HB709 Alabama 2012 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Laura HallRepresentative

Democrat

Co-Sponsors

Dan WilliamsPaul W. LeeApril WeaverBarry MooreEd HenryRichard BaughnBecky NordgrenMac ButtramKurt WallaceJohn MerrillKen JohnsonWayne JohnsonMark TuggleGreg BurdineLynn GreerWilliam RobertsMike MillicanAlan HarperPatricia ToddMac McCutcheonJay LoveMike BallJoe FaustRandy WoodDuwayne BridgesHoward SanderfordPhil WilliamsMicky HammonK.L. BrownTerri CollinsDavid Sessions

Session

Regular Session 2012

Title

Caller ID fraud, criminal penalties for entering false information into a caller identification system in order to defraud or deceive a recipient, provided

Summary

HB709 would criminalize knowingly inserting false caller ID information to defraud or deceive a call recipient, creating a Class A misdemeanor with certain exemptions.

What This Bill Does

It makes it unlawful for a caller to knowingly insert false information into a caller ID system with the intent to mislead, defraud, or deceive the recipient of a telephone call. A violation is charged as a Class A misdemeanor. The bill lists exemptions, including blocking caller ID and various agencies or individuals (law enforcement, federal agencies, licensed private investigators, and process servers) acting in official capacities. It takes effect on the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval, and it interacts with Amendment 621 about local expenditures by falling within an exception that avoids the local 2/3-vote requirement.

Who It Affects

• General members of the public who receive phone calls would be protected from caller ID fraud and deception by this law.
• People or entities who would commit caller ID fraud (callers) would face criminal penalties; exemptions apply to certain agencies and professionals when acting in official duties.

Key Provisions

• Creates criminal penalties for knowingly inserting false information into a caller identification system with the intent to mislead, defraud, or deceive the recipient of a telephone call.
• Violations are Class A misdemeanors.
• Exemptions: blocking caller ID; law enforcement agencies during active investigations; federal intelligence or security agencies; licensed private investigators; and process servers acting in official civil/criminal/arbitration proceedings.
• Effective date: first day of the third month after passage and governor's approval.
• References Amendment 621 of the Alabama Constitution; the bill would impose a new or increased local expenditure but is described as falling within an exception, so it does not require a 2/3 local-vote approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Crimes and Offenses