Summary as passed: (all summaries) Virginia Computer Crimes Act; electronic mail. Amends Virginia’s long-arm statute to provide that using a computer or computer network located in Virginia constitutes an act in Virginia. The bill also (i) expands the definitions of “computer services” and “without authority” and provides a new definition for “electronic mail service provider” in the Virginia Computer Crimes Act; (ii) makes it the crime of computer trespass to (a) falsify or forge e-mail message transmission information in connection with unsolicited bulk e-mail and (b) knowingly sell, give, distribute, or possess software whose principal purpose is to facilitate unsolicited bulk e-mail; (iii) provides that electronic mail service providers shall not be liable for actions they take to prevent unsolicited bulk email; (iv) provides civil relief to an injured person, other than an electronic mail service provider, for actual damages or the lesser of $10 for each unsolicited bulk e-mail message or $25,000 per day and states that the injured person shall not have a cause of action against an electronic mail service provider which merely transmits the e-mail message; (v) provides civil relief to an injured electronic mail service provider for actual damages or the greater of $10 for each unsolicited bulk e-mail message or $25,000 per day; and (vi) cross-references the Virginia long-arm statute in the Virginia Computer Crimes Act to ensure the establishment of personal jurisdiction in Virginia’s courts. The purpose of the bill is curb a practice known as “spamming,” the sending of unsolicited electronic mail to unsuspecting recipients. The bill is a recommendation of the Joint Commission on Technology and Science and is identical to HB 1668 and SB 881. Full text: 01/13/99 House: Presented & ordered printed 992049818 pdf 01/29/99 House: Committee substitute printed 993198445-H1 pdf 03/03/99 House: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1714ER) pdf 04/12/99 Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0905) pdf Amendments: Senate amendments Senate amendments engrossed Status: 01/13/99 House: Presented & ordered printed 992049818 01/13/99 House: Referred to Committee on Science and Technology 01/29/99 House: Committee substitute printed 993198445-H1 01/29/99 House: Reported from S. T. w/sub. (19-Y 0-N) 02/01/99 House: Read first time 02/03/99 House: Read second time 02/03/99 House: Committee substitute agreed to 993198445-H1 02/03/99 House: Engrossed by House - com. sub. 993198445-H1 02/04/99 House: Read third time and passed House (Block Vote) (100-Y 0-N) 02/04/99 House: VOTE: BLOCK VOTE PASSAGE (100-Y 0-N) 02/04/99 House: Communicated to Senate 02/05/99 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed 02/05/99 Senate: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice 02/17/99 Senate: Reported from Courts of Justice w/amds. (15-Y 0-N) 02/18/99 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N) 02/18/99 Senate: VOTE: CONST. RDG. DISPENSED R (40-Y 0-N) 02/19/99 Senate: Read third time 02/19/99 Senate: Reading of amendments waived 02/19/99 Senate: Committee amendments agreed to 02/19/99 Senate: Engrossed by Senate as amended 02/19/99 Senate: Passed Senate with amendments (38-Y 0-N) 02/19/99 Senate: VOTE: PASSAGE R (38-Y 0-N) 02/19/99 Senate: Rec. of Sen. passage agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N) 02/19/99 Senate: VOTE: RECONSIDER R (40-Y 0-N) 02/19/99 Senate: Passed Senate with amendments (39-Y 0-N) 02/19/99 Senate: VOTE: PASSAGE R (39-Y 0-N) 02/22/99 House: Placed on Calendar 02/23/99 House: Senate amendments agreed to by House (90-Y 0-N) 02/23/99 House: VOTE: ADOPTION (90-Y 0-N) 03/03/99 House: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1714ER) 03/08/99 House: Enrolled 03/08/99 House: Signed by Speaker 03/09/99 Senate: Signed by President 03/29/99 Governor: Approved by Governor-Chapter 905 (effective 7/1/99) 04/12/99 Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0905) |