State of Illinois
92nd General Assembly
Legislation

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92_HB0570ham001

 










                                           LRB9203183ARsbam02

 1                     AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 570

 2        AMENDMENT NO.     .  Amend House Bill 570 as follows:
 3    by replacing everything after the enacting  clause  with  the
 4    following:

 5        "Section  1.   Short title.  This Act may be cited as the
 6    Telemarketing Registration and Fraud Prevention Act.

 7        Section 5.  Definitions.  As used in this Act, unless the
 8    context otherwise requires:
 9        "Emergency telephone number" means any  telephone  number
10    that  accesses  or  calls  a fire department, law enforcement
11    agency, ambulance, hospital, medical center,  poison  control
12    center, rape crisis center, suicide prevention center, rescue
13    service,  or  the 911 emergency access number provided by law
14    enforcement agencies and police departments.
15        "Investment  opportunity"  means  anything  tangible   or
16    intangible,  that  is offered for sale, sold, or traded based
17    wholly or in  part  on  representations,  either  express  or
18    implied,  about  past,  present, or future income, profit, or
19    appreciation.
20        "Person" includes any individual, group  of  individuals,
21    firm,  association,  corporation, partnership, joint venture,
22    sole proprietorship, or any other business entity.
 
                            -2-            LRB9203183ARsbam02
 1        "Prize" means anything offered or purportedly offered and
 2    given or purportedly given to a person by chance.
 3        "Prize promotion" means a sweepstakes or  other  game  of
 4    chance   or   an   oral   or   written,  express  or  implied
 5    representation that a person has won, has  been  selected  to
 6    receive,  or  is  eligible  to  receive  a prize or purported
 7    prize.
 8        "Seller" means any  person  who,  in  connection  with  a
 9    telemarketing  transaction,  provides,  offers to provide, or
10    arranges for others to  provide  goods  or  services  to  the
11    customer in exchange for consideration.
12        "Telemarketer"  means  any person who, in connection with
13    telemarketing, initiates telephone calls to a person in  this
14    State.   "Telemarketer"  also means any person located within
15    this State who, in connection with  telemarketing,  initiates
16    telephone calls.  "Telemarketer" includes, but is not limited
17    to,  any person who is an owner, operator, officer, director,
18    or partner to the management activities of a business.
19        "Telemarketing" means a plan, program, or campaign  which
20    is  conducted  to induce the purchase of goods or services by
21    use of one or more telephones and which  involves  more  than
22    one  telephone  call.   "Telemarketing"  may also include the
23    notification of  a  prize  award.  "Telemarketing"  does  not
24    include political fundraising.

25        Section  10.   Exemptions.   For purposes of registration
26    and bonding under Sections 15 and 20, "telemarketer" does not
27    include any of the following:
28        (1)  Any securities, commodities, or investment  brokers,
29    dealers,  or investment advisers or associates of securities,
30    commodities, or investment brokers,  dealers,  or  investment
31    advisers subject to license or registration by the Securities
32    and   Exchange   Commission,   the  National  Association  of
33    Securities Dealers, or any other self regulatory organization
 
                            -3-            LRB9203183ARsbam02
 1    as defined by 15 U.S.C. 78l, or by an agency of this State or
 2    any other state, who are soliciting within the scope of their
 3    license or registration.
 4        (2)  A person engaged in solicitation  for  a  religious,
 5    charitable,  political,  educational,  or other noncommercial
 6    purpose; a  person  soliciting  for  a  domestic  or  foreign
 7    nonprofit  corporation  that  is registered with the Illinois
 8    Secretary of State; or the Illinois Attorney General's Office
 9    under the Charitable Trust Act.
10        (3)  A business making a sale to another business.
11        (4)  A  person  that  solicits  sales   by   periodically
12    publishing   and   delivering   a  catalog  of  the  person's
13    merchandise to prospective purchasers, if the catalog:
14             (A)  Contains a written description or  illustration
15        of each item offered for sale; and
16             (B)  Includes  the  business  or home address of the
17        person soliciting the sale.
18        (5)  A person who solicits contracts for  maintenance  or
19    repair of goods previously purchased from that person or from
20    the person on whose behalf the solicitation is made.
21        (6)  A  person  soliciting a transaction regulated by the
22    Commodity  Futures  Trading  Commission  if  the  person   is
23    registered or temporarily licensed with the Commodity Futures
24    Trading Commission under the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C.
25    1  et  seq.), and the person's registration or license is not
26    expired, suspended, or revoked.
27        (7)  A  supervised  financial  organization  or   parent,
28    subsidiary,   or   affiliate   of   a   supervised  financial
29    organization, or a licensee under  the  Consumer  Installment
30    Loan Act.
31        (8)  A  person  licensed  as  an insurance producer under
32    Article XXXI of the Illinois Insurance Code.
33        (9)  An insurance company  licensed  under  the  Illinois
34    Insurance Code.
 
