BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1992

By: Leman

Business & Industry

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been noted that there is a growing problem with telemarketers spoofing phone numbers that are similar to that of the recipients. Responding to calls for the state to do more to protect Texans from these predatory phone calls, H.B. 1992 seeks to prohibit that practice.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 1992 amends the Business & Commerce Code to prohibit a telemarketer from causing misleading information to be transmitted to a recipient's caller identification service or device or to otherwise misrepresent the origin of a telemarketing call. The bill establishes that a telemarketer does not violate that prohibition if the telemarketer substitutes the name and telephone number of the person on whose behalf the call is made for the telemarketer's name and telephone number.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.