S2946

An Act establishing a task force to study technology and other methods used to reduce or eliminate telemarketing harassment and intimidation.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. a. There is established in the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety a task force to study technology and other methods used to reduce telemarketing harassment and intimidation. The purpose of this task for is to evaluate and make recommendations relating to the cost and feasibility of implementing appropriate technology and other methods to eliminate or reduce incidents of telemarketing harassment and intimidation of consumers in this State.

b. The task force shall consist of 11 members as follows:

(1) the Attorney General, the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs, and the Director of the Division of Rate Counsel, or their designees, who shall serve ex-officio; and

(2) 8 public members who shall be appointed by the Governor, including a telecommunications technology expert from AT&T Communications of New Jersey, a telecommunications technology expert from Verizon New Jersey, a telecommunications technology expert from Verizon New Jersey with particular expertise in fiber optic technology, a representative from the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), a representative from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, and three senior citizens who have experienced telemarketing harassment and intimidation.

c. Within 90 days after the effective date of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), a majority of the task force’s authorized membership shall be appointed, and the task force shall hold its initial meeting. The task force shall organize upon the appointment of a majority of its authorized membership and shall elect a chair from among the members. The members of the task force, other than those serving ex-officio, shall serve for the duration of the existence of the task force. Any vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. The task force members shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties within the limits of funds available to the task force.

d. Not later than 180 days after the initial meeting of the task force, the task force shall issue a report to the Governor and to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), which shall include, but not be limited to, a cost-benefit analysis concerning the implementation of technology and other methods that may be used to reduce telemarketing harassment and intimidation of consumers in this State, the various options for financing the cost of implementation, any other information relevant to the subject of the report, and any draft legislation the task force deems appropriate to implement the purposes of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

e. The task force shall be entitled to the assistance and services of employees of any State board, bureau, commission, or agency as the task force may require and as may be available to it for these purposes, including, but not limited to, stenographic and clerical assistants.

f. The Office of Information Technology shall assist the task force in the performance of its duties and provide the task force with studies, data, or other materials, to the extent that the assistance is relevant to the purposes of the task force.

2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire upon the issuance of the report submitted by the task force pursuant to section 1 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

STATEMENT

This bill establishes in the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety a task force to study technology and other methods used to reduce or eliminate telemarketing harassment and intimidation. The purpose of this task for is to evaluate and make recommendations relating to the cost and feasibility of implementing appropriate technology and other methods to reduce incidents of telemarketing harassment and intimidation of consumers in this State.

The task force is to consist of 11 members as follows:

(1) the Attorney General, the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs, and the Director of the Division of Rate Counsel, or their designees, who are to serve ex-officio; and

The bill requires the task force is to issue a report to the Governor and to the Legislature, which is to include, but not be limited to, a cost-benefit analysis concerning the implementation of technology and other methods that may be used to reduce telemarketing harassment and intimidation in this State, the various options for financing the cost of implementation, any other information relevant to the subject of the report, and any draft legislation the task force deems appropriate to implement the purposes of this bill.