                            -4-            LRB9203183ARsbam02
 1        (10)  A  person  soliciting the sale of services provided
 2    by a satellite or cable television system authorized  by  the
 3    federal  government or this State to provide services in this
 4    State.
 5        (11)  A telecommunications carrier or its  subsidiary  or
 6    agent,  or other business, regulated by the Illinois Commerce
 7    Commission under Article XIII of the  Public  Utilities  Act,
 8    including  but not limited to a telecommunications carrier as
 9    defined at Section 13-202 of  the  Public  Utilities  Act;  a
10    federally  licensed cellular telephone service partner or its
11    agents; or a radio telecommunication service provider.
12        (12)  A person soliciting business  from  consumers  that
13    have   an   existing   business  relationship  with  or  have
14    previously purchased from the business enterprise  for  which
15    the person is soliciting.
16        (13)  A  person operating a retail business establishment
17    under the same name as that used in the solicitation:
18             (A)  Whose  goods  or  services  are  displayed  and
19        offered for sale at the business establishment; and
20             (B)  A  majority  of  whose  business  involves  the
21        consumer obtaining the goods or services at the  business
22        establishment.
23        (14)  A  person  soliciting for the sale of a magazine or
24    newspaper of general circulation.
25        (15)  An issuer or a subsidiary  of  an  issuer  that  is
26    authorized to offer securities for sale in this State.
27        (16)  A seller who offers:
28             (A)  A  book,  video, record, multimedia club offer,
29        contractual plan, or arrangement  along  with  which  the
30        seller provides the consumer with a form the consumer may
31        use  to  instruct  the  seller  not  to  ship the offered
32        merchandise;
33             (B)  A book, video, record, multimedia  club  offer,
34        contractual  plan,  or  arrangement  that is regulated by
 
                            -5-            LRB9203183ARsbam02
 1        Part 425  of  the  Federal  Trade  Commission  regulation
 2        concerning the use of negative option plans by sellers in
 3        commerce (16 CFR 425); or
 4             (C)  Books, records, videos, multimedia products, or
 5        other goods for sale that are not covered by subdivisions
 6        (A) or (B) of this item (16), including continuity plans,
 7        subscription  arrangements,  standing order arrangements,
 8        single sales, supplements, or series  arrangements  under
 9        which  the  seller  periodically  ships  merchandise to a
10        consumer who has consented  in  advance  to  receive  the
11        merchandise on a periodic basis.
12        (17)  A  real  estate  salesperson  or broker licensed by
13    this State.
14        (18)  Any person that has  provided  telemarketing  sales
15    services  under  the  same  business  name as, and derives at
16    least  50%  of  gross  telemarketing  sales   revenues   from
17    contracts  with,  persons  exempted  under  this Section from
18    registration requirements.
19        (19)  A person  soliciting  the  sale  of  food  or  food
20    products  if the solicitation is not intended to and does not
21    result in a sale in excess of $100 to a single address.
22        (20)  A public utility or its subsidiary,  affiliate,  or
23    agent,  or  other business regulated by the Illinois Commerce
24    Commission under the Public Utilities Act.
25        (21)  A person, partnership, association, corporation, or
26    any other entity  licensed  under  the  Residential  Mortgage
27    License Act of 1987.

