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Who cares
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Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to consumer protection
- Defeated in consumer protection
- Notice of committee consideration - requested
- Referred to consumer protection
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Relates to information for pre-recorded political messages
In Assembly Committee · Consumer Affairs And Protection · Sponsor Rebecca Seawright
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S2559
Title of bill
An act to amend the general business law, in relation to requiring certain information be provided before placing pre-recorded political messages
Purpose of bill
This bill would require companies that are in the business of placing robocalls to ask via a live operator whether the consumer would like to listen to such pre-recorded message.
Summary of provisions of bill
A new subdivision 7 is added to the General Business law prohibiting a person or political committee from delivering via an automatic dialing-announcing device a pre-recorded political message unless a live operator has first received the consent of the caller to actually listen to said message.
The bill references the definition of political committee contained within the election law as well as the definition of automatic dialing-announcing device currently in the GBL.
Justification
Telephone customers are receiving an ever increasing number of robocalls each year. The Federal Trade Commission now receives over 200,000 complaints about robocalls each month. However, neither federal or state law have adequate disclosure requirements regarding robocall initiators.
This bill would regulate the business of robocalls that many candidates rely on. Specifically, the bill would require companies to utilize a live operator to greet the consumer and ask if he or she would like to listen to the prerecorded message. If the voter acquiesces then the caller would be connected.
Currently, fourteen states have regulated the business of robocalls. In addition, state courts as well as federal courts have found statutes such as this to be constitutional so long as they are not overly broad.
Legislative history
New Bill.
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
None to the State or local municipalities.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.