d7 seek+ appropriate relief4 ,9 any case 9 :i* ! attorney g5]al ( a ,/ate has reason to believe t an int]e/ ( ! resid5ts ( t ,/ate has be5 or is ?reat5$ or adv]sely affect$ by ! engagem5t ( any p]son 9 a practice t violates any regulation ( ! ,commission prescrib$ "u ?is section1 ! ,/ate1 z p>5s patriae1 may br+ a civil action on behalf ( ! resid5ts ( ! ,/ate 9 a di/rict c\rt ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates ( appropriate jurisdiction to seek appropriate relief4 7g7 ,def9itions 7#a7 ,! t]m p]son means a natural p]son4 7#b7 ,! t]m bus9ess means a legal entity organiz$ to accompli% a bus9ess purpose1 includ+ ei!r =-pr(it or n-=-pr(it4 7#c7 ,! t]m =m contract means a /&>diz$ contract us$ by a bus9ess & impos$ on a p>ty )\t a mean+ful opportunity = said p>ty to negotiate ! /&>diz$ t]ms1 b does n include a contract e/abli%+ an employ]-employee or indep5d5t contractor relation%ip4 7#d7 ,! t]m cov]$ communication means a p]son's writt51 v]bal1 or pictorial review1 p]=mance assessm5t (1 or o!r simil> analysis (1 ! products1 s]vices1 or conduct ( a bus9ess or p]son :i* is a p>ty to ! =m contract4 7#e7 ,! t]m writt5 includes words provid$ by electronic means4 7#f7 ,! t]m v]bal includes spee* provid$ by electronic means4 7#g7 ,! t]m pictorial includes pictures1 photographs1 & video provid$ by electronic means4 7h7 ,effective dates 7#a7 ,subsections 7a71 7b71 7c71 7d71 & 7g7 %all apply to any contracts 9 effect on or aft] date ( enactm5t4 7#b7 ,subsections 7e7 & 7f7 %all apply to any contracts 9 effect on or aft] "o ye> aft] date ( enactm5t4 #c4 ,relation to /ate causes ( action ,no?+ 9 ?is ,act %all be con/ru$ to affect any cause ( action br\ght by a p]son t exi/s or may exi/ "u ,/ate law4