Relates to prohibiting certain unsolicited political telephone calls

Title of bill

An act to amend the election law, in relation to prohibiting certain unsolicited political telephone calls

Purpose

To establish a political no call list where persons can opt out of receiving political phone calls.

Summary of provisions

Section 1 amends the election law by adding a new section 1-108 establishing a political no call list. The state board shall provide notice to the public of the establishment of such list. Any person in the state who wishes to be added to the list shall call a toll free number, transmit a request via electronic mail or in any other manner as the state board of elections may prescribe. It shall be unlawful for a political organization or candidate to call someone on the list, except if proper training was conducted and the call was isolated and inadvertent.

Section 2 provides this act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law.

Existing law

This is a new law.

Justification

To provide persons the ability to opt out of political calls, including "robocalls" and pleads for donations, the same way they have the ability to opt out of other unwanted phone calls. This bill is modeled after the similar bill introduced in New Jersey.

Legislative history

This is a new bill.

Fiscal implications

Undetermined

Local fiscal implications

None

Effective date

This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law.