Bill Text: CA AB2905 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Telecommunications: automatic dialing-announcing devices: artificial voices.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Engrossed) 2024-06-18 - From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 18. Noes 0.) (June 18). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. [AB2905 Detail]

Download: California-2023-AB2905-Amended.html

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Amended  IN  Assembly  April 15, 2024

Amended  IN  Assembly  March 21, 2024

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 2905

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Introduced by Assembly Member Low Members Low and Jim Patterson

February 15, 2024

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An act to amend Section 2871 2874 of the Public Utilities Code, relating to telecommunications.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 2905, as amended, Low. Telecommunications: automatic dialing-announcing devices: artificial voices.

Existing law authorizes the Public Utilities Commission to control and regulate the connection of an automatic dialing-announcing device to a telephone line. Existing law defines “automatic dialing-announcing device” as any automatic equipment that incorporates a storage capability of telephone numbers to be called, or a random or sequential number generator capable of producing numbers to be called, and the capability, working alone or in conjunction with other equipment, to disseminate a prerecorded message to the telephone number called. Existing law imposes various requirements on the use of an automatic dialing-announcing device. device, as defined, including that whenever telephone calls are placed through the use of an automatic dialing-announcing device, the device may be operated only after an unrecorded, natural voice announcement has been made to the person called by the person calling. Existing law requires the announcement to state the nature of the call and provide specified information about the business or organization being represented, if any, and inquire as to whether the person called consents to hear the prerecorded message.

This bill would require the announcement to also inform the person called if the prerecorded message uses an artificial voice, which the bill would state includes, but is not limited to, a voice simulated or generated using artificial intelligence.

This bill would expand that definition of “automatic dialing-announcing device” to include calls made using an artificial voice, as specified.

Under existing law, a violation of any order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the commission is a crime.

Because a violation of a commission action implementing this bill’s requirements would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Digest Key

Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: YES  

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Bill Text

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

 Section 2874 of the Public Utilities Code is amended to read:

2874.

 (a) Whenever telephone calls are placed through the use of an automatic dialing-announcing device, the device may be operated only after an unrecorded, natural voice announcement has been made to the person called by the person calling. The announcement shall do all of the following:

(1) State the nature of the call and the name, address, and telephone number of the business or organization being represented, if any.

(2) Inquire as to whether the person called consents to hear the prerecorded message of the person calling.

(3) Inform the person called if the prerecorded message uses an artificial voice.

(b) The calling person person calling, as described in subdivision (a) subdivision (a), shall disconnect the automatic dialing-announcing device from the telephone line upon the termination of the call by either the person calling or the person called.

(c) For purposes of this section, “artificial voice” includes, but is not limited to, a voice simulated or generated using artificial intelligence.

SECTION 1.Section 2871 of the Public Utilities Code is amended to read:

2871.

(a)As used in this article, “automatic dialing-announcing device” means any automatic equipment that incorporates a storage capability of telephone numbers to be called or a random or sequential number generator capable of producing numbers to be called and the capability, working alone or in conjunction with other equipment, to disseminate a prerecorded message, or to make a call using an artificial voice, to the telephone number called.

(b)For purposes of this section, “artificial voice” includes a voice simulated or generated using artificial intelligence.

SEC. 2.

 No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.