#aagth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #abj ,,an ,,act ,to prevent and respond to the misuse of communications services that facilitates domestic violence and other crimes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,safe ,connections ,act of #bjbb4 #b4 ,definitions ,except as otherwise provided in this ,act1 terms used in this ,act that are defined in section #cde7;a7 of the ,communications ,act of #aicd1 as added by section #d of this ,act1 have the meanings given those terms in such section #cde7;a74 #c4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,domestic violence1 dating violence1 stalking1 sexual assault1 human trafficking1 and related crimes are life-threatening issues and have lasting and harmful effects on individuals1 families1 and entire communities4 7#b7 ,survivors often lack meaningful support and options when establishing independence from an abuser1 including barriers such as financial insecurity and limited access to reliable communications tools to maintain essential connections with family1 social safety networks1 employers1 and support services4 7#c7 ,perpetrators of violence and abuse described in paragraph 7#a7 increasingly use technological and communications tools to exercise control over1 monitor1 and abuse their victims4 7#d7 ,communications law can play a public interest role in the promotion of safety1 life1 and property with respect to the types of violence and abuse described in paragraph 7#a74 ,for example1 independent access to a wireless phone plan can assist survivors in establishing security and autonomy4 7#e7 ,safeguards within communications services can serve a role in preventing abuse and narrowing the digital divide experienced by survivors of abuse4 #d4 ,protection of domestic violence survivors within communications services ,part ,i of title ,,iii of the ,communications ,act of #aicd 7#dg ,u4,s4,c4 #cja et seq47 is amended by adding at the end the following3 #cde4 ,protection of survivors of domestic violence1 human trafficking1 and related crimes 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,abuser ,the term abuser means an individual who has committed or allegedly committed a covered act against-- 7,a7 an individual who seeks relief under subsection 7b72 or 7,b7 an individual in the care of an individual who seeks relief under subsection 7b74 7#b7 ,covered act 7,a7 ,in general ,the term covered act means conduct that constitutes-- 7i7 a crime described in section #djjjb7;a7 of the ,violence ,against ,women ,act of #aiid 7#cd ,u4,s4,c4 #abbia7;a771 including domestic violence1 dating violence1 sexual assault1 stalking1 and sex trafficking2 7ii7 an act or practice described in paragraph 7#aa7 or 7#ab7 of section #ajc of the ,trafficking ,victims ,protection ,act of #bjjj 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #gajb7 7relating to severe forms of trafficking in persons and sex trafficking1 respectively72 or 7iii7 an act under ,state law1 ,tribal law1 or the ,uniform ,code of ,military ,justice that is similar to an offense described in clause 7i7 or 7ii74 7,b7 ,conviction not required ,nothing in subparagraph 7,a7 shall be construed to require a criminal conviction or any other determination of a court in order for conduct to constitute a covered act4 7#c7 ,covered provider ,the term covered provider means a provider of a private mobile service or commercial mobile service1 as those terms are defined in section #ccb7;d74 7#d7 ,primary account holder ,the term primary account holder means an individual who is a party to a mobile service contract with a covered provider4 7#e7 ,shared mobile service contract ,the term shared mobile service contract-- 7,a7 means a mobile service contract for an account that includes not less than #b consumers2 and 7,b7 does not include enterprise services offered by a covered provider4 7#f7 ,survivor ,the term survivor means an individual who is not less than #ah years old and-- 7,a7 against whom a covered act has been committed or allegedly committed2 or 7,b7 who cares for another individual against whom a covered act has been committed or allegedly committed 7provided that the individual providing care did not commit or allegedly commit the covered act74 7b7 ,separation of lines from shared mobile service contract 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #b business days after receiving a completed line separation request from a survivor pursuant to subsection 7c71 a covered provider shall1 as applicable1 with respect to a shared mobile service contract under which the survivor and the abuser each use a line-- 7,a7 separate the line of the survivor1 and the line