08 LC 36
0874
Senate
Bill 379
By:
Senators Johnson of the 1st, Hooks of the 14th, Meyer von Bremen of the 12th,
Pearson of the 51st, Smith of the 52nd and others
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend Chapter 5 of Title 46 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating
to telephone and telegraph service, so as to prohibit the use of automatic
dialing and recorded message equipment; to provide for certain exceptions; to
provide for definitions; to provide requirements for disclosure of information
by live operators; to provide for the time of day during which automatic dialing
and recorded message equipment may be used; to provide for the issuance of
permits for connecting any automatic dialing and recorded message equipment; to
provide for the suspension and revocation of such permits; to provide for
penalties; to provide identification requirements for any person or entity
making a telephone solicitation; to provide for related matters; to repeal
conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
Chapter
5 of Title 46 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to telephone
and telegraph service, is amended by revising Code Section 46-5-23, relating to
use of automatic dialing and recorded message (ADAD) equipment, in its entirety
as follows:
"46-5-23.
(a)
As used in this Code section, the term:
(1)
'ADAD equipment' means any device or system of devices which is used, whether
alone or in conjunction with other equipment, for the purpose of automatically
selecting or dialing telephone numbers and disseminating prerecorded messages to
the numbers so selected or dailed.
(2)
'Caller' means a person, corporation, firm, partnership, association, or legal
or commercial entity that attempts to contact, or that contacts, a subscriber in
this state by using a telephone or a telephone line.
(3)
'Caller identification service' means a telephone service that permits telephone
subscribers to see the telephone number of incoming telephone
calls.
(4)
'Established business relationship' means a relationship between a seller and
consumer based on a free trial newspaper subscription, the consumer´s
purchase, rental, or lease of the seller´s goods or services, or a
financial transaction between the consumer and seller within the 24 months
immediately preceding the date of a telemarketing call.
(5)
'Message' means any telephone call, including voice, text, or other electronic
communication, regardless of its content.
(6)
'Subscriber' means a person who has subscribed to a residential telephone line
or the other persons living or residing with the subscribing
person.
(7)
'Telephone line' means a telephone service to a subscriber regardless of the
technology used to provide such service, including traditional wireline or cable
telephone service; cellular, broadband personal communications service, or other
wireless telephone service; microwave, satellite, or other terrestrial telephone
service; and voice over Internet protocol telephone service.
(8)
'Telephone solicitation' means any voice, text, or other electronic
communication over a telephone line for the purpose of encouraging charitable
contributions or the purchase or rental of, or investment in, property, real
estate, commodities, intangibles, objects, goods, services, merchandise, or
wares, whether the communication is made by a live operator, through the use of
an automatic dialing-announcing device, or by other means. Telephone
solicitation does not include communications:
(A)
To any subscriber with that subscriber´s prior express written request,
consent, invitation, or permission;
(B)
By or on behalf of any person with whom the subscriber has an established
personal or business relationship;
(C)
By or on behalf of a charitable organization which has filed a registration
statement pursuant to Code Section 43-17-5, is exempt from such registration
under paragraphs (1) through (6) of subsection (a) of Code Section 43-17-9, or
is exempt from such registration as a religious organization or agency referred
to in paragraph (2) of Code Section 43-17-2, but only if the following
applies:
(i)
The telephone call is made by a volunteer or employee of the charitable
organization; and
(ii)
The person who makes the telephone call immediately discloses the following
information upon making contact with the consumer:
(I)
The person´s true first and last name; and
(II)
The name, address, and telephone number of the charitable
organization;
(D)
By or on behalf of any person whose exclusive purpose is to poll or solicit the
expression of ideas, opinions, or votes, unless the communication is made
through an automatic dialing-announcing device in a manner prohibited by
subsection (b) of this Code section;
(E)
By the individual soliciting without the intent to complete, and who does not in
fact complete, the sales presentation during the call, but who will complete the
sales presentation at a later face-to-face meeting between the individual
solicitor or person who makes the initial call and the prospective purchaser;
or
(F)
By or on behalf of a candidate as such term is defined in Code Section 21-5-3; a
political party, political body, or political organization as such terms are
defined in Code Section 21-2-2; or any other group with a political
purpose.
(b)
A caller shall not use or connect to a telephone line any ADAD equipment unless
the subscriber has knowingly and expressly requested, consented to, permitted,
or authorized receipt of the message or the message is immediately preceded by a
live operator who obtains the subscriber´s express consent before the
message is delivered. This subsection and subsection (e) of this Code section
shall not apply to a message from a public safety agency notifying a person of
an emergency; a message from a school district to a student, a parent, or an
employee; a message to a subscriber with whom the caller has an established
business relationship; or a message advising an employee of a work
schedule.
(c)
When the message is immediately preceded by a live operator, the operator must
disclose at the outset of the message:
(1)
The name of the business, firm, organization, association, partnership, or
entity for which the message is being made;
(2)
The purpose of the message;
(3)
The identity or kinds of goods or services the message is promoting;
and
(4)
If applicable, the fact that the message intends to solicit payment or
commitment of funds.
