S.B. 194

1

COMMERCE AND TRADE - TELEPHONE AND
2 FACSIMILE SOLICITATION ACT
3 2003 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Sponsor: David L. Thomas
6 This act modifies the Telephone and Facsimile Solicitation Act to provide definitions and
7 modify some of the guidelines and enforcement mechanisms for telephone and facsimile
8 solicitations. The act enacts provisions providing guidelines for the maintenance of a
9 no-call database by the Division of Consumer Protection.
10 This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
11 AMENDS:
12 13-25a-102, as last amended by Chapter 122, Laws of Utah 2002
13 13-25a-103, as last amended by Chapter 77, Laws of Utah 1998
14 13-25a-104, as enacted by Chapter 26, Laws of Utah 1996
15 13-25a-106, as enacted by Chapter 26, Laws of Utah 1996
16 13-25a-107, as enacted by Chapter 26, Laws of Utah 1996
17 ENACTS:
18 13-25a-108, Utah Code Annotated 1953
19 13-25a-109, Utah Code Annotated 1953
20 13-25a-110, Utah Code Annotated 1953
21 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
22 Section 1. Section 13-25a-102 is amended to read:
23 13-25a-102. Definitions.
24 As used in this chapter:
25 (1) "Advertisement" means material offering for sale, or advertising the availability or
26 quality of, any property, goods, or services.
27 (2) (a) "Automated telephone dialing system" means equipment used to:

28 (i) store or produce telephone numbers;
29 (ii) call a stored or produced number; and
30 (iii) connect the number called with a recorded message or artificial voice.
31 (b) "Automated telephone dialing system" does not include equipment used with a
32 burglar alarm system, voice messaging system, fire alarm system, or other system used in an
33 emergency involving the immediate health or safety of a person.
34 (3) "Division" means the Division of Consumer Protection in the Department of
35 Commerce.
36 [(3)] (4) "Established business relationship" means a relationship that:
37 (a) is based on inquiry, application, purchase, or transaction regarding products or
38 services offered;
39 (b) is formed by a voluntary two-way communication between a person making a
40 telephone solicitation and a person to whom a telephone solicitation is made; and
41 (c) has not been terminated by [either party.]:
42 (i) an act by either party; or
43 (ii) the passage of 180 days since the most recent inquiry, application, purchase,
44 transaction, or voluntary two-way communication.
45 [(4)] (5) "Facsimile machine" means equipment used for:
46 (a) scanning or encoding text or images for conversion into electronic signals for
47 transmission; or
48 (b) receiving electronic signals and reproducing them as a duplicate of the original text
49 or image.
50 [(5)] (6) "Negative response" means a statement from a party stating the party does not
51 wish to listen to the sales presentation or participate in the solicitation presented in the
52 telephone call.
53 [(6)] (7) "Telephone solicitation" means the initiation of a telephone call or message
54 for [the purpose of:] a commercial purpose or to seek a financial donation, including calls:
55 (a) encouraging the purchase or rental of, or investment in, property, goods, or services,
56 regardless of whether the transaction involves a nonprofit organization;
57 (b) soliciting a sale of or extension of credit for property or services to the person
58 called;