of any individual in the care of the survivor1 from the shared mobile service contract2 or 7,b7 separate the line of the abuser from the shared mobile service contract4 7#b7 ,limitations on penalties1 fees1 and other requirements ,except as provided in paragraphs 7#e7 through 7#h71 a covered provider may not make separation of a line from a shared mobile service contract under paragraph 7#a7 contingent on any requirement other than the requirements under subsection 7c71 including-- 7,a7 payment of a fee1 penalty1 or other charge2 7,b7 maintaining contractual or billing responsibility of a separated line with the provider2 7,c7 approval of separation by the primary account holder1 if the primary account holder is not the survivor2 7,d7 a prohibition or limitation1 including one described in subparagraph 7,a71 on number portability1 provided such portability is technically feasible1 or a request to change phone numbers2 7,e7 a prohibition or limitation on the separation of lines as a result of arrears accrued by the account2 7,f7 an increase in the rate charged for the mobile service plan of the primary account holder with respect to service on any remaining line or lines2 or 7,g7 any other limitation or requirement not listed under subsection 7c74 7#c7 ,rule of construction ,nothing in paragraph 7#b7 shall be construed to require a covered provider to provide a rate plan for the primary account holder that is not otherwise commercially available4 7#d7 ,remote option ,a covered provider shall offer a survivor the ability to submit a line separation request under subsection 7c7 through secure remote means that are easily navigable1 provided that remote options are commercially available and technically feasible4 7#e7 ,responsibility for transferred telephone numbers ,notwithstanding paragraph 7#b71 beginning on the date on which a covered provider transfers billing responsibilities for and rights to a telephone number or numbers to a survivor under paragraph 7#a77;,a7 in response to a line separation request submitted by the survivor under subsection 7c71 unless ordered otherwise by a court1 the survivor shall assume financial responsibility1 including for monthly service costs1 for the transferred telephone number or numbers4 7#f7 ,responsibility for transferred telephone numbers from a survivor's account ,notwithstanding paragraph 7#b71 upon the transfer of a telephone number under paragraph 7#a77;,b7 in response to a line separation request submitted by a survivor under subsection 7c71 the survivor shall have no further financial responsibilities to the transferring covered provider for the services provided by the transferring covered provider for the telephone number or for any mobile device associated with the telephone number4 7#g7 ,responsibility for mobile device ,notwithstanding paragraph 7#b71 beginning on the date on which a covered provider transfers billing responsibilities for and rights to a telephone number or numbers to a survivor under paragraph 7#a77;,a7 in response to a line separation request submitted by the survivor under subsection 7c71 unless otherwise ordered by a court1 the survivor shall not assume financial responsibility for any mobile device associated with the separated line1 unless the survivor purchased the mobile device1 or affirmatively elects to maintain possession of the mobile device4 7#h7 ,notice to survivor ,if a covered provider separates a line from a shared mobile service contract under paragraph 7#a7 and the primary account holder is not the survivor1 the covered provider shall notify the survivor of the date on which the covered provider intends to give any formal notice to the primary account holder4 7c7 ,line separation request 7#a7 ,in general ,a survivor shall submit to the covered provider a line separation request that-- 7,a7 verifies that an individual who uses a line under the shared mobile service contract has committed or allegedly committed a covered act against the survivor or an individual in the survivor's care1 by providing-- 7i7 a copy of a signed affidavit from a licensed medical or mental health care provider1 licensed military medical or mental health care provider1 licensed social worker1 victim services provider1 or licensed military victim services provider1 or an employee of a court1 acting within the scope of that person's employment2 or 7ii7 a copy of a police report1 statements provided by police1 including military police1 to magistrates or judges1 charging documents1 protective or restraining orders1 military protective orders1 or any other official record that documents the covered act2 7,b7 in the case of relief sought under