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 SENATOR REIGER said that was correct, because there was existing law prohibiting this, and that law is repealed in this bill.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.