COLUMBUS Lawmakers trying to decide status of telemarketers bill

The federal government has regulations in place to stop telemarketing calls.
By MICHELLE C. HLADIK
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
COLUMBUS -- Changes are in store for Ohio legislation aimed at regulating what some deem as annoying telemarketing phone calls.
The Ohio Senate approved legislation creating an Ohio do-not-call list aimed at giving consumers protection from telemarketing calls last spring.
Ohio House members agreed to hold off hearings on the legislation, however, until federal regulations, under construction at the time, were announced, said Rep. Bill Seitz, chairman of the House Civil and Commercial Law Committee.
The Cincinnati Republican said the federal regulations announced over the summer "change the landscape" of the issue and have made many issues involving the state legislation moot.
He said he doesn't believe the state should duplicate the federal government's decision but can pass legislation to tie in with the federal legislation and allow Ohio to benefit.
Senate Bill 28, sponsored by Sen. Bob Spada, R-Parma Heights, is similar to a bill that failed in the Legislature during the previous legislative session but is much stricter.
The bill would allow Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro to establish a do-not-call list or adopt the federal list and enforce violations of do-not-call regulations.
What's suggested
Telemarketers would not be able to call those residents on the list more than 90 days after a name appears on the list.
Seitz said the state should use the federal list.
Spada added that using the federal list would also save Ohio about $1 million.
Under the state legislation, telemarketers would be required to purchase the state list as well as maintain the company's own do-not-call list.
Those found guilty of violating the regulations could face a fine from $500 to $2000 for each violation. A restraining order would also be filed and a fine of $5,000 each day the order is violated would be imposed.
A Telephone Solicitation Protection Fund would be established to hold the fines imposed on violators.
The bill also provides opportunities for residents on the lists to seek legal action against violators, a provision that greatly concerns the Ohio Chamber of Commerce.