subsection 7b77#a77;,a71 with respect to-- 7i7 a line used by the survivor that the survivor seeks to have separated1 states that the survivor is the user of that specific line2 and 7ii7 a line used by an individual in the care of the survivor that the survivor seeks to have separated1 includes an affidavit setting forth that the individual-- 7,i7 is in the care of the survivor2 and 7,,ii7 is the user of that specific line2 and 7,c7 requests relief under subparagraph 7,a7 or 7,b7 of subsection 7b77#a7 and identifies each line that should be separated4 7#b7 ,communications from covered providers 7,a7 ,in general ,a covered provider shall notify a survivor seeking relief under subsection 7b7 in clear and accessible language that the covered provider may contact the survivor1 or designated representative of the survivor1 to confirm the line separation1 or if the covered provider is unable to complete the line separation for any reason1 pursuant to subparagraphs 7,b7 and 7,c74 7,b7 ,remote means ,a covered provider shall notify a survivor under subparagraph 7,a7 through remote means1 provided that remote means are commercially available and technically feasible4 7,c7 ,election of manner of contact ,when completing a line separation request submitted by a survivor through remote means under paragraph 7#a71 a covered provider shall allow the survivor to elect in the manner in which the covered provider may-- 7i7 contact the survivor1 or designated representative of the survivor1 in response to the request1 if necessary2 or 7ii7 notify the survivor1 or designated representative of the survivor1 of the inability of the covered provider to complete the line separation4 7#c7 ,enhanced protections under ,state law ,this subsection shall not affect any law or regulation of a ,state providing communications protections for survivors 7or any similar category of individuals7 that has less stringent requirements for providing evidence of a covered act 7or any similar category of conduct7 than this subsection4 7d7 ,confidential and secure treatment of personal information 7#a7 ,in general ,notwithstanding section #bbb7;c77#b71 a covered provider and any officer1 director1 employee1 vendor1 or agent thereof shall treat any information submitted by a survivor under subsection 7c7 as confidential and securely dispose of the information not later than #ij days after receiving the information4 7#b7 ,rule of construction ,nothing in paragraph 7#a7 shall be construed to prohibit a covered provider from maintaining1 for longer than the period specified in that paragraph1 a record that verifies that a survivor fulfilled the conditions of a line separation request under subsection 7c74 7e7 ,availability of information to consumers ,a covered provider shall make information about the options and process described in subsections 7b7 and 7c7 readily available to consumers-- 7#a7 on the website and the mobile application of the provider2 7#b7 in physical stores2 and 7#c7 in other forms of public-facing consumer communication4 7f7 ,technical infeasibility 7#a7 ,in general ,the requirement to effectuate a line separation request pursuant to subsection 7b77#a7 shall not apply to a covered provider if the covered provider cannot operationally or technically effectuate the request4 7#b7 ,notification ,if a covered provider cannot operationally or technically effectuate a line separation request as described in paragraph 7#a71 the covered provider shall-- 7,a7 notify the survivor who submitted the request of that infeasibility-- 7i7 at the time of the request2 or 7ii7 in the case of a survivor who has submitted the request using remote means1 not later than #b business days after receiving the request2 and 7,b7 provide the survivor with information about other alternatives to submitting a line separation request1 including starting a new line of service4 7g7 ,liability protection 7#a7 ,in general ,a covered provider and any officer1 director1 employee1 vendor1 or agent thereof shall not be subject to liability for any claims deriving from an action taken or omission made with respect to compliance with this section and the rules adopted to implement this section4 7#b7 ,commission authority ,nothing in this subsection shall limit the authority of the ,commission to enforce this section or any rules or regulations promulgated by the ,commission pursuant to this section4 4 #e4 ,rulemaking on protections for survivors of domestic violence 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section-- 7#a7 the term ,affordable ,connectivity ,program means the program established under section #ijd7;b7 of division ,n of the ,consolidated ,appropriations ,act1 #bjba 7,public ,law #aaf-bfj71 as amended by section #fjejb of the ,infrastructure ,investment and ,jobs ,act 7,public ,law #aag-eh71 or any successor program2 7#b7 the term appropriate congressional committees means the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation of the ,senate and the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce of the ,house of ,representatives2 7#c7 the term ,commission means the ,federal ,communications ,commission2 7#d7 the term covered hotline means a hotline related to domestic violence1 dating violence1 sexual assault1 stalking1 sex trafficking1 severe forms of trafficking in persons1 or any other similar act2 7#e7 the term designated program means the program designated by the ,commission under subsection 7c77#c77;,a77i7 to provide emergency communications support to survivors2 7#f7 the term ,lifeline program means the program set forth in subpart ,e of part #ed of title #dg1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or any successor regulation72 and 7#g7 the term text message has the meaning given the term in section #bbg7;e7 of the ,communications ,act of #aicd 7#dg ,u4,s4,c4 #bbg7;e774 7b7 ,rulemakings 7#a7 ,line separations 7,a7 ,in general ,not later than #ah months after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,commission shall adopt rules to implement section #cde of the ,communications ,act of #aicd1 as added by section #d of this ,act4 7,b7 ,considerations ,in adopting rules under subparagraph 7,a71 the ,commission shall consider-- 7i7 privacy protections2 7ii7 account security and fraud detection2 7iii7 account billing procedures2 7iv7 procedures for notification of survivors about line separation processes2 7v7 notice to account holders2 7vi7 situations in which a covered provider cannot operationally or technically separate a telephone number or numbers from a shared service plan such that the provider cannot effectuate a line separation request2 7vii7 the requirements for remote submission of a line separation request1 including how that option facilitates submission of verification information and meets the other requirements of section #cde of the ,communications ,act of #aicd1 as added by section #d of this ,act2 7viii7 feasibility of remote options for small covered providers2 7ix7 implementation timelines1 including those for small covered providers2 7x7 financial responsibility for transferred telephone numbers2 7xi7 whether and how the survivor can affirmatively elect to take financial responsibility for the mobile device associated with the separated line2 7xii7 compliance with subpart ,u of part #fd of title #dg1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations1 or any successor regulations 7relating to customer proprietary network information7 or any other legal or law enforcement requirements2 and 7xiii7 ensuring covered providers have the necessary account information to comply with the rules and with section #cde of the ,communications ,act of #aicd1 as added by section #d of this ,act4 7#b7 ,emergency communications support for survivors 7,a7 ,in general ,not later than #ah months after the date of enactment of this ,act1 or as part of a general rulemaking proceeding relating to the ,lifeline program or the ,affordable ,connectivity ,program1 whichever occurs earlier1 the ,commission shall adopt rules that-- 7i7 designate a single program1 which shall be either the ,lifeline program or the ,affordable ,connectivity ,program1 to provide emergency communications support to survivors in accordance with this paragraph2 and 7ii7 allow a survivor who is suffering from financial hardship and meets the requirements under section #cde7;c77#a7 of the ,communications ,act of #aicd1 as added by section #d of this ,act1 without regard to whether the survivor meets the otherwise applicable eligibility requirements of the designated program1 to-- 7,i7 enroll in the designated program as quickly as is feasible2 and 7,,ii7 participate in the designated program based on such qualifications for not more than #f months4 7,b7 ,considerations ,in adopting rules under subparagraph 7,a71 the ,commission shall consider-- 7i7 how survivors who are eligible for relief and elected to separate a line under section #cde7;c77#a7 of the ,communications ,act of #aicd1 as added by section #d of this ,act1 but whose lines could not be separated due to operational or technical infeasibility1 can participate in the designated program2 and 7ii7 confidentiality in the transfer and retention of any necessary documentation regarding the eligibility of a survivor to enroll in the designated program4 7,c7 ,evaluation ,not