28        Section 15.  Registration of telemarketers.
29        (a)    No  person  shall  act as a seller or telemarketer
30    without first having registered with  the  Attorney  General.
31    The  initial  application  for  registration shall be made at
32    least 60 days prior to offering consumer  goods  or  services
33    and  an  application  for  renewal shall be made on an annual
 
                            -6-            LRB9203183ARsbam02
 1    basis thereafter.
 2        (b)    The  Attorney  General's   Office   shall   charge
 3    reasonable application and renewal fees for administration of
 4    the  registration requirements pursuant to this Section.  All
 5    fees collected under this Section shall be deposited  in  the
 6    State   Treasury    in   the   special   fund  known  as  the
 7    Telemarketing Fraud Enforcement Fund and shall be  used  only
 8    for the purposes described in Section 75.  The certificate of
 9    registration  or  registration  renewal shall expire one year
10    after the date on which it is issued.   The  application  and
11    renewal  fees  and  process  shall be established through the
12    promulgation   of   a   rule   pursuant   to   the   Illinois
13    Administrative Procedure Act.
14        (c)   The application for a certificate  of  registration
15    or  renewal  shall  include,  but  not  be  limited  to,  the
16    following information:
17             (1)  The  true name, date of birth, driver's license
18        number, social  security  number  or  tax  identification
19        number,   business  address,  and  home  address  of  the
20        applicant (post office boxes or commercial mail receiving
21        agencies are not permitted), including  each  name  under
22        which  the  applicant  intends  to  engage  in  telephone
23        solicitations.
24             (2)  Each  business  or occupation engaged in by the
25        applicant during the 2 years  immediately  preceding  the
26        date  of  the  application, and the location of each such
27        business or occupation.
28             (3)  Whether, in a court of  competent  jurisdiction
29        in this State, any other state, or the United States, any
30        principal  or  manager has been convicted of, has pleaded
31        guilty to, has entered a plea of no contest  for,  or  is
32        being   prosecuted   by  indictment  or  information  for
33        racketeering,  any  violation   of   state   or   federal
34        securities law, or a theft offense.
 
                            -7-            LRB9203183ARsbam02
 1             (4)  Whether,  in  any  jurisdiction, there has been
 2        entered against the applicant an injunction, a  temporary
 3        restraining   order,   or  a  final  judgment  or  order,
 4        including an agreed judgment or order,  an  assurance  of
 5        voluntary  compliance,  or any similar instrument, in any
 6        civil or administrative action  involving  fraud,  theft,
 7        racketeering,    embezzlement,   fraudulent   conversion,
 8        misappropriation of property, or any consumer  protection
 9        law  or  telemarketing  law,  or  if there is any pending
10        litigation against the applicant involving these matters.
11             (5)  Whether, in any jurisdiction, the applicant has
12        been arrested for, has been  convicted  of,  has  pleaded
13        guilty  to,  has  entered  a plea of no contest to, or is
14        being prosecuted  by  indictment  or  information  for  a
15        felony and, if so, the nature of the felony.
16             (6)  Whether in a court of competent jurisdiction of
17        this  State,  any  other state, or the United States, the
18        applicant has been convicted of, has pleaded  guilty  to,
19        has  entered  a  plea  of  no  contest  for,  or is being
20        prosecuted by indictment or information for engaging in a
21        pattern of corrupt activity, racketeering, a violation of
22        federal or state securities law, or a  theft  offense  as
23        defined  in  Section 16-1 of the Criminal Code of 1961 or
24        in similar law of any other state or the United States.
25             (7)  Whether the applicant, at any time  during  the
26        previous 7 years, has filed for bankruptcy, been adjudged
27        bankrupt, or been reorganized because of insolvency.
28             (8)  The  true  name,  current home address, date of
29        birth, social security number, and all  others  by  which
30        known or previously known, of each of the following:
31                  (A)  Each  principal  officer, director, owner,
32             or partner of the applicant, and each  other  person
33             participating  in  or responsible for the management
34             of the applicant's business.
 
                            -8-            LRB9203183ARsbam02
 1                  (B)  Each  office  manager  or   other   person
 2             principally responsible for each location from which
 3             the applicant will do business.
 4             (9)  The name and address of every institution where
 5        banking  or  any  other monetary transactions are done by
 6        the seller.
 7             (10)  A  copy   of   all   scripts,   outlines,   or
 8        presentation  material  the  applicant  will  require  or
 9        suggest  be used by a salesperson when soliciting as well
10        as all sales information to be provided by the  applicant
11        to a purchaser in connection with any solicitation.

