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Senate approves registration, bonding for personal‑introduction (dating) services after regulators cite rising complaints
Summary
Lawmakers passed House Bill 385 to require registration and bonding for personal‑introduction/dating services, citing a rise in consumer complaints and losses. Sponsor said complaints rose from one in 1994 to 86 in 1997 and that the Division had received 24 complaints in 1998 tied to one company; the bill passed 26–2 with one absent.
The Utah Senate on March 3 passed House Bill 385, establishing registration and bonding requirements for businesses that offer personal‑introduction or matchmaking services.
Senator Bueller, presenting the bill, told the chamber the measure is modeled on earlier health‑spa registration statutes intended to protect consumers when businesses sell memberships or services and then close or disappear. He provided complaint statistics from the Division of Consumer Protection: "In 1994, the division received 1 complaint; in '97, 86 complaints involving over $75,000 lost by consumers. To date, in 1998, the division has received 24 complaints alone concerning 1 company called Together Forever involving close to $35,000," Bueller said.
The bill requires registration and bonding so consumers have a potential recovery mechanism if an operator goes out of business. Senators adopted a technical amendment to add an omitted mail reference (e‑mail) and moved the bill under suspension of the rules. The roll call showed 26 ayes, 2 nays and 1 absent; the bill will return to the House because of the amendment.
Supporters said the modest regulatory burden balances consumer protection against business impact; they noted that legitimate operators supported the measure to build public trust. Questions from the floor focused on the amendment and technical corrections.
