HOUSE BILL No. 4324

 

February 16, 2005, Introduced by Rep. Marleau and referred to the Committee on Energy and Technology.

 

     A bill to amend 2003 PA 42, entitled

 

"Unsolicited commercial e-mail protection act,"

 

by amending section 7 (MCL 445.2507).

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

     Sec. 7. (1) Except as otherwise provided under subsection (2),

 

a person who violates this act is guilty of a  misdemeanor  felony

 

punishable by imprisonment for not more than  1 year  10 years or a

 

fine of not more than  $10,000.00  $25,000.00, or both.

 

     (2) A person who violates section 4 or violates this act in

 

the furtherance of another crime is guilty of a felony punishable

 

by imprisonment for not more than  4  15 years or a fine of not

 

more than  $25,000.00  $50,000.00, or both.

 

     (3) Each commercial e-mail sent in violation of this act is a

 


separate violation under this section.

 

     (4) An e-mail service provider does not violate this act as a

 

result of either of the following:

 

     (a) Being an intermediary between the sender and recipient in

 

the transmission of an unsolicited commercial e-mail that violates

 

this act.

 

     (b) Provides transmission of unsolicited commercial e-mail

 

over the provider's network or facilities.

 

     (5) It is prima facie evidence that the sender is in violation

 

of this section if the recipient is unable to contact the sender

 

through the return e-mail address provided by the sender under

 

section 3.

 

     (6) It is a defense to a case brought under this section or an

 

action under section 8 that the unsolicited commercial e-mail was

 

transmitted accidentally or as a result of a preexisting business

 

relationship. The burden of proving that the commercial e-mail was

 

transmitted accidentally or as a result of a preexisting business

 

relationship is on the sender.