12        Section 20.  Surety bond.
13        (a)  No person shall act as a telemarketer without having
14    first  obtained a surety bond issued by a surety company that
15    holds a certificate of authority to do business in this State
16    issued by the Department  of  Insurance  under  the  Illinois
17    Insurance   Code.   With  regard  to  the  surety  bond,  the
18    following conditions must be met before a person may act as a
19    telemarketer:
20             (1)  A copy of the  bond  must  be  filed  with  the
21        Attorney General.
22             (2)  The bond must be in favor of any person, and of
23        the  State for the benefit of any person, that is injured
24        by violation of this Act or a rule adopted under this Act
25        pursuant to the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act.
26             (3)  The bond must be in the amount of $100,000.
27             (4)  The bond must be maintained and in  effect  for
28        at least 2 years after the date on which the telemarketer
29        ceases to engage in telephone solicitations.
30        (b)  Any  person  making  a  claim  against  the bond for
31    violation of any provision of this Act or rule adopted  under
32    this Act may maintain a civil action against the telemarketer
33    and  the  surety  company.  The surety company is liable only
 
                            -9-            LRB9203183ARsbam02
 1    for damages awarded under Section 70 and is  not  liable  for
 2    attorney's  fees  awarded  under  Section  70.  The aggregate
 3    liability of the surety company to all persons injured  by  a
 4    telemarketer's  violation  of  this  Act shall not exceed the
 5    amount of the bond.
 6        (c)  The registration of any telemarketer shall  be  void
 7    upon termination of the bond of the surety company or loss of
 8    the  bond  unless,  prior to such termination, a new bond has
 9    been filed with the Attorney General's Office.   The  surety,
10    for  any  cause,  may  cancel  the  bond upon giving a 60 day
11    written notice  to  the  telemarketer  and  to  the  Attorney
12    General.   Unless  the  bond  is  replaced by that of another
13    surety  before  the  expiration  of  the  60  day  notice  of
14    cancellation, the registration of the telemarketer  shall  be
15    treated  as lapsed.  For 2 years after the cancellation takes
16    effect, a person may make a claim  against  the  bond  for  a
17    violation that occurred while the bond was in effect.
18        (d)  Any  person  required  under this Act to file a bond
19    with a registration application may  file,  in  lieu  of  the
20    bond,  a  certificate of deposit, in cash or government bond,
21    in the amount of $100,000.
22        (e)  The  Attorney   General   shall   hold   the   cash,
23    certificate  of  deposit, or government bond for 2 years from
24    the period the telemarketing business ceases  to  operate  or
25    registration  lapses  in order to pay out claims made against
26    the telemarketing business during its period of operation.

27        Section 25.  Record keeping requirements.
28        (a)  Any telemarketer shall keep,  for  a  period  of  24
29    months  from  the  date the record is produced, the following
30    records:
31             (1)  All  substantially  different   advertisements,
32        brochures, and other promotional materials.
33             (2)  The  name  and last known address of each prize
 
                            -10-           LRB9203183ARsbam02
 1        recipient and the  prize  awarded  for  prizes  that  are
 2        represented to have a value of $25 or more.
 3             (3)  The   name  and  last  known  address  of  each
 4        consumer, the goods or services purchased, the date  such
 5        goods  or  services  were  shipped  or  provided, and the
 6        amount paid by the consumer for the goods or services.
 7             (4)  The name, last known  home  address,  telephone
 8        number,   and  job  title  for  all  current  and  former
 9        employees directly involved in telephone sales.
10             (5)  All  written  confirmations  required   to   be
11        provided or received under this Act.
12        (b)  In  the  event  of any dissolution or termination of
13    the  telemarketer's   business,   the   principal   of   that
14    telemarketer  shall  maintain  all  records as required under
15    this Section.  In the event of any sale, assignment, or other
16    change in ownership of the seller's business,  the  purchaser
17    shall maintain all records required under this Section.

