02/06/1996 01:30 PM Senate L&C

 SL&C 2/6/96                                                                   
                                                                               
         SB 239 TELEPHONE SOLICITATIONS/ADS/DIRECTORIES                       
                                                                              
  CHAIRMAN KELLY announced  SB 239   to be up for consideration.               
                                                                               
 SENATOR REIGER, sponsor, said he introduced this legislation to               
 reduce uncalled-for solicitations by telephone.  It allows a                  
 residential telephone subscriber to have a notation placed in the             
 telephone directory expressing a desire not to receive telephone              
 solicitations.                                                                
                                                                               
 There are a couple of exceptions to this, for example if you have             
 previously done business with a business, they can do a follow-up             
 call to solicit business, again.                                              
                                                                               
 If requested, the local telephone company will provide a list of              
 all subscribers who are identified not wanting to received direct             
 solicitations to a direct marketer.                                           
                                                                               
 SENATOR REIGER said that GCI requested that the list provided would           
 be in computer format, instead of just hard copy and this provision           
 is in the bill.                                                               
                                                                               
 SENATOR KELLY thought that directory information should also                  
 indicate the solicitation ban.                                                
                                                                               
 SENATOR KELLY asked if this prohibits automated or recorded message           
 of telephone solicitation.  SENATOR REIGER said that was correct,             
 because there was existing law prohibiting this, and that law is              
 repealed in this bill.  This just puts it back in a different                 
 place.                                                                        
                                                                               
 SENATOR KELLY said he was polled on the ANWR issue with a strictly            
 recorded call which he resented.  He asked if that would be covered           
 under this bill, because it was polling for public information.               
                                                                               
 SENATOR REIGER thought that wouldn't be covered, because                      
 solicitation is defined on page two as the phone call being for the           
 purpose of encouraging the customer to purchase something or make             
 a donation.                                                                   
                                                                               
 SENATOR KELLY said he didn't want to limit polling or solicitations           
 of expressions of opinion or votes by telephone by a real person,             
 but did not want a straight computer message.                                 
                                                                               
 Number 209                                                                    
                                                                               
 SENATOR MILLER said some of the worst organizations he has come               
 across are charitable, but asked if there was a time period, like             
 a year, where an exemption is created.  SENATOR REIGER said he                
 thought about that and there might be some periodic things one                
 would not want to preclude.                                                   
                                                                               
 SENATOR KELLY suggested putting in two years for charitable                   
 organizations.                                                                
                                                                               
 Number 261                                                                    
                                                                               
 SENATOR TORGERSON moved to adopt a conceptual CS including the                
 directory assistance, the two-year time limit, and unauthorized               
 polling by computer without a real person.  There were no                     
 objections and it was so ordered.                                             
                                                                               
 SENATOR TORGERSON moved to pass CSSB 239 from committee with                  
 individual recommendations.  There were no objections and it was so           
 ordered.