Legislative Discussion Draft — Not Current Law
THE OSSA ACT
Spirituality is protected. Commercial activity is accountable.
THE NEED FOR ACCOUNTABILITY
Existing fraud laws provide a baseline of protection, but they are often too broad or too slow to address the unique risks of personal-development services. Without a unified registration and safety framework, consumers remain vulnerable to unlicensed operators and hidden liabilities.
Currently, there is no single, sector-specific layer of accountability that verifies business identity, ensures proper insurance, and mandates clear disclosures. The OSSA Act fills this critical gap by establishing a transparent, unified standard for all covered services.
By requiring pre-payment written price, inclusions, and risk disclosures, OSSA ensures that commercial activity is protected. This framework prevents the evasion of legal standards through labels like 'gifts' or 'energy exchanges,' maintaining a level playing field for all practitioners.
Old Model vs Proposed OSSA Model
Old Model
- Unregulated commercial activity
- Missing pre-payment disclosures
- No unified safety standards
- Unverified business identities
- Lack of formal accountability
Proposed OSSA Model
- Verified legal business identity
- Pre-payment written disclosures
- Standardized safety certifications
- Unified accountability framework
- Protected consumer rights
The Five Pillars
01
Register
Verified legal business identity, responsible operator, official contact, applicable insurance, and provider number.
02
Disclose
Pre-payment written price, inclusions/exclusions, activities, risks, and cancellation/refund terms.
03
Certify
Appropriate ethics, consumer protection, boundaries, emergency/safety, and service-specific training.
04
Accountability
Records, complaint channel, durable contact, non-retaliation, due process, and remedies.
05
Substantiate
Objective health, financial, licensing, credential, and guaranteed-result claims must be supported.
Follow the evidence.
Follow the conduct. Follow the transaction. Follow the evidence.
Prohibited labels: Friends & Family, gift, donation, love offering, energy exchange, cash, crypto, PayPal, Venmo, Cash App, Zelle, card, wire, digital wallet, barter.
A — Existing Laws
Existing consumer protection laws exist, but there is currently no unified OSSA-style registration and disclosure framework for covered services.
B — Payment Traceability
Payment method does not erase commercial accountability. Follow the conduct. Follow the transaction. Follow the evidence.
C — Anti-Evasion
Deliberately mislabeling a commercial payment would not automatically exempt a covered service from commercial accountability.
Catalyst for Consumer Policy
The idea for the OSSA Act originated from a first-hand paid retreat experience that raised critical questions about business identity, disclosures, and insurance. This experience served as a catalyst for a consumer policy framework that prioritizes safety and accountability across the personal-development sector, ensuring that commercial activity is always transparent and protected.
Legislative Progress
The OSSA Act proposal has been formally submitted to selected legislative offices in Arizona and at the federal level for review and consideration. As of this date, the legislation remains under active legislative consideration and has not yet been enacted into law. Consequently, OSSA registration numbers and official certification frameworks are currently unavailable. We are committed to providing a transparent update as the legislative process progresses.
( Status: In Review )