Bill Text: IN HB1370 | 2013 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Telephone privacy issues.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-01-22 - First reading: referred to Committee on Judiciary [HB1370 Detail]
Download: Indiana-2013-HB1370-Introduced.html
Citations Affected: IC 24-4.7; IC 24-5.
Synopsis: Telephone privacy issues. Provides that: (1) a telephone
solicitor who sells a telephone number listed in the do not call list; or
(2) a person who knowingly purchases the telephone number; commits
a deceptive act. Provides for partial payment of certain civil penalties
to individuals who assist the attorney general in investigating certain
deceptive acts. Adds: (1) telephone solicitation; (2)
telecommunications service; and (3) IP-enabled service; to the
definition of "consumer transaction" for purposes of the deceptive
consumer sales act. Imposes a civil penalty of up to $10,000 for a
knowing or intentional violation of the federal Truth in Caller ID Act.
Effective: July 1, 2013.
January 22, 2013, read first time and referred to Committee on Judiciary.
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A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning trade
regulation.
(1) the telephone number appears in the most current quarterly listing published by the division; or
(2) the consumer has previously stated to the telephone solicitor, and has not rescinded the statement, that the consumer does not wish to receive telephone solicitations by or on behalf of the telephone solicitor.
(b) A person may not:
(1) purchase, obtain, use, sell, or transfer a consumer's telephone number, mailing address, or electronic mail address, including by entering into a transaction with the consumer for the sale of consumer goods or services, if:
(A) a telephone solicitor obtained or verified the telephone
number, mailing address, or electronic mail address based
on a violation of this chapter, including during a telephone
solicitation that violates this chapter; and
(B) the person knows or should have known that a
telephone solicitor obtained or verified the telephone
number, mailing address, or electronic mail address based
on a violation of this chapter, including during a telephone
solicitation that violates this chapter; or
(2) provide assistance or support to a telephone solicitor if the
person knows or should have known that the telephone
solicitor is violating this chapter.
(1) may be prohibited from contracting with the state; or
(2) may have an existing contract with the state voided;
if the contractor, an affiliate or principal of the contractor, or any agent acting on behalf of the contractor or an affiliate or principal of the contractor does not or has not complied with the terms of this article, even if this article is preempted by federal law.
(1) reported to the attorney general alleged violations of this chapter; and
(2) cooperated with the investigation of the alleged violations;
that resulted in the award of the civil penalty.
(b) If a court orders payments under subsection (a) with respect to the same civil penalty to more than one (1) individual, the total amount of payments ordered to all individuals may not exceed ten percent (10%) of the civil penalty.
(1) "Consumer transaction" means a sale, lease, assignment, award by chance, or other disposition of an item of personal
property, real property, a service, or an intangible, except
securities and policies or contracts of insurance issued by
corporations authorized to transact an insurance business under
the laws of the state of Indiana, with or without an extension of
credit, to a person for purposes that are primarily personal,
familial, charitable, agricultural, or household, or a solicitation to
supply any of these things. However, the term includes the
following:
(A) A transfer of structured settlement payment rights under
IC 34-50-2.
(B) An unsolicited advertisement sent to a person by telephone
facsimile machine offering a sale, lease, assignment, award by
chance, or other disposition of an item of personal property,
real property, a service, or an intangible.
(C) Collecting or attempting to collect a debt owed or due, or
asserted to be owed or due, to another person.
(D) A telephone solicitation (as defined in 47 U.S.C.
227(a)).
(E) A telecommunications service (as defined in 47 U.S.C.
153).
(F) An offering of IP-enabled voice service (as defined in 47
U.S.C. 615b(8)).
(2) "Person" means an individual, corporation, the state of Indiana
or its subdivisions or agencies, business trust, estate, trust,
partnership, association, nonprofit corporation or organization, or
cooperative or any other legal entity.
(3) "Supplier" means the following:
(A) A seller, lessor, assignor, or other person who regularly
engages in or solicits consumer transactions, including
soliciting a consumer transaction by using a telephone
facsimile machine to transmit an unsolicited advertisement.
