MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2000 Regular Session

To: Public Utilities

By: Representatives Peranich, Creel, Fredericks, Moak, Read, Reynolds, Robinson (84th)

House Bill 204

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 77-3-603, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE TELEPHONE SOLICITORS TO END RECORDED MESSAGES WHEN A CONSUMER ENDS THE TELEPHONE CONNECTION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 77-3-603, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

77-3-603. Any telephone solicitor who makes an unsolicited telephonic sales call to a residential telephone number shall:

(a) Make calls between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., Central Standard Time, Monday through Friday, and between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. on Saturdays (no calls shall be made on Sundays);

(b) Identify himself or herself by his or her true first and last names and the business on whose behalf he or she is soliciting immediately upon making contact by telephone with the person who is the object of the telephone solicitation; * * *

(c) Discontinue the call immediately if at any time during the conversation the person being solicited expresses disinterest in continuing the call or sales presentation; and

(d) Immediately end any recorded message being played for a consumer when the consumer ends the telephone connection.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2000.