SB2063 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB097 09995 ASK 50165 b

97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012
SB2063

Introduced 2/10/2011, by Sen. Don Harmon

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act
50 ILCS 751/10
50 ILCS 751/17
50 ILCS 751/70
50 ILCS 751/80 new

Creates the Prepaid Wireless 9-1-1 Surcharge Act. Provides for a prepaid wireless 9-1-1 surcharge of 1.5% per retail transaction. Provides that a home rule municipality with a population of more than 500,000 that was imposing its own surcharge on wireless carriers prior to July 1, 1998, may impose a prepaid wireless 9-1-1 surcharge not to exceed 6% per retail transaction sourced to that jurisdiction. Defines "retail transaction". Sets forth the requirements and procedures for sellers to collect and remit the prepaid wireless 9-1-1 surcharge. Exempts providers and sellers of prepaid wireless telecommunications service from liability for damages under specified circumstances. Preempts home rule powers. Contains other provisions. Amends the Wireless Emergency Telephone Safety Act. Removes from the definition of "wireless telephone service" prepaid wireless telephone service. Deletes certain provisions concerning surcharges for prepaid wireless telephone service. Extends the repeal of the Act to January 1, 2019. Provides that the term "wireless subscriber" does not include a subscriber with an account or number associated with prepaid wireless telecommunication service. Makes other changes. Effective July 1, 2011.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

HOME RULE NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning local government.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Prepaid Wireless 9-1-1 Surcharge Act.

Section 5. Purpose. The General Assembly finds and declares that maintaining effective and efficient 9-1-1 systems across the State benefits all citizens. The fees imposed upon the consumers of telecommunication services that have the ability to dial 9-1-1 are an important funding mechanism to assist the State and units of local government with the deployment of enhanced 9-1-1 services to the citizens of this State.

Prepaid wireless telecommunication services are an important segment of the telecommunications industry and have proven particularly attractive to low-income and low-volume consumers. Unlike traditional telecommunication services, prepaid wireless telecommunications services are not sold or used pursuant to term contracts or subscriptions and monthly bills are not sent to consumers by prepaid wireless telecommunication service providers or retail vendors.

Prepaid wireless consumers have the same access to emergency 9-1-1 services from their wireless devices as wireless consumers on term contracts. Prepaid wireless consumers benefit from the ability to access the 9-1-1 system by dialing 9-1-1.

Consumers purchase prepaid wireless telecommunication services at a wide variety of general retail locations and other distribution channels. Such purchases are made on a cash-and-carry or pay-as-you-go basis from retailers.

It is the intent of the General Assembly to:

(1) ensure equitable contributions to the funding of 9-1-1 systems from consumers of prepaid wireless telecommunication services;

(2) collect 9-1-1 surcharges from purchasers of prepaid wireless telecommunications service at the point of sale;

(3) impose the collection and remittance obligation for 9-1-1 surcharges on sellers of prepaid wireless telecommunications service;

(4) impose a single statewide 9-1-1 surcharge on point of sale transactions in order to minimize administrative costs on retailers.

Section 10. Definitions. In this Act:

"Consumer" means a person who purchases prepaid wireless telecommunications service in a retail transaction.

"Department" means the Department of Revenue.

"Prepaid wireless E911 surcharge" means the charge that is required to be collected by a seller from a consumer in the amount established under Section 15 of this Act.

"Prepaid wireless telecommunications service" means a wireless telecommunications service that allows a caller to dial 9-1-1 to access the 9-1-1 system, which service must be paid for in advance and is sold in predetermined units or dollars of which the amount declines with use in a known amount.

"Provider" means a person that provides prepaid wireless telecommunications service pursuant to a license issued by the Federal Communications Commission.

"Retail transaction" means the purchase of prepaid wireless telecommunications service from a seller for any purpose other than resale.

"Seller" means a person who sells prepaid wireless telecommunications service to another person.

"Wireless telecommunications service" means commercial mobile radio service as defined by 47 C.F.R. 20.3.

Section 15. Prepaid wireless 9-1-1 surcharge.

(a) There is hereby imposed a prepaid wireless 9-1-1 surcharge of 1.5% per retail transaction. The amount of the surcharge may be reduced or increased pursuant to subsection (e).

(a-5) In lieu of the surcharge imposed under subsection (a), a home rule municipality having a population in excess of 500,000 that was imposing its own surcharge on wireless carriers prior to July 1, 1998, may impose a prepaid wireless 9-1-1 surcharge not to exceed 6% per retail transaction sourced to that jurisdiction under the provisions of paragraph (b).