18        Section 30.  Mandatory disclosures.
19        (a)  The  telemarketer  shall  disclose promptly and in a
20    clear and conspicuous manner to a consumer during a telephone
21    solicitation:
22             (1)  The identity of the seller.
23             (2)  That the purpose of the call is to  sell  goods
24        or services.
25             (3)  The nature of the goods or services.
26        (b)  Before  a  consumer  pays  for the goods or services
27    offered  for  sale  or  provides  any  financial  or  payment
28    information  to  a  telemarketer,  the   telemarketer   shall
29    disclose,  clearly  and conspicuously, the following material
30    information:
31             (1)  The total cost to purchase, receive, or use the
32        consumer goods or services that are the  subject  of  the
33        telemarketing  communication.    For  offers  of consumer
 
                            -11-           LRB9203183ARsbam02
 1        credit products subject to the federal Truth  in  Lending
 2        Act, 15, U.S.C. 1601 et seq., and Regulation Z, 12 C.F.R.
 3        Part  226,  compliance  with  the disclosure requirements
 4        under the Truth in Lending Act  and  Regulation  Z  shall
 5        constitute compliance with this subdivision (b) (1).
 6             (2)  The  quantity of the consumer goods or services
 7        that are the subject of the telemarketing solicitation.
 8             (3)  All  material  restrictions,  limitations,   or
 9        conditions  to  purchase,  receive,  or  use the consumer
10        goods  or  services  that  are   the   subject   of   the
11        telemarketing solicitation.
12             (4)  All  material aspects of the nature or terms of
13        the telemarketer's  refund,  cancellation,  exchange,  or
14        repurchase policies.
15             (5)  In any prize promotion:
16                  (A)  A  statement of all material conditions to
17             receive or redeem the prize.
18                  (B)  The odds of receiving a prize, and if  the
19             odds  are not calculable in advance, the factors and
20             methods used in calculating the odds.
21                  (C)  A clear statement that the consumer is not
22             required to make any purchase  to  win  a  prize  or
23             participate  in  the  prize  promotion,  including a
24             statement that the consumer is not required  to  pay
25             any shipping or handling costs.
26                  (D)  A     clear     explanation     of     the
27             no-purchase/no-payment  method  of  participating in
28             the prize promotion.

29        Section 35.  Do not call list.  It is an unlawful act  or
30    practice  and  violation  of this Act for any telemarketer to
31    initiate  a  telephone  solicitation  to   a   consumer   who
32    previously  has  requested  the  telemarketer to refrain from
33    calling the consumer.  Compliance with  Section  310.4(b)  of
 
                            -12-           LRB9203183ARsbam02
 1    the Federal Trade Commission's Telemarketing Sales Rule shall
 2    constitute  compliance  with this Section.  This Section does
 3    not apply to a supervised financial organization or a parent,
 4    subsidiary,  or   affiliate   of   a   supervised   financial
 5    organization until July1, 2002.

 6        Section 40.  Written confirmation.
 7        (a)  Except  as provided in subsection (c), (d), (e), and
 8    (f), the telemarketer shall furnish the consumer, in the same
 9    language as that principally used in the sales  presentation,
10    a written confirmation.
11        (b)  The  written confirmation furnished under subsection
12    (a) shall be mailed using first class mail, postage  prepaid,
13    no  later  than  10  days  after the telemarketing sale.  The
14    written confirmation shall be in 12 point type;  shall  be  a
15    separate   document   for   the  purpose  of  confirming  the
16    telemarketing  sale;  and   shall   contain   the   following
17    information:
18             (1)  The name and address of the seller.
19             (2)  The  total  costs to purchase, receive, or use,
20        and the quantity of, any goods or services that  are  the
21        subject of the sale.
22             (3)  All   material  restrictions,  limitations,  or
23        conditions to purchase, receive,  or  use  the  goods  or
24        services that are the subject of the sale.
25             (4)  If  the  seller  has  a  policy  of  not making
26        refunds,  cancellations,  exchanges,  or  repurchases,  a
27        statement  informing  the  customer  that  this  is   the
28        seller's  policy; or, if the seller or telemarketer makes
29        a representation about a refund, cancellation,  exchange,
30        or  repurchase  policy, a statement of all material terms
31        and conditions of the policy.
32             (5)  A toll-free number to call should the  consumer
33        wish to cancel the telemarketing sale.
 
