Currently 26 States limit SPAM. HB 36 is based in part upon "anti-SPAM" provisions from Washington and California, states whose laws have been upheld.. The bill follows the remedy structure that already exists under Alaska's consumer rights and fraud statute.

     The bill does the following:

          1. It affects only bulk commercial e-mail, and not personal or political messages.

          2. It requires that these e-mails provide a recipient with an easy way to have their address removed from the sender's database.

          3. It also penalizes the abusive practice of those businesses who, upon receiving an address-removal request, dishonor that request, or even sell the e-mail address for use on more SPAM.

          4. It allows citizens or the Attorney General's office to enforce the law.

          5. It bans the use of misleading subject headings, which many spammers use. For example, some spammers use headings to make a recipient think an e-mail is a message from a friend, when it is not.

     Alaska is a place where the internet is especially important. The State has an obligation to protect the privacy of Alaskans who use the internet. This anti-SPAM bill aims to protect our privacy, and protect us from annoyance.