SB95 Alabama 2019 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Andrew JonesSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2019

Title

Telemarketers and telephone solicitations, knowing display of misleading caller identification information prohibited, Sec. 8-19C-2.1 added; Secs. 8-19A-3, 8-19A-20, 8-19C-2, 8-19C-3, 8-19C-5, 8-19C-6, 8-19C-7, 8-19C-11 am'd.

Summary

SB 95 tightens telemarketing rules by banning spoofed caller IDs, raising penalties, expanding Do Not Call protections to commercial and cellular lines, and giving enforcement to the Attorney General's office.

What This Bill Does

It prohibits intentional misuse of caller ID information by telephone solicitors and makes caller ID spoofing a violation enforceable under the Deceptive Trade Practices Act for AG enforcement. It expands the Do Not Call Law to apply to commercial and cellular subscribers and increases civil penalties and damages for violations to $5,000. It designates the Consumer Protection Division of the Office of the Attorney General as the criminal prosecuting authority for these violations. It preserves exemptions for charitable solicitations and for calls where proper caller identification has been substituted, and sets an effective date after enactment.

Who It Affects

• Telemarketers and commercial telephone sellers would face new restrictions on spoofing caller ID and higher penalties for violations.
• Residential, commercial, and cellular telephone subscribers would gain stronger Do Not Call protections and enforcement against violations.
• The Alabama Public Service Commission would continue to manage the Do Not Call database and related fees.
• The Office of the Attorney General, specifically the Consumer Protection Division, would handle criminal prosecution of violations.

Key Provisions

• Prohibits intentional misuse of caller identification information by telephone solicitors and makes caller ID spoofing a Deceptive Trade Practices Act violation enforceable by the Attorney General.
• Expands the Do Not Call Law to apply to commercial and cellular telephone subscribers.
• Increases civil penalties and damages for Do Not Call Law violations to $5,000 per violation and $5,000 in damages, respectively.
• Designates the Consumer Protection Division of the Attorney General as the criminal prosecuting authority for these violations.
• Exempts charitable solicitations and calls where the caller ID information has been properly substituted for the caller's information.
• Authorizes the Public Service Commission to administer the Do Not Call database, collect inclusion and access fees, and deposit those fees into a state fund for implementation and administration.
• Provides that the bill is exempt from local expenditure approval requirements under Amendment 621 due to being a new crime or amended crime.
• Effective date: the act takes effect on the first day of the third month after passage and 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

Telemarketing