(b) The prepaid wireless 9-1-1 surcharge shall be collected by the seller from the consumer with respect to each retail transaction occurring in this State. The amount of the prepaid wireless 9-1-1 surcharge shall be either separately stated on an invoice, receipt, or other similar document that is provided to the consumer by the seller or otherwise disclosed to the consumer.

For purposes of this subsection (b), a retail transaction occurs in this State if (i) the retail transaction is made in person by a consumer at the seller's business location and the business is located within the State or (ii) the retail transaction is treated as occurring in this State for purposes of the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act.

(c) The prepaid wireless 9-1-1 surcharge is the liability of the consumer and not of the seller or of any provider, except that the seller shall be liable to remit all prepaid wireless 9-1-1 surcharges that the seller collects from consumers as provided in Section 20, including all such surcharges that the seller is deemed to collect where the amount of the surcharge has not been separately stated on an invoice, receipt, or other similar document provided to the consumer by the seller.

(d) The amount of the prepaid wireless 9-1-1 surcharge that is collected by a seller from a consumer, whether or not such amount is separately stated on an invoice, receipt, or other similar document provided to the consumer by the seller, shall not be included in the base for measuring any tax, fee, surcharge, or other charge that is imposed by this State, any political subdivision of this State, or any intergovernmental agency.

(e) The prepaid wireless 9-1-1 charge shall be proportionately increased or reduced, as applicable, upon any change to the surcharge imposed under Section 17 of the Wireless Emergency Telephone Safety Act. The adjusted rate shall be determined by dividing the amount of the surcharge imposed under Section 17 of the Wireless Emergency Telephone Safety Act by $50. Such increase or reduction shall be effective on the effective date of the change to the surcharge imposed under Section 17 of the Wireless Emergency Telephone Safety Act or, if later, the first day of the first calendar month to occur at least 60 days after the enactment of the change to the surcharge imposed under Section 17 of the Wireless Emergency Telephone Safety Act. The Department shall provide not less than 30 days' notice of an increase or reduction in the amount of the surcharge on the Department's website.

(f) Bundled transactions. When prepaid wireless telecommunications service is sold with one or more other products or services for a single, non-itemized price, then the percentage specified in subsection (a) or (a-5) of this Section 15 shall be applied to the entire non-itemized price unless the seller elects to apply the percentage to (i) the dollar amount of the prepaid wireless telecommunications service if that dollar amount is disclosed to the consumer or (ii) the portion of the price that is attributable to the prepaid wireless telecommunications service if the retailer can identify that portion by reasonable and verifiable standards from its books and records that are kept in the regular course of business for other purposes, including, but not limited to, books and records that are kept for non-tax purposes. However, if a minimal amount of prepaid wireless telecommunications service is sold with a prepaid wireless device for a single, non-itemized price, then the seller may elect not to apply the percentage specified in subsection (a) or (a-5) of this Section 15 to such transaction. For purposes of this subsection, an amount of service denominated as 10 minutes or less or $5 or less is considered minimal.

Section 20. Administration of prepaid wireless 9-1-1 surcharge.

(a) Prepaid wireless E911 charges collected by sellers shall be remitted to the Department at the times and in the manner provided by the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. The Department shall establish registration and payment procedures that substantially coincide with the registration and payment procedures that apply to the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act.

(b) A seller shall be permitted to deduct and retain 3% of prepaid wireless 9-1-1 surcharges that are collected by the seller from consumers.

(c) The audit and appeal procedures applicable to the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act shall apply to prepaid wireless E911 charges.

(d) The Department shall establish procedures by which a seller of prepaid wireless telecommunications service may document that a sale is not a retail transaction. The procedures must substantially coincide with the procedures for documenting sale for resale transactions under the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act.

(e) The Department shall pay all remitted prepaid wireless E911 charges over to the State Treasurer for deposit into the Wireless Service Emergency Fund within 30 days after receipt, for use and distribution in accordance with the provisions of the Wireless Emergency Telephone Safety Act. The Department may deduct an amount, not to exceed 2% of remitted charges, to be retained by the Department to reimburse its direct costs of administering the collection and remittance of prepaid wireless 9-1-1 surcharges.

Section 25. Liability of sellers and providers.

(a) The provisions of Section 50 of the Wireless Emergency Telephone Safety Act shall apply to sellers and providers of prepaid wireless telecommunications service.

(b) No provider or seller of prepaid wireless telecommunications service shall be liable for damages to any person resulting from or incurred in connection with the provision of any lawful assistance to any investigative or law enforcement officer of the United States, this or any other state, or any political subdivision of this or any other state, in connection with any lawful investigation or other law enforcement activity by such law enforcement officer.