The term includes a manufacturer, wholesaler, or retailer,
whether or not the person deals directly with the consumer.
(B) A person who contrives, prepares, sets up, operates,
publicizes by means of advertisements, or promotes a pyramid
promotional scheme.
(C) A debt collector.
(D) A person who provides, performs, engages in, or causes
to be provided or performed:
(i) a telephone solicitation (as defined in 47 U.S.C.
227(a));
(ii) a telecommunications service (as defined in 47 U.S.C.
153); or
(iii) an offering of IP-enabled voice service (as defined in
47 U.S.C. 615b(8)).
(4) "Subject of a consumer transaction" means the personal
property, real property, services, or intangibles offered or
furnished in a consumer transaction.
(5) "Cure" as applied to a deceptive act, means either:
(A) to offer in writing to adjust or modify the consumer
transaction to which the act relates to conform to the
reasonable expectations of the consumer generated by such
deceptive act and to perform such offer if accepted by the
consumer; or
(B) to offer in writing to rescind such consumer transaction
and to perform such offer if accepted by the consumer.
The term includes an offer in writing of one (1) or more items of
value, including monetary compensation, that the supplier
delivers to a consumer or a representative of the consumer if
accepted by the consumer.
(6) "Offer to cure" as applied to a deceptive act is a cure that:
(A) is reasonably calculated to remedy a loss claimed by the
consumer; and
(B) includes a minimum additional amount that is the greater
of:
(i) ten percent (10%) of the value of the remedy under
clause (A), but not more than four thousand dollars
($4,000); or
(ii) five hundred dollars ($500);
as compensation for attorney's fees, expenses, and other costs
that a consumer may incur in relation to the deceptive act.
(7) "Uncured deceptive act" means a deceptive act:
(A) with respect to which a consumer who has been damaged
by such act has given notice to the supplier under section 5(a)
of this chapter; and
(B) either:
(i) no offer to cure has been made to such consumer within
thirty (30) days after such notice; or
(ii) the act has not been cured as to such consumer within a
reasonable time after the consumer's acceptance of the offer
to cure.
(8) "Incurable deceptive act" means a deceptive act done by a
supplier as part of a scheme, artifice, or device with intent to
defraud or mislead. The term includes a failure of a transferee of
structured settlement payment rights to timely provide a true and
complete disclosure statement to a payee as provided under
IC 34-50-2 in connection with a direct or indirect transfer of
structured settlement payment rights.
(9) "Pyramid promotional scheme" means any program utilizing
a pyramid or chain process by which a participant in the program
gives a valuable consideration exceeding one hundred dollars
($100) for the opportunity or right to receive compensation or
other things of value in return for inducing other persons to
become participants for the purpose of gaining new participants
in the program. The term does not include ordinary sales of goods
or services to persons who are not purchasing in order to
participate in such a scheme.
(10) "Promoting a pyramid promotional scheme" means:
(A) inducing or attempting to induce one (1) or more other
persons to become participants in a pyramid promotional
scheme; or
(B) assisting another in promoting a pyramid promotional
scheme.
(11) "Elderly person" means an individual who is at least
sixty-five (65) years of age.
(12) "Telephone facsimile machine" means equipment that has
the capacity to transcribe text or images, or both, from:
(A) paper into an electronic signal and to transmit that signal
over a regular telephone line; or
(B) an electronic signal received over a regular telephone line
onto paper.
(13) "Unsolicited advertisement" means material advertising the
commercial availability or quality of:
(A) property;
(B) goods; or
(C) services;
that is transmitted to a person without the person's prior express
invitation or permission, in writing or otherwise.
(14) "Debt" has the meaning set forth in 15 U.S.C. 1692a(5)).
(15) "Debt collector" has the meaning set forth in 15 U.S.C.
1692a(6). The term does not include a person admitted to the
practice of law in Indiana if the person is acting within the course
and scope of the person's practice as an attorney.
(b) As used in section 3(a)(15) and 3(a)(16) of this chapter:
(1) "Directory assistance" means the disclosure of telephone
number information in connection with an identified telephone
service subscriber by means of a live operator or automated
service.
