DO-NOT-CALL REGISTER - S.B. 121 (S-3): FLOOR ANALYSIS
Senate Bill 121 (Substitute S-3 as reported)
Sponsor: Senator Glenn D. Steil
Committee: Technology and Energy
CONTENT
The bill would amend Public Act 227 of 1971, which prescribes the rights and duties of parties to home solicitation sales, to require the Public Service Commission (PSC) to establish and provide for the operation of a register on which to compile a list of telephone numbers of residential telephone subscribers who objected to receiving telephone solicitations. The register could be operated by the PSC or by another entity under contract with the PSC. A telephone solicitor could not make a telephone solicitation in Michigan without first obtaining the register created under the bill. The solicitor could not call a person who was listed on the register. The bill is tie-barred to Senate Bill 990, which would amend Public Act 227 to regulate, and require licensure for, telephone solicitation.
Residential subscribers could enroll on the register as provided by the PSC. Enrollment would become effective 30 days after the date of enrollment. The registration could pertain only to the telephone number designated by the consumer and could not be transferred to another number controlled by that consumer unless he or she registered the second number. A subscriber would remain in the do-not-call register until he or she requested that the PSC remove his or her number from the register. Business telephone numbers could not be included on the register. The PSC would have to update the register at the beginning of each month. The PSC could purge the register periodically in order to ensure accuracy.
Information contained in the database would not be open to public inspection or disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act. The PSC would have to take all necessary steps to protect the confidentiality of that information. The PSC would have to forward the list of Michigan subscribers on the register to the Federal Communications Commission's, or any other Federal agencies' do-not-call national database, if and when a Federal list was established.
Proposed MCL 445.113 - Legislative Analyst: P. Affholter
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would require the PSC or another entity assigned by the PSC to establish and maintain a register of phone subscribers objecting to phone solicitation. This bill would create an additional responsibility for the Commission. The fund source to offset these additional costs is not identified.
Date Completed: 5-30-00 - Fiscal Analyst: M. Tyszkiewicz
floor\sb121 - Analysis available @ http://www.michiganlegislature.org
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.