Section 27. Home rule. A home rule unit, other than a home rule municipality having a population in excess of 500,000 that was imposing its own surcharge on wireless carriers prior to July 1, 1998, may not impose a separate surcharge on wireless 9-1-1 service in addition to the surcharge imposed on wireless 9-1-1 service under this Act. This Section is a denial and limitation of home rule powers and functions under subsection (h) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution.

Section 30. Exclusivity of prepaid wireless 9-1-1 surcharge. The prepaid wireless 9-1-1 surcharge imposed by this Act shall be the only 9-1-1 funding obligation imposed with respect to prepaid wireless telecommunications service in this State. No tax, fee, surcharge, or other charge shall be imposed by this State, any political subdivision of this State, or any intergovernmental agency, for 9-1-1 funding purposes, upon any provider, seller, or consumer with respect to the sale, purchase, use, or provision of prepaid wireless telecommunications service.

Section 95. The Wireless Emergency Telephone Safety Act is amended by changing Sections 10, 17, and 70 and by adding Section 80 as follows:

(50 ILCS 751/10)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on April 1, 2013)

Sec. 10. Definitions. In this Act:

"Active prepaid wireless telephone" means a prepaid wireless telephone that has been used or activated by the customer during the month to complete a telephone call for which the customer's card or account was decremented.

"Emergency telephone system board" means a board appointed by the corporate authorities of any county or municipality that provides for the management and operation of a 9-1-1 system within the scope of the duties and powers prescribed by the Emergency Telephone System Act.

"Master street address guide" means the computerized geographical database that consists of all street and address data within a 9-1-1 system.

"Mobile telephone number" or "MTN" shall mean the telephone number assigned to a wireless telephone at the time of initial activation.

"Prepaid wireless telecommunication telephone service" means a cellular or wireless telecommunications telephone service that allows a caller to dial 9-1-1 to access the 9-1-1 system, which service must be paid for in advance and is sold in predetermined units or dollars which the amount declines with use in a known amount. which is activated by payment in advance of a finite dollar amount or for a finite set of minutes and which, unless an additional finite dollar amount or finite set of minutes is paid in advance, terminates either (i) upon use by a customer and delivery by the wireless carrier of an agreed-upon amount of service corresponding to the total dollar amount paid in advance, or within a certain period of time following initial purchase or activation.

"Public safety agency" means a functional division of a public agency that provides fire fighting, police, medical, or other emergency services. For the purpose of providing wireless service to users of 9-1-1 emergency services, as expressly provided for in this Act, the Department of State Police may be considered a public safety agency.

"Qualified governmental entity" means a unit of local government authorized to provide 9-1-1 services pursuant to the Emergency Telephone System Act where no emergency telephone system board exists.

"Remit period" means the billing period, one month in duration, for which a wireless carrier, other than a prepaid wireless carrier that provides zip code information based upon the addresses associated with its customers' points of purchase, customers' billing addresses, or locations associated with MTNs, as described in subsection (a) of Section 17, remits a surcharge and provides subscriber information by zip code to the Illinois Commerce Commission, in accordance with Section 17 of this Act.

"Statewide wireless emergency 9-1-1 system" means all areas of the State where an emergency telephone system board or, in the absence of an emergency telephone system board, a qualified governmental entity has not declared its intention for one or more of its public safety answering points to serve as a primary wireless 9-1-1 public safety answering point for its jurisdiction. The operator of the statewide wireless emergency 9-1-1 system shall be the Department of State Police.

"Sufficient positive balance" means a dollar amount greater than or equal to the monthly wireless 9-1-1 surcharge amount.

"Wireless carrier" means a provider of two-way cellular, broadband PCS, geographic area 800 MHZ and 900 MHZ Commercial Mobile Radio Service (CMRS), Wireless Communications Service (WCS), or other Commercial Mobile Radio Service (CMRS), as defined by the Federal Communications Commission, offering radio communications that may provide fixed, mobile, radio location, or satellite communication services to individuals or businesses within its assigned spectrum block and geographical area or that offers real-time, two-way voice service that is interconnected with the public switched network, including a reseller of such service.

"Wireless enhanced 9-1-1" means the ability to relay the telephone number of the originator of a 9-1-1 call and location information from any mobile handset or text telephone device accessing the wireless system to the designated wireless public safety answering point as set forth in the order of the Federal Communications Commission, FCC Docket No. 94-102, adopted June 12, 1996, with an effective date of October 1, 1996, and any subsequent amendment thereto.