                            -13-           LRB9203183ARsbam02
 1        (c)  A  written  confirmation  is  not  required  if  the
 2    telemarketing sale is regulated by  other laws of the State.
 3        (d)  A  sale  is  not subject to the requirements of this
 4    Section if the seller, at a minimum, has a policy of:
 5             (1)  accepting returns  or  cancelling  services  in
 6        connection  with the return of unused and undamaged goods
 7        or cancelled services for a period of  not  less  than  7
 8        days  after  the  date  of  delivery  to the consumer and
 9        providing a cash refund for a cash purchase or issuing  a
10        credit  for a credit purchase applied to the account that
11        was debited;
12             (2)  disclosing  the  seller's  refund  and   return
13        policy  to  the  consumer  by  telephone  or  in  writing
14        included  with  advertising  or  promotional material, or
15        with the delivery of the goods or services; and
16             (3)  restoring payments or issuing credits  pursuant
17        to  subdivision  (d)(1), within 30 days after the date on
18        which the seller receives the returned goods or notice of
19        cancellation of services.   A  seller  who  discloses  in
20        writing   that   a   sale  is  subject  to  "satisfaction
21        guaranteed", "free inspection", "a no risk guarantee", or
22        similar words or phrases shall be considered to have  met
23        the  review  and return for refund policy requirements of
24        this subsection.
25        (e)  A  written  confirmation  is  not  required  if  the
26    telemarketing sale results in a written  contract  signed  by
27    the consumer.
28        (f)  This   Section   does  not  apply  to  a  supervised
29    financial organization or a parent, subsidiary, or  affiliate
30    of a supervised financial organization.

31        Section  45.   Acts  and practices not covered under this
32    Act.  The following acts and practices are not covered  under
33    this Act:
 
                            -14-           LRB9203183ARsbam02
 1        (1)  Telephone  calls  in  which  the  sale  of  goods or
 2    services is not completed, and payment, payment  information,
 3    and authorization of are not obtained until:
 4             (A)  there  has  been a face-to-face presentation by
 5        the seller; or
 6             (B)  there is  a  written  contract  signed  by  the
 7        consumer.
 8        (2)  Telephone calls initiated by a consumer that are not
 9    the result of any telephone solicitation by a telemarketer.
10        (3)  Telephone  calls made by an autodialer as defined in
11    the Automatic Telephone Dialers Act.
12        (4)  Telephone  calls  made  by   a   collection   agency
13    registered  with  the  Department  of Professional Regulation
14    under the Illinois Collection Agency Act.

15        Section 50.  Unlawful acts or practices.
16        (a)  It is an unlawful act or practice and a violation of
17    this Act for any telemarketer  to  engage  in  the  following
18    conduct:
19             (1)  To  obtain  a  certificate  of  registration or
20        registration renewal  through  any  false  or  fraudulent
21        representation  or make any material misrepresentation in
22        any registration or registration renewal application.
23             (2)  To fail to  maintain  a  valid  certificate  of
24        registration or registration renewal.
25             (3)  To provide inaccurate or incomplete information
26        to  the Attorney General when making an application for a
27        certificate of registration or registration renewal.
28             (4)  To misrepresent that a person is registered  or
29        that a person has a valid certificate number.
30             (5)  To  misrepresent,  directly  or by implication,
31        any of the following information:
32                  (A)  The total cost to  purchase,  receive,  or
33             use, and the quantity of, any goods or services that
 
                            -15-           LRB9203183ARsbam02
 1             are the subject of a solicitation.
 2                  (B)  A  material  restriction,  limitation,  or
 3             condition  to  purchase,  receive,  or  use goods or
 4             services that are the subject of a solicitation.
 5                  (C)  A  material  aspect  of  the  performance,
 6             efficacy, nature, or  characteristics  of  goods  or
 7             services that are the subject of a solicitation.
 8                  (D)  A  material  aspect of the nature or terms
 9             of the seller's refund, cancellation,  exchange,  or
10             repurchase policies.
11                  (E)  A  material  aspect  of a prize promotion,
12             including, but not limited to,  the  odds  of  being
13             able  to receive a prize, the nature of a prize, the
14             actual number of each prize to be awarded or  given,
15             or  that  a  purchase  or  payment  of  any  kind is
16             required to win a prize or participate  in  a  prize
17             promotion.
18                  (F)  A   material   aspect   of  an  investment
19             opportunity, including, but not  limited  to,  risk,
20             liquidity, earnings potential, or profitability.
21                  (G)  The  telemarketer's  affiliation  with  or
22             endorsement   by   any   government  or  third-party
23             organization.
24             (6)  To make a  false  or  misleading  statement  to
25        induce a consumer to pay for goods or services.
26             (7)  To  fail  to notify the Attorney General within
27        15 days if, in a court of competent jurisdiction of  this
28        State  or  any  other  state  or  the  United States, the
29        telemarketer is convicted of, pleads guilty to, or enters
30        a plea of no contest for a felony, engaging in a  pattern
31        of corrupt activity, racketeering, a violation of federal
32        or state securities law, or a theft offense.
33             (8)  To  advertise or represent that registration as
34        a telemarketer is an endorsement or approval by the State
 