(2) "Local telephone directory" refers to a telephone classified
advertising directory or the business section of a telephone
directory that is distributed by a telephone company or directory
publisher to subscribers located in the local exchanges contained
in the directory. The term includes a directory that includes
listings of more than one (1) telephone company.
(3) "Local telephone number" refers to a telephone number that
has the three (3) number prefix used by the provider of telephone
service for telephones physically located within the area covered
by the local telephone directory in which the number is listed. The
term does not include long distance numbers or 800-, 888-, or
900- exchange numbers listed in a local telephone directory.
(1) That such subject of a consumer transaction has sponsorship, approval, performance, characteristics, accessories, uses, or benefits it does not have which the supplier knows or should reasonably know it does not have.
(2) That such subject of a consumer transaction is of a particular standard, quality, grade, style, or model, if it is not and if the supplier knows or should reasonably know that it is not.
(3) That such subject of a consumer transaction is new or unused, if it is not and if the supplier knows or should reasonably know that it is not.
(4) That such subject of a consumer transaction will be supplied to the public in greater quantity than the supplier intends or reasonably expects.
(5) That replacement or repair constituting the subject of a consumer transaction is needed, if it is not and if the supplier knows or should reasonably know that it is not.
(6) That a specific price advantage exists as to such subject of a consumer transaction, if it does not and if the supplier knows or should reasonably know that it does not.
(7) That the supplier has a sponsorship, approval, or affiliation in such consumer transaction the supplier does not have, and which the supplier knows or should reasonably know that the supplier
does not have.
(8) That such consumer transaction involves or does not involve
a warranty, a disclaimer of warranties, or other rights, remedies,
or obligations, if the representation is false and if the supplier
knows or should reasonably know that the representation is false.
(9) That the consumer will receive a rebate, discount, or other
benefit as an inducement for entering into a sale or lease in return
for giving the supplier the names of prospective consumers or
otherwise helping the supplier to enter into other consumer
transactions, if earning the benefit, rebate, or discount is
contingent upon the occurrence of an event subsequent to the time
the consumer agrees to the purchase or lease.
(10) That the supplier is able to deliver or complete the subject of
the consumer transaction within a stated period of time, when the
supplier knows or should reasonably know the supplier could not.
If no time period has been stated by the supplier, there is a
presumption that the supplier has represented that the supplier
will deliver or complete the subject of the consumer transaction
within a reasonable time, according to the course of dealing or the
usage of the trade.
(11) That the consumer will be able to purchase the subject of the
consumer transaction as advertised by the supplier, if the supplier
does not intend to sell it.
(12) That the replacement or repair constituting the subject of a
consumer transaction can be made by the supplier for the estimate
the supplier gives a customer for the replacement or repair, if the
specified work is completed and:
(A) the cost exceeds the estimate by an amount equal to or
greater than ten percent (10%) of the estimate;
(B) the supplier did not obtain written permission from the
customer to authorize the supplier to complete the work even
if the cost would exceed the amounts specified in clause (A);
(C) the total cost for services and parts for a single transaction
is more than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750); and
(D) the supplier knew or reasonably should have known that
the cost would exceed the estimate in the amounts specified in
clause (A).
(13) That the replacement or repair constituting the subject of a
consumer transaction is needed, and that the supplier disposes of
the part repaired or replaced earlier than seventy-two (72) hours
after both:
(A) the customer has been notified that the work has been
completed; and
(B) the part repaired or replaced has been made available for
examination upon the request of the customer.
(14) Engaging in the replacement or repair of the subject of a
consumer transaction if the consumer has not authorized the
replacement or repair, and if the supplier knows or should
reasonably know that it is not authorized.
(15) The act of misrepresenting the geographic location of the
supplier by listing a fictitious business name or an assumed
business name (as described in IC 23-15-1) in a local telephone
directory if:
(A) the name misrepresents the supplier's geographic location;
(B) the listing fails to identify the locality and state of the
supplier's business;
(C) calls to the local telephone number are routinely forwarded
or otherwise transferred to a supplier's business location that
is outside the calling area covered by the local telephone
directory; and
(D) the supplier's business location is located in a county that
is not contiguous to a county in the calling area covered by the
local telephone directory.