later than #b years after completing the rulemaking under subparagraph 7,a71 the ,commission shall-- 7i7 evaluate the effectiveness of the ,commission's provision of support to survivors through the designated program2 7ii7 assess the detection and elimination of fraud1 waste1 and abuse with respect to the support described in clause 7i72 and 7iii7 submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that includes the evaluation and assessment described in clauses 7i7 and 7ii71 respectively4 7,d7 ,rule of construction ,nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to limit the ability of a survivor who meets the requirements under section #cde7;c77#a7 of the ,communications ,act of #aicd1 as added by section #d of this ,act1 to participate in the designated program indefinitely if the survivor otherwise qualifies for the designated program under the rules of the designated program4 7,e7 ,notification ,a provider of wireless communications services that receives a line separation request pursuant to section #cde of the ,communications ,act of #aicd1 as added by section #d of this ,act1 shall inform the survivor who submitted the request of-- 7i7 the existence of the designated program2 7ii7 who qualifies to participate in the designated program under the rules adopted under subparagraph 7,a7 that are specially applicable to survivors2 and 7iii7 how to participate in the designated program under the rules described in clause 7ii74 7#c7 ,hotline calls 7,a7 ,in general ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,commission shall commence a rulemaking proceeding to consider whether to1 and how the ,commission should-- 7i7 establish1 and update on a monthly basis1 a central database of covered hotlines to be used by providers of wireless communications services or wireline voice services2 and 7ii7 require providers of wireless communications services or wireline voice services to omit from consumer-facing logs of calls or text messages any records of calls or text messages to covered hotlines in the central database described in clause 7i71 while maintaining internal records of those calls and messages4 7,b7 ,considerations ,the rulemaking conducted under subparagraph 7,a7 shall include consideration of-- 7i7 the ability of law enforcement agencies or survivors to access a log of calls or text messages in a criminal investigation or civil proceeding2 7ii7 the ability of providers of wireless communication services or wireline voice services to-- 7,i7 identify logs that are consumer-facing2 and 7,,ii7 omit certain consumer-facing logs1 while maintaining internal records of such calls and text messages2 and 7iii7 any other factors associated with the implementation of clauses 7i7 and 7ii7 to protect survivors of domestic violence1 including factors that may impact smaller providers4 7,c7 ,no effect on law enforcement ,nothing in subparagraph 7,a7 shall be construed to-- 7i7 limit or otherwise affect the ability of a law enforcement agency to access a log of calls or text messages in a criminal investigation2 or 7ii7 alter or otherwise expand provider requirements under the ,communications ,assistance for ,law ,enforcement ,act 7,public ,law #ajc-dad2 #ajh ,stat4 #dbgi7 or the amendments made by that ,act4 7,d7 ,compliance ,if the ,commission establishes a central database through the rulemaking under subparagraph 7,a7 and a covered provider updates its own databases to match the central database not less frequently than once every #cj days1 no cause of action shall lie or be maintained in any court against the covered provider or its officers1 employees1 or agents for claims deriving from omission from consumer-facing logs of calls or text messages any records of calls or text messages to covered hotlines in the central database4 #f4 ,effective date ,the requirements under section #cde of the ,communications ,act of #aicd1 as added by section #d of this ,act1 shall take effect #fj days after the date on which the ,federal ,communications ,commission adopts the rules implementing that section pursuant to section #e7;b77#b7 of this ,act4 #g4 ,savings clause ,nothing in this ,act or the amendments made by this ,act shall be construed to abrogate1 limit1 or otherwise affect the provisions set forth in the ,communications ,assistance for ,law ,enforcement ,act 7,public ,law #ajc-dad2 #ajh ,stat4 #dbgi7 and the amendments made by that ,act1 any authority granted to the ,commission pursuant to that ,act or the amendments made by that ,act1 or any regulations promulgated by the ,commission pursuant to that ,act or the amendments made by that ,act4 ,passed the ,senate ,march #ag1 #bjbb4,secretary