                            -16-           LRB9203183ARsbam02
 1        or any governmental agency of the State.
 2             (9)  To request or receive payment  of  any  fee  or
 3        consideration for goods or services represented to remove
 4        derogatory  information from or improve a person's credit
 5        history, credit record, or credit rating until:
 6                  (A)  The time frame in which  the  telemarketer
 7             has represented all of the goods or services will be
 8             provided to that person has expired; and
 9                  (B)  The  telemarketer  has provided the person
10             with documentation in the form of a consumer  report
11             from  a consumer reporting agency demonstrating that
12             the promised results have been achieved, such report
13             having been issued more  than  6  months  after  the
14             results were achieved.
15             (10)  Obtain  or  submit for payment a check, draft,
16        or other form of negotiable paper  drawn  on  a  person's
17        checking,  savings,  bond,  or  other account without the
18        consumer's express written authorization.
19             (11)  To procure the services  of  any  professional
20        delivery,  courier,  or  other  pick-up service to obtain
21        immediate receipt and possession of a consumer's  payment
22        unless:
23                  (A)  Such service is requested by the consumer;
24             and
25                  (B)  The   consumer  is  actually  afforded  an
26             opportunity to inspect the goods or  services  prior
27             to payment.
28             (12)  To  request or receive payment in advance from
29        a consumer to recover or otherwise aid in the  return  of
30        money  or  any other item lost by the consumer in a prior
31        telemarketing transaction.
32             (13)  To  misrepresent  the  requirements  of   this
33        Section.
34             (14)  To  assist,  support,  or  provide substantial
 
                            -17-           LRB9203183ARsbam02
 1        assistance to any telemarketer when the seller  knows  or
 2        should  know  that the telemarketer is engaged in any act
 3        or practice which violates this Section or Section 30.
 4             (15)  To make or cause to be made a  telephone  call
 5        to any emergency telephone number.
 6             (16)  To  request  or  receive payment of any fee or
 7        consideration in advance of obtaining  a  loan  or  other
 8        extension  of  credit when the seller or telemarketer has
 9        guaranteed or represented a high likelihood of success in
10        obtaining or arranging  a  loan  or  other  extension  of
11        credit for a consumer.

12        Section  55.   Abusive  acts and practices unlawful under
13    this Act. It is an abusive telemarketing act or practice  and
14    a violation of this Act for any telemarketer to engage in the
15    following conduct:
16             (1)  Threaten, intimidate, or use profane or obscene
17        language.
18             (2)  Engage  any  person  repeatedly or continuously
19        with behavior  a  reasonable  person  would  deem  to  be
20        annoying, abusive, or harassing.
21             (3)  Initiate an outbound telephone call to a person
22        when  that  person  previously  has stated that he or she
23        does not wish to receive an outbound telephone call  made
24        on behalf of the telemarketer whose goods or services are
25        being offered in compliance with Section 35.
26             (4)  Engage in telemarketing to a person's residence
27        at  any  time  other than between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. local
28        time, Monday  through  Sunday,  at  the  called  person's
29        location.

30        Section  60.  Enforcement by Attorney General.  Violation
31    of any of the provisions of this Act is an unlawful  practice
32    under  the  Consumer  Fraud  and Deceptive Business Practices
 
                            -18-           LRB9203183ARsbam02
 1    Act.  All remedies, penalties, and authority granted  to  the
 2    Attorney  General  by  that Act shall be available to him for
 3    the enforcement of this Act.

 4        Section 65.  Criminal penalties.  A knowing violation  of
 5    Section  15,  20,  25,  30,  35,  40,  50, or 55 is a Class 4
 6    felony.