(16) The act of listing a fictitious business name or assumed
business name (as described in IC 23-15-1) in a directory
assistance database if:
(A) the name misrepresents the supplier's geographic location;
(B) calls to the local telephone number are routinely forwarded
or otherwise transferred to a supplier's business location that
is outside the local calling area; and
(C) the supplier's business location is located in a county that
is not contiguous to a county in the local calling area.
(17) The violation by a supplier of IC 24-3-4 concerning
cigarettes for import or export.
(18) The act of a supplier in knowingly selling or reselling a
product to a consumer if the product has been recalled, whether
by the order of a court or a regulatory body, or voluntarily by the
manufacturer, distributor, or retailer, unless the product has been
repaired or modified to correct the defect that was the subject of
the recall.
(19) The violation by a supplier of 47 U.S.C. 227, 47 U.S.C.
227(d), including any rules or regulations issued under 47 U.S.C.
227. 47 U.S.C. 227(d).
(20) The violation by a supplier of the federal Fair Debt
Collection Practices Act (15 U.S.C. 1692 et seq.), including any
rules or regulations issued under the federal Fair Debt Collection
Practices Act (15 U.S.C. 1692 et seq.).
(21) A violation of IC 24-5-7 (concerning health spa services), as
set forth in IC 24-5-7-17.
(22) A violation of IC 24-5-8 (concerning business opportunity
transactions), as set forth in IC 24-5-8-20.
(23) A violation of IC 24-5-10 (concerning home consumer
transactions), as set forth in IC 24-5-10-18.
(24) A violation of IC 24-5-11 (concerning home improvement
contracts), as set forth in IC 24-5-11-14.
(25) A violation of IC 24-5-12 (concerning telephone
solicitations), as set forth in IC 24-5-12-23.
(26) A violation of IC 24-5-13.5 (concerning buyback motor
vehicles), as set forth in IC 24-5-13.5-14.
(27) A violation of IC 24-5-14 (concerning automatic
dialing-announcing devices), as set forth in IC 24-5-14-13.
(28) A violation of IC 24-5-15 (concerning credit services
organizations), as set forth in IC 24-5-15-11.
(29) A violation of IC 24-5-16 (concerning unlawful motor
vehicle subleasing), as set forth in IC 24-5-16-18.
(30) A violation of IC 24-5-17 (concerning environmental
marketing claims), as set forth in IC 24-5-17-14.
(31) A violation of IC 24-5-19 (concerning deceptive commercial
solicitation), as set forth in IC 24-5-19-11.
(32) A violation of IC 24-5-21 (concerning prescription drug
discount cards), as set forth in IC 24-5-21-7.
(33) A violation of IC 24-5-23.5-7 (concerning real estate
appraisals), as set forth in IC 24-5-23.5-9.
(34) A violation of IC 24-5-26 (concerning identity theft), as set
forth in IC 24-5-26-3.
(35) A violation of IC 24-5.5 (concerning mortgage rescue fraud),
as set forth in IC 24-5.5-6-1.
(36) A violation of IC 24-8 (concerning promotional gifts and
contests), as set forth in IC 24-8-6-3.
(37) The violation by a supplier of 47 U.S.C. 227(e), including
any rules or regulations issued under 47 U.S.C. 227(e).
(b) Any representations on or within a product or its packaging or
in advertising or promotional materials which would constitute a
deceptive act shall be the deceptive act both of the supplier who places
such representation thereon or therein, or who authored such materials,
and such other suppliers who shall state orally or in writing that such
representation is true if such other supplier shall know or have reason
to know that such representation was false.
(c) If a supplier shows by a preponderance of the evidence that an
act resulted from a bona fide error notwithstanding the maintenance of
procedures reasonably adopted to avoid the error, such act shall not be
deceptive within the meaning of this chapter.