"Wireless public safety answering point" means the functional division of an emergency telephone system board, qualified governmental entity, or the Department of State Police accepting wireless 9-1-1 calls.

"Wireless subscriber" means an individual or entity to whom a wireless service account or number has been assigned by a wireless carrier, other than an account or number associated with prepaid wireless telecommunication service.

"Wireless telephone service" includes prepaid wireless telephone service and means all "commercial mobile service", as that term is defined in 47 CFR 20.3, including all personal communications services, wireless radio telephone services, geographic area specialized and enhanced specialized mobile radio services, and incumbent wide area specialized mobile radio licensees that offer real time, two-way service that is interconnected with the public switched telephone network.

(Source: P.A. 95-63, eff. 8-13-07.)

(50 ILCS 751/17)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on April 1, 2013)

Sec. 17. Wireless carrier surcharge.

(a) Except as provided in Sections Section 45 and 80, each wireless carrier shall impose a monthly wireless carrier surcharge per CMRS connection that either has a telephone number within an area code assigned to Illinois by the North American Numbering Plan Administrator or has a billing address in this State. In the case of prepaid wireless telephone service, this surcharge shall be remitted based upon the address associated with the point of purchase, the customer billing address, or the location associated with the MTN for each active prepaid wireless telephone that has a sufficient positive balance as of the last day of each month, if that information is available. No wireless carrier shall impose the surcharge authorized by this Section upon any subscriber who is subject to the surcharge imposed by a unit of local government pursuant to Section 45. Prior to January 1, 2008 (the effective date of Public Act 95-698), the surcharge amount shall be the amount set by the Wireless Enhanced 9-1-1 Board. Beginning on January 1, 2008 (the effective date of Public Act 95-698), the monthly surcharge imposed under this Section shall be $0.73 per CMRS connection. The wireless carrier that provides wireless service to the subscriber shall collect the surcharge from the subscriber. For mobile telecommunications services provided on and after August 1, 2002, any surcharge imposed under this Act shall be imposed based upon the municipality or county that encompasses the customer's place of primary use as defined in the Mobile Telecommunications Sourcing Conformity Act. The surcharge shall be stated as a separate item on the subscriber's monthly bill. The wireless carrier shall begin collecting the surcharge on bills issued within 90 days after the Wireless Enhanced 9-1-1 Board sets the monthly wireless surcharge. State and local taxes shall not apply to the wireless carrier surcharge.

(b) Except as provided in Sections Section 45 and 80, a wireless carrier shall, within 45 days of collection, remit, either by check or by electronic funds transfer, to the State Treasurer the amount of the wireless carrier surcharge collected from each subscriber. Of the amounts remitted under this subsection prior to January 1, 2008 (the effective date of Public Act 95-698), and for surcharges imposed before January 1, 2008 (the effective date of Public Act 95-698) but remitted after January 1, 2008, the State Treasurer shall deposit one-third into the Wireless Carrier Reimbursement Fund and two-thirds into the Wireless Service Emergency Fund. For surcharges collected and remitted on or after January 1, 2008 (the effective date of Public Act 95-698), $0.1475 per surcharge collected shall be deposited into the Wireless Carrier Reimbursement Fund, and $0.5825 per surcharge collected shall be deposited into the Wireless Service Emergency Fund. Of the amounts deposited into the Wireless Carrier Reimbursement Fund under this subsection, $0.01 per surcharge collected may be distributed to the carriers to cover their administrative costs. Of the amounts deposited into the Wireless Service Emergency Fund under this subsection, $0.01 per surcharge collected may be disbursed to the Illinois Commerce Commission to cover its administrative costs.

(c) The first such remittance by wireless carriers shall include the number of customers by zip code, and the 9-digit zip code if currently being used or later implemented by the carrier, that shall be the means by which the Illinois Commerce Commission shall determine distributions from the Wireless Service Emergency Fund. This information shall be updated no less often than every year. Wireless carriers are not required to remit surcharge moneys that are billed to subscribers but not yet collected. Any carrier that fails to provide the zip code information required under this subsection (c) or any prepaid wireless carrier that fails to provide zip code information based upon the addresses associated with its customers' points of purchase, customers' billing addresses, or locations associated with MTNs, as described in subsection (a) of this Section, shall be subject to the penalty set forth in subsection (f) of this Section.