 7        Section 70.  Private right of action.
 8        (a)   Any person who suffers actual damages as  a  result
 9    of  a violation of this Act committed by any other person may
10    bring an action against  that  person.   The  court,  in  its
11    discretion,  may  award  actual economic damages or any other
12    relief which the court deems proper.
13        (b)   Such action may be commenced in the county in which
14    the person against  whom  it  is  brought  resides,  has  his
15    principal  place of business, or is doing business, or in the
16    county where the transaction or any  substantial  portion  of
17    the transaction occurred.
18        (c)    In  any  action  brought  by  a  person under this
19    Section,  the  court  may  grant  injunctive   relief   where
20    appropriate and may award, in addition to the relief provided
21    in  this Section, reasonable attorney's fees and costs to the
22    prevailing party.
23        (d)   Upon commencement of any action brought under  this
24    Section,  the plaintiff shall mail a copy of the complaint or
25    other initial pleading to  the  Attorney  General  and,  upon
26    entry  of  any  judgment or order in the action, shall mail a
27    copy of the judgment or order to the Attorney General.
28        (e)   Any action for damages under this Section shall  be
29    forever  barred  unless  commenced  within  3 years after the
30    cause of action accrued; provided that, whenever  any  action
31    is  brought by the Attorney General or a State's Attorney for
32    a violation of this  Act,  the  running  of  the  statute  of
 
                            -19-           LRB9203183ARsbam02
 1    limitations,  with  respect  to every private right of action
 2    for damages which is based in whole or in part on any  matter
 3    complained  of  in  the  action  by  the  Attorney General or
 4    State's Attorney, shall be suspended during the  pendency  of
 5    the action, and for one year thereafter.

 6        Section 75.  Telemarketing Fraud Enforcement Fund.  There
 7    is  hereby created in the State Treasury the Attorney General
 8    Telemarketing Fraud Enforcement Fund.   The  State  Treasurer
 9    shall  deposit in the fund registration fees paid pursuant to
10    this Act.  Subject to appropriation by the  legislature,  the
11    Attorney  General  shall  use  the monies in the fund for the
12    administration and enforcement of the program of registration
13    established in this Act and also for  educational  activities
14    that advance the purposes of this Act.

15        Section  80.  Rules.  The Attorney General may promulgate
16    any rules necessary to implement this Act,  pursuant  to  the
17    Illinois Administrative Procedure Act, which rules shall have
18    the force of law.

19        Section  85.   Construction  of  Act.   This Act shall be
20    liberally construed to effect its purposes.

21        Section 905.  The State Finance Act is amended by  adding
22    Section 5.545 as follows:

23        (30 ILCS 105/5.545 new)
24        Sec.  5.545.   The  Attorney  General Telemarketing Fraud
25    Enforcement Fund.

26        (815 ILCS 413/Act rep.)
27        Section  910.   The  Telephone   Solicitations   Act   is
28    repealed.
 
                            -20-           LRB9203183ARsbam02
 1        Section  915.   The Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business
 2    Practices Act is amended by changing Section 2Z as follows:

 3        (815 ILCS 505/2Z) (from Ch. 121 1/2, par. 262Z)
 4        Sec. 2Z.  Violations  of  other  Acts.   Any  person  who
 5    knowingly violates the Automotive Repair Act, the Home Repair
 6    and  Remodeling  Act,  the  Dance  Studio  Act,  the Physical
 7    Fitness  Services  Act,  the  Hearing   Instrument   Consumer
 8    Protection  Act,  the  Illinois  Union  Label  Act,  the  Job
 9    Referral  and  Job  Listing Services Consumer Protection Act,
10    the Travel Promotion  Consumer  Protection  Act,  the  Credit
11    Services  Organizations  Act, the Automatic Telephone Dialers
12    Act, the Pay-Per-Call Services Consumer Protection  Act,  the
13    Telemarketing  Registration  and  Fraud  Prevention Telephone
14    Solicitations Act, the Illinois Funeral or Burial Funds  Act,
15    the  Cemetery  Care  Act,  the Safe and Hygienic Bed Act, the
16    Pre-Need Cemetery Sales Act, subsection (a) or (b) of Section
17    3-10 of the Cigarette Tax  Act,  subsection  (a)  or  (b)  of
18    Section  3-10 of the Cigarette Use Tax Act, or the Electronic
19    Mail Act commits an unlawful practice within the  meaning  of
20    this Act.
21    (Source:  P.A.  90-426,  eff.  1-1-98;  91-164, eff. 7-16-99;
22    91-230,  eff.  1-1-00;  91-233,  eff.  1-1-00;  91-810,  eff.
23    6-13-00.)".

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