(d) It shall be a defense to any action brought under this chapter that
the representation constituting an alleged deceptive act was one made
in good faith by the supplier without knowledge of its falsity and in
reliance upon the oral or written representations of the manufacturer,
the person from whom the supplier acquired the product, any testing
organization, or any other person provided that the source thereof is
disclosed to the consumer.
(e) For purposes of subsection (a)(12), a supplier that provides
estimates before performing repair or replacement work for a customer
shall give the customer a written estimate itemizing as closely as
possible the price for labor and parts necessary for the specific job
before commencing the work.
(f) For purposes of subsection (a)(15) and (a)(16), a telephone
company or other provider of a telephone directory or directory
assistance service or its officer or agent is immune from liability for
publishing the listing of a fictitious business name or assumed business
name of a supplier in its directory or directory assistance database
unless the telephone company or other provider of a telephone
directory or directory assistance service is the same person as the
supplier who has committed the deceptive act.
(g) For purposes of subsection (a)(18), it is an affirmative defense
to any action brought under this chapter that the product has been
altered by a person other than the defendant to render the product
completely incapable of serving its original purpose.
(1) three (3) times the actual damages of the consumer suffering the loss; or
(2) one thousand dollars ($1,000).
Except as provided in subsection (j), the court may award reasonable
attorney fees to the party that prevails in an action under this
subsection. This subsection does not apply to a consumer transaction
in real property, including a claim or action involving a construction
defect (as defined in IC 32-27-3-1(5)) brought against a construction
professional (as defined in IC 32-27-3-1(4)), except for purchases of
time shares and camping club memberships. This subsection does not
apply with respect to a deceptive act described in section 3(a)(20) of
this chapter. This subsection also does not apply to a violation of
IC 24-4.7, IC 24-5-12, or IC 24-5-14. Actual damages awarded to a
person under this section have priority over any civil penalty imposed
under this chapter.
(b) Any person who is entitled to bring an action under subsection
(a) on the person's own behalf against a supplier for damages for a
deceptive act may bring a class action against such supplier on behalf
of any class of persons of which that person is a member and which has
been damaged by such deceptive act, subject to and under the Indiana
Rules of Trial Procedure governing class actions, except as herein
expressly provided. Except as provided in subsection (j), the court may
award reasonable attorney fees to the party that prevails in a class
action under this subsection, provided that such fee shall be determined
by the amount of time reasonably expended by the attorney and not by
the amount of the judgment, although the contingency of the fee may
be considered. Except in the case of an extension of time granted by the
attorney general under IC 24-10-2-2(b) in an action subject to IC 24-10,
any money or other property recovered in a class action under this
subsection which cannot, with due diligence, be restored to consumers
within one (1) year after the judgment becomes final shall be returned
to the party depositing the same. This subsection does not apply to a
consumer transaction in real property, except for purchases of time
shares and camping club memberships. This subsection does not apply
with respect to a deceptive act described in section 3(a)(20) of this
chapter. Actual damages awarded to a class have priority over any civil
penalty imposed under this chapter.
(c) The attorney general may bring an action to enjoin a deceptive
act, including a deceptive act described in section 3(a)(20) of this
chapter, notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b). However, the attorney
general may seek to enjoin patterns of incurable deceptive acts with
respect to consumer transactions in real property. In addition, the court
may:
(1) issue an injunction;
(2) order the supplier to make payment of the money unlawfully
received from the aggrieved consumers to be held in escrow for
distribution to aggrieved consumers;
(3) order the supplier to pay to the state the reasonable costs of
the attorney general's investigation and prosecution related to the
action; and
(4) provide for the appointment of a receiver.
(d) In an action under subsection (a), (b), or (c), the court may void
or limit the application of contracts or clauses resulting from deceptive
acts and order restitution to be paid to aggrieved consumers.
(e) In any action under subsection (a) or (b), upon the filing of the
complaint or on the appearance of any defendant, claimant, or any
other party, or at any later time, the trial court, the supreme court, or the
court of appeals may require the plaintiff, defendant, claimant, or any
other party or parties to give security, or additional security, in such
sum as the court shall direct to pay all costs, expenses, and
disbursements that shall be awarded against that party or which that
party may be directed to pay by any interlocutory order by the final
judgment or on appeal.
