HBA-DMD, ATS, RAR H.B. 450 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 450 By: Pitts Business & Industry 7/27/1999 Enrolled BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Many telephone marketers use automated dialing systems, rather than manually dialing numbers, to reach potential customers. Prior to the 76th Legislature, marketers were permitted to remain connected to a telephone line for 30 seconds after the consumer ends the call. During that period, a consumer is unable to use the telephone line. This could have posed a problem for a consumer who needs to use the telephone in an emergency. H.B. 450 requires the disconnection of a telephone call generated by an automated dial announcing device within five, rather than 30, seconds after the call is ended. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 37.02(a), Business & Commerce Code, to delete "where technically possible" and to provide for the disconnection of an automated dial announcing device according to Section 55.126, Utilities Code (Device Disconnection), rather than within "30 seconds" after termination of the call by either party. SECTION 2. Amends Section 55.126, Utilities Code, to require a connection involving the use of an automated dial announcing device to be severed within five, rather than 30, seconds of termination of the call by either party. SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 1999. SECTION 4. Emergency clause.