59 (c) soliciting information that will be used for:
60 (i) the direct solicitation of a sale of property or services to the person called; or
61 (ii) an extension of credit to the person called for a sale of property or services; or
62 (d) soliciting a charitable donation involving the exchange of any premium, prize, gift,
63 ticket, subscription, or other benefit in connection with any appeal made for a charitable
64 purpose.
65 [(7)] (8) "Telephone solicitor" means any natural person, firm, organization,
66 partnership, association, or corporation who makes or causes to be made an unsolicited
67 telephone call, including calls made by use of an automated telephone dialing system.
68 [(8)] (9) "Unsolicited telephone call" means a telephone call for a commercial purpose
69 or to seek a financial donation other than a call made:
70 (a) in response to an express request of the person called;
71 (b) primarily in connection with an existing debt or contract, payment or performance
72 of which has not been completed at the time of the call;
73 (c) to any person with whom the telephone solicitor has an established business
74 relationship; or
75 (d) as required by law for a medical purpose.
76 Section 2. Section 13-25a-103 is amended to read:
77 13-25a-103. Prohibited conduct for telephone solicitations -- Exceptions.
78 (1) Except as provided in Subsection (2), a person may not operate or authorize the
79 operation of an automated telephone dialing system to make a telephone solicitation.
80 (2) A person may operate an automated telephone dialing system if a call is made:
81 (a) with the prior express consent of the person who is called agreeing to receive a
82 telephone solicitation from a specific solicitor; or
83 (b) to a person with whom the solicitor has an established business relationship.
84 (3) A person may not make a telephone solicitation to a residential telephone [before
85 8:00 a.m. or after 9:00 p.m. local time unless prior express consent is given to call at a different
86 time.] without prior express consent during any of the following times:
87 (a) before 9 a.m. or after 8:30 p.m. local time;
88 (b) on a Sunday; or
89 (c) on a legal holiday.

90 (4) A person may not make or authorize a telephone solicitation in violation of Title 47
91 U.S.C. 227.
92 (5) Any telephone solicitor who makes an unsolicited telephone call to a telephone
93 number shall:
94 (a) identify themselves;
95 (b) identify the business on whose behalf the person is soliciting;
96 (c) identify the purpose of the call promptly upon making contact by telephone with the
97 person who is the object of the telephone solicitation;
98 (d) discontinue the solicitation if the person being solicited gives a negative response at
99 any time during the telephone call; and
100 (e) hang up the phone, or in the case of an automated telephone dialing system
101 operator, disconnect the automated telephone dialing system from the telephone line within 25
102 seconds of the termination of the call by the person being called.
103 (6) A telephone solicitor may not withhold the display of the telephone solicitor's
104 telephone number from a caller identification service when that number is being used for
105 telemarketing purposes and when the telephone solicitor's service or equipment is capable of
106 allowing the display of the number.
107 Section 3. Section 13-25a-104 is amended to read:
108 13-25a-104. Prohibited conduct for facsimiles -- Exceptions.
109 (1) Except as provided in Subsection (2), a person may not operate or authorize the
110 operation of a facsimile machine to send an advertisement.
111 (2) A person may operate a facsimile machine if the advertisement is sent:
112 (a) with the prior express written consent of the person who receives the facsimile
113 agreeing to receive the facsimile from a specific solicitor; or
114 (b) to a person with whom the solicitor has an established business relationship.
115 (3) A person may not make or authorize the sending of an advertisement by facsimile
116 in violation of Title 47 U.S.C. 227.
117 Section 4. Section 13-25a-106 is amended to read:
118 13-25a-106. Enforcement.
119 (1) The division shall investigate and assess administrative fines for violations of this
120 chapter.

121 (2) (a) Upon referral from the division, the attorney general or any district or county
122 attorney may:
123 [(a)] (i) bring an action for temporary or permanent injunctive or other relief in any
124 court of competent jurisdiction for any violation of this chapter. The court may, upon entry of
125 final judgment, award restitution when appropriate to any person suffering loss because of a
126 violation of this part if proof of loss is submitted to the satisfaction of the court;
127 [(b)] (ii) bring an action in any court of competent jurisdiction for the collection of
128 penalties authorized under Subsection 13-25a-105 (1); or
129 [(c)] (iii) bring an action under Subsection 13-25a-105 (3).
130 (b) In an action under Subsection (2)(a), the attorney general or any district or county
131 attorney may recover costs, including investigative costs and attorney fees, from any violator of
132 this chapter.
133 Section 5. Section 13-25a-107 is amended to read:
134 13-25a-107. Private action.
135 (1) In addition to any other remedies, a person may bring an action in any state court of
136 competent jurisdiction if [that person has received a telephone solicitation or facsimile
137 advertisement that]:
138 (a) (i) [violates this chapter;] the person has received two or more telephone
139 solicitations or facsimile advertisements from the same individual or entity that:
140 [(b) causes the person to suffer a pecuniary loss as a result of a violation of this
141 chapter; or]
142 (A) violates this chapter; or
143 [(c)] (B) violates Title 47 U.S.C. 227[.]; and
144 (ii) the person, following the first telephone solicitation or facsimile advertisement,
145 notified the sender of the person's objection to receiving the telephone solicitation or facsimile
146 advertisement; or
147 (b) the person has received one telephone solicitation or facsimile advertisement in
148 violation of:
149 (i) Subsection 13-25a-103 (1);
150 (ii) Subsection 13-25a-103 (3);
151 (iii) Subsection 13-25a-103 (5);

