By Mr. Eldridge of Acton, petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 224) of Barbara A. L'Italien and others for legislation to require that unsolicited mail to residents of the Commonwealth include information for such residents to be omitted from future mailings.  Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PETITION OF:

 

Barbara A. L'Italien

Michael F. Rush

Stephen M. Brewer

Ruth B. Balser

James B. Eldridge

Carl M. Sciortino, Jr.

Thomas M. Stanley

James E. Timilty

Jennifer M. Callahan

Gale D. Candaras

Kathi-Anne Reinstein

Scott P. Brown

David Paul Linsky

Alice Hanlon Peisch

Patricia D. Jehlen

 

 

 

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In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.

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 An Act Relative to Junk Mail.

 

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

 

SECTION 1. Notwithstanding any special or general law to the contrary, all

companies and businesses that mail unsolicited mail to Massachusetts

residents must provide information on each mailing that

informs residents how they can request to no longer receive future

mailings. This printed information on mailings must explain how

to unsubscribe from future mailings through using electronic mail

or a website, regular U.S. mail with an address to mail to, and

telephone number. The company or business that receives a

request to unsubscribe by the resident must remove the resident

and residence from the mailing list within two months. If a company

or business uses a mail order house or other company to

send out mailings, both the company or business being advertised

and the company that performs the mailing services are legally

responsible for removing residents from the mailing list. Failure

to perform this duty will result in a fine of at least $l00 per incident

and not more than $500.

 

SECTION 2. The Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation shall establish a website that posts current and up to date information on how to unsubscribe from mailing lists.