(d) (Blank.) Within 90 days after August 13, 2007 (the effective date of Public Act 95-63), each wireless carrier must implement a mechanism for the collection of the surcharge imposed under subsection (a) of this Section from its subscribers. If a wireless carrier does not implement a mechanism for the collection of the surcharge from its subscribers in accordance with this subsection (d), then the carrier is required to remit the surcharge for all subscribers until the carrier is deemed to be in compliance with this subsection (d) by the Illinois Commerce Commission.

(e) If before midnight on the last day of the third calendar month after the closing date of the remit period a wireless carrier does not remit the surcharge or any portion thereof required under this Section, then the surcharge or portion thereof shall be deemed delinquent until paid in full, and the Illinois Commerce Commission may impose a penalty against the carrier in an amount equal to the greater of:

(1) $25 for each month or portion of a month from the time an amount becomes delinquent until the amount is paid in full; or

(2) an amount equal to the product of 1% and the sum of all delinquent amounts for each month or portion of a month that the delinquent amounts remain unpaid.

A penalty imposed in accordance with this subsection (e) for a portion of a month during which the carrier provides the number of subscribers by zip code as required under subsection (c) of this Section shall be prorated for each day of that month during which the carrier had not provided the number of subscribers by zip code as required under subsection (c) of this Section. Any penalty imposed under this subsection (e) is in addition to the amount of the delinquency and is in addition to any other penalty imposed under this Section.

(f) If, before midnight on the last day of the third calendar month after the closing date of the remit period, a wireless carrier does not provide the number of subscribers by zip code as required under subsection (c) of this Section, then the report is deemed delinquent and the Illinois Commerce Commission may impose a penalty against the carrier in an amount equal to the greater of:

(1) $25 for each month or portion of a month that the report is delinquent; or

(2) an amount equal to the product of 1/2¢ and the number of subscribers served by the wireless carrier.

A penalty imposed in accordance with this subsection (f) for a portion of a month during which the carrier pays the delinquent amount in full shall be prorated for each day of that month that the delinquent amount was paid in full. Any penalty imposed under this subsection (f) is in addition to any other penalty imposed under this Section.

(g) The Illinois Commerce Commission may enforce the collection of any delinquent amount and any penalty due and unpaid under this Section by legal action or in any other manner by which the collection of debts due the State of Illinois may be enforced under the laws of this State. The Executive Director of the Illinois Commerce Commission, or his or her designee, may excuse the payment of any penalty imposed under this Section if the Executive Director, or his or her designee, determines that the enforcement of this penalty is unjust.

(h) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, nothing shall impair the right of wireless carriers to recover compliance costs for all emergency communications services that are not reimbursed out of the Wireless Carrier Reimbursement Fund directly from their customers via line-item charges on the customer's bill. Those compliance costs include all costs incurred by wireless carriers in complying with local, State, and federal regulatory or legislative mandates that require the transmission and receipt of emergency communications to and from the general public, including, but not limited to, E-911.

(i) The Auditor General shall conduct, on an annual basis, an audit of the Wireless Service Emergency Fund and the Wireless Carrier Reimbursement Fund for compliance with the requirements of this Act. The audit shall include, but not be limited to, the following determinations:

(1) Whether the Commission is maintaining detailed records of all receipts and disbursements from the Wireless Carrier Emergency Fund and the Wireless Carrier Reimbursement Fund.

(2) Whether the Commission's administrative costs charged to the funds are adequately documented and are reasonable.

(3) Whether the Commission's procedures for making grants and providing reimbursements in accordance with the Act are adequate.

(4) The status of the implementation of wireless 9-1-1 and E9-1-1 services in Illinois.

The Commission, the Department of State Police, and any other entity or person that may have information relevant to the audit shall cooperate fully and promptly with the Office of the Auditor General in conducting the audit. The Auditor General shall commence the audit as soon as possible and distribute the report upon completion in accordance with Section 3-14 of the Illinois State Auditing Act.

(Source: P.A. 95-63, eff. 8-13-07; 95-698, eff. 1-1-08; 95-876, eff. 8-21-08.)

(50 ILCS 751/70)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on April 1, 2013)

Sec. 70. Repealer. This Act is repealed on January 1, 2019 April 1, 2013.

(Source: P.A. 95-63, eff. 8-13-07; 95-698, eff. 1-1-08.)

(50 ILCS 751/80 new)

Sec. 80. Prepaid wireless telecommunications service; surcharge. The wireless carrier surcharge and any other requirements imposed by Section 17 or authorized by Section 45 shall not apply to prepaid wireless telecommunications service. The provisions of the Prepaid Wireless 9-1-1 Surcharge Act shall apply to prepaid wireless telecommunications service.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, 2011.