(d)
A caller may not use any ADAD equipment unless the device is designed and
operated so as to disconnect within ten seconds after termination of the
telephone call by the subscriber. A caller may not use an automatic
dialing-announcing device that uses a random or sequential number generator
unless the equipment excludes calls to the following telephone
numbers:
(1)
Emergency telephone numbers, including 9-1-1, of any hospital, medical
physician, health care facility, ambulance or emergency medical provider, fire
protection facility, or law enforcement agency;
(2)
Any guest room or patient room of a hospital, health care facility, elderly care
home, or similar establishment;
(3)
A paging service, a cellular telephone service, a specialized mobile radio
service, or any service for which the called party is charged for the call;
and
(4)
The telephone numbers maintained on the list established pursuant to Code
Section 46-5-27.
(e)
A caller may not use any ADAD equipment nor make any telephone solicitation
before 8:00 A.M. or after 9:00 P.M. at the subscriber´s
location.
(f)
Pursuant to Code Section 46-5-24, a caller making use of a 976 number shall not
use any ADAD equipment.
(g)
The Governor´s Office of Consumer Affairs shall be authorized and empowered
to receive complaints regarding the use of ADAD equipment in violation of this
Code section. The administrator appointed pursuant to subsection (g) of Code
Section 10-1-395 shall have the authority to investigate any complaints
regarding the use of ADAD equipment in violation of this Code section and to
initiate proceedings, pursuant to Code Section 10-1-397, relating to a knowing
violation or threatened knowing violation of this Code section. Such proceedings
include without limitation proceedings to issue a cease and desist order, to
issue an order imposing a civil penalty up to a maximum of $2,000.00 for each
knowing violation, and to seek additional relief in any superior court of
competent jurisdiction. Such actions shall be brought in the name of the state.
The provisions of Code Sections 10-1-398, 10-1-398.1, and 10-1-405 shall apply
to proceedings initiated by the administrator under this subsection. The
administrator is authorized to issue investigative demands, issue subpoenas,
administer oaths, and conduct hearings in the course of investigating a
violation of this Code section in accordance with the provisions of Code
Sections 10-1-403 and 10-1-404.
(h)
Any person who has received more than one call using ADAD equipment within any
12 month period by or on behalf of the same person or entity in violation of
this Code section may bring an action to enjoin such violation; bring an action
to recover for actual monetary loss from such knowing violation or to receive up
to $2,000.00 in damages for each such knowing violation, whichever is greater;
or bring both such actions.
(i)
No action or proceeding may be brought under subsection (g) or (h) of this Code
section:
(1)
More than two years after the person bringing the action knew or should have
known of the occurrence of the alleged violation; or
(2)
More than two years after the termination of any proceeding or action by the
State of Georgia, whichever is later.
(j)
A court of this state may exercise personal jurisdiction over any nonresident or
his or her executor or administrator as to an action or proceeding authorized by
this Code section in accordance with the provisions of Code Section
9-10-91.
(k)
Any person who violates any provision of this Code section shall be guilty of a
misdemeanor."
SECTION
2.
Said
chapter is further amended by adding a new Code section to read as
follows:
"46-5-23.1.
(a)
It shall be unlawful for any person to connect any ADAD equipment, as that term
is defined in Code Section 46-5-23, to any telephone line in this state for the
purpose of making telephone calls to persons in this state through the use of
ADAD equipment unless a permit has been issued for such ADAD equipment by the
commission. Any person desiring to use ADAD equipment in this state shall make
application for a permit to the commission on forms prescribed by the commission
and shall pay a fee as prescribed by the commission for such permit. Permits
shall be renewed biennially as prescribed by the commission and upon payment of
a renewal fee. The fees charged shall cover the administrative cost for the
issuance of such permits. Permits shall be subject to suspension or revocation
for any violation of Code Section 46-5-22, 46-5-23, 46-5-24, 46-5-25, or
46-5-27.
(b)
The commission shall enforce this Code section, and the commission shall require
local exchange companies to file with the commission appropriate tariff
revisions to implement this subsection. Any person who operates or utilizes
ADAD equipment in violation of the provisions of this Code section or Code
Section 46-5-22, 46-5-23, 46-5-24, 46-5-25, or 46-5-27 shall be subject to
disconnection of telephone service if the violation does not cease within ten
days from the date of notification to such person by the local exchange company.
The tariff revisions filed by local exchange companies shall provide for the
giving of such notification by local exchange companies and for such
disconnection of service."
SECTION
3.
Said
chapter is further amended by revising paragraph (1) of subsection (g) of Code
Section 46-5-27, relating to telephone solicitations and required
identification, as follows:
"(1)
Any person or entity who makes a telephone solicitation to the telephone line of
any residential, mobile, or wireless subscriber in this state shall, at the
beginning of such call, state clearly
the
identity of the person or entity initiating the
call
the true first
and last name, telephone number, and city and state of location of the person
initiating the call and the name of the entity on whose behalf the telephone
solicitation is made."
SECTION
4.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.