(f) Any person who violates the terms of an injunction issued under
subsection (c) shall forfeit and pay to the state a civil penalty of not
more than fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) per violation. For the
purposes of this section, the court issuing an injunction shall retain
jurisdiction, the cause shall be continued, and the attorney general
acting in the name of the state may petition for recovery of civil
penalties. Whenever the court determines that an injunction issued
under subsection (c) has been violated, the court shall award
reasonable costs to the state.
(g) If a court finds any person has knowingly violated section 3 or
10 of this chapter, other than section 3(a)(19), or 3(a)(20), or 3(a)(27)
of this chapter, the attorney general, in an action pursuant to subsection
(c), may recover from the person on behalf of the state a civil penalty
of a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars ($5,000) per violation.
(h) If a court finds that a person has violated section 3(a)(19) of this
chapter, the attorney general, in an action under subsection (c), may
recover from the person on behalf of the state a civil penalty as follows:
(1) For a knowing or intentional violation, one thousand five
hundred dollars ($1,500).
(2) For a violation other than a knowing or intentional violation,
five hundred dollars ($500).
A civil penalty recovered under this subsection shall be deposited in
the consumer protection division telephone solicitation fund
established by IC 24-4.7-3-6 to be used for the administration and
enforcement of section 3(a)(19) of this chapter.
(i) An elderly person relying upon an uncured or incurable deceptive act, including an act related to hypnotism, may bring an action to recover treble damages, if appropriate.
(j) An offer to cure is:
(1) not admissible as evidence in a proceeding initiated under this section unless the offer to cure is delivered by a supplier to the consumer or a representative of the consumer before the supplier files the supplier's initial response to a complaint; and
(2) only admissible as evidence in a proceeding initiated under this section to prove that a supplier is not liable for attorney's fees under subsection (k).
If the offer to cure is timely delivered by the supplier, the supplier may submit the offer to cure as evidence to prove in the proceeding in accordance with the Indiana Rules of Trial Procedure that the supplier made an offer to cure.
(k) A supplier may not be held liable for the attorney's fees and court costs of the consumer that are incurred following the timely delivery of an offer to cure as described in subsection (j) unless the actual damages awarded, not including attorney's fees and costs, exceed the value of the offer to cure.
(l) If a court finds that a person has knowingly violated section 3(a)(20) of this chapter, the attorney general, in an action under subsection (c), may recover from the person on behalf of the state a civil penalty not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000) per consumer. In determining the amount of the civil penalty in any action by the attorney general under this subsection, the court shall consider, among other relevant factors, the frequency and persistence of noncompliance by the debt collector, the nature of the noncompliance, and the extent to which the noncompliance was intentional. A person may not be held liable in any action by the attorney general for a violation of section 3(a)(20) of this chapter if the person shows by a preponderance of evidence that the violation was not intentional and resulted from a bona fide error, notwithstanding the maintenance of procedures reasonably adapted to avoid the error. A person may not be held liable in any action for a violation of this chapter for contacting a person other than the debtor, if the contact is made in compliance with the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
(m) If a court finds that a person has knowingly or intentionally violated section 3(a)(37) of this chapter, the attorney general, in an action under subsection (c), may recover from the person on behalf of the state a civil penalty of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) per violation. A civil penalty recovered under this
subsection shall be deposited in the consumer protection division
telephone solicitation fund established by IC 24-4.7-3-6 to be used
for the administration and enforcement of section 3(a)(37) of this
chapter.
(1) attempts to contact;
(2) contacts;
(3) causes another person to attempt to contact; or
(4) causes another person to contact;
a subscriber in Indiana by using a telephone or telephone line.
(1) reported to the attorney general alleged violations of this chapter; and
(2) cooperated with the investigation of the alleged violations;
that resulted in the award of the civil penalty.
(b) If a court orders payments under subsection (a) with respect to the same civil penalty to more than one (1) individual, the total amount of payments ordered to all individuals may not exceed ten percent (10%) of the civil penalty.
