MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2003 Regular Session

To: Public Utilities

By: Representative Fillingane

House Bill 957

AN ACT TO CREATE NEW SECTION 77-3-621, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROHIBIT TELEPHONE SOLICITORS MAKING UNSOLICITED CALLS FROM BLOCKING CONSUMERS' USE OF CALLER IDENTIFICATION SERVICES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

     SECTION 1.  The following shall be codified as Section 77-3-621, Mississippi Code of 1972:

     77-3-621.  (1)  A telephone solicitor who makes an unsolicited telephonic sales call to the telephone line of a consumer in this state may not knowingly utilize any method to block or otherwise circumvent the consumer's use of a caller identification service.  For purposes of this section, the term "caller identification service" means a type of telephone service which permits telephone subscribers to view the telephone number and name of the person or entity to whom that telephone number is assigned of incoming telephone calls.

     (2)  A provider of telephone caller identification services may not be held liable for violations of this section committed by other persons or entities.

     SECTION 2.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2003.