house bill NO. 597

INTRODUCED BY L. Sheldon-Galloway

By Request of the ****

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT providing for the regulation of a big technology communication corporation by the public service commission; defining a big technology communication corporation; providing the commission the authority to fine a big technology communication corporation for refusing or postponing a message; creating the blind and visually impaired library account; directing fines to be used for the provision of library services and resources for blind and visually impaired montana citizens; and providing rulemaking authority."

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:

NEW SECTION. Section 1. Big technology communication corporation. (1) A big technology communication corporation is a corporation that facilitates communication between persons on a national or international scale, including but not limited to social media companies, video or data hosting platforms, e-mail carriers, and other messaging facilitators.

(2) A big technology communication corporation is subject to the regulatory authority of the commission.

(3) The commission shall conduct expedited complaint proceedings involving big technology communication corporation user disputes that include but are not limited to postponing or refusing to transmit a message.

(4) A consumer whose message is postponed or refused contrary to the provisions of this chapter or Title 69, chapter 11, part 3, may bring a complaint against the big technology communication corporation to the commission. If the commission determines the consumer's message was refused or postponed in violation of this section, the commission may levy a fine against the big technology communication corporation.

(5) The commission may adopt rules to implement this section.

NEW SECTION. Section 2. Blind and visually impaired library account. (1) There is an account in the state special revenue fund established by 17-2-102 to be known as the blind and visually impaired library account. The account is to be administered by the state library.

(2) Fines collected by the commission pursuant to [section 1] must be deposited into the blind and visually impaired library account. The purpose of the account is to provide library services and resources to blind and visually impaired citizens of the state.

NEW SECTION. Section 3. Codification instruction. [Sections 1 and 2] are intended to be codified as an integral part of Title 69, chapter 6, and the provisions of Title 69, chapter 6, apply to [sections 1 and 2].