152 (iv) Subsection 13-25a-103 (6); or
153 (v) Subsection 13-25a-104 (1).
154 (2) In a suit brought under Subsection (1), a person may:
155 (a) recover the greater of $500 or the amount of the pecuniary loss, if any;
156 (b) recover court costs and reasonable attorneys' fees as determined by the court; and
157 (c) seek to enjoin any conduct in violation of this chapter.
158 Section 6. Section 13-25a-108 is enacted to read:
159 13-25a-108. Objections to telephone solicitations.
160 A person may not make or cause to be made a telephone solicitation to the telephone
161 number contained in the no-call database established under Section 13-25a-109 .
162 Section 7. Section 13-25a-109 is enacted to read:
163 13-25a-109. No-call database.
164 (1) The division shall establish and provide for the operation of a no-call database to
165 compile a list of telephone numbers of persons who have provided notice to the division of the
166 person's objection to receiving a telephone solicitation.
167 (2) A person that requests to have the person's telephone number included in the
168 no-call database shall pay an annual registration fee determined by the division in accordance
169 with Section 63-38-3.2 .
170 (3) A person desiring to make telephone solicitations may obtain a copy of the no-call
171 database maintained by the division under this section if the person pays an annual registration
172 fee determined by the division in accordance with Section 63-38-3.2 .
173 (4) In accordance with Title 63, Chapter 46a, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, the
174 division shall adopt rules to:
175 (a) establish the methods by which a person may give notice to the division, including
176 notice by telephone, Internet, mail, or in-person communication, of:
177 (i) the person's objection to receiving a telephone solicitation; or
178 (ii) the person's lifting of the person's objection to receiving a telephone solicitation;
179 (b) specify the amount of time after a person provides notice to the division, not to
180 exceed 15 calendar days, after which the inclusion of the person's telephone number in the
181 no-call database shall be effective against a person making a telephone solicitation;
182 (c) establish the effect of a change of telephone number by a person whose telephone

183 number is contained in the no-call database;
184 (d) establish methods by which a person desiring to make telephone solicitations may
185 obtain a copy of the no-call database;
186 (e) define the improper use of the no-call database;
187 (f) define penalties for the improper use of the no-call database; and
188 (g) define penalties against a person that registers another person to the no-call
189 database without that person's consent.
190 (5) If any federal agency establishes a national database of telephone numbers of
191 persons who object to receiving telephone solicitations, the division shall include Utah
192 telephone numbers from the national database in the no-call database maintained under this
193 section.
194 (6) Information contained in the no-call database maintained under this section shall be
195 classified as private under Title 63, Chapter 2, Government Records Access and Management
196 Act, and shall be used only for purposes of:
197 (a) compliance with this chapter; or
198 (b) a proceeding or action to enforce this chapter.
199 Section 8. Section 13-25a-110 is enacted to read:
200 13-25a-110. Advisory group.
201 (1) The division shall establish an advisory group to help persons understand their
202 options with regard to telephone solicitations and facsimile advertisements composed of
203 representatives from:
204 (a) government entities;
205 (b) telecommunications companies;
206 (c) businesses;
207 (d) consumer advocacy organizations; or
208 (e) the general public.
209 (2) The division may enter into agreements with telecommunications companies to
210 disseminate information concerning the options available to persons under this chapter.

Legislative Review Note
as of 2-4-03 10:19 AM

A limited legal review of this legislation raises no obvious constitutional or statutory concerns.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel