Alternative bill could hang up telemarketing ban

Erin Neff

Friday, March 21, 2003 | 11:01 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- An alternative bill to block telemarketing calls passed the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee this morning, setting up a political battle over call registries.

Senate Bill 255, sponsored by Randolph Townsend, R-Reno, was amended and passed today. The measure establishes a "do call" registry -- the opposite of a Democratic plan for a "don't call" registry that has already passed the Assembly.

Several business representatives said privately that they hope the political wrangling will result in no registry being created at all.

People who don't want calls from telemarketers don't have to do anything under SB255. Those who want them, would have to sign on to the do-call list. But the bill is different from the Assembly measure in that it provides exemptions for utilities, telecommunications and financial institutions and for pre-existing business relationships.

The bill was amended to exempt charitable organizations from the telemarketing restrictions and to prohibit calls of any kind after 8 p.m.

SB255 now goes to the full Senate.

Meanwhile, Assembly Bill 232, sponsored by Marcus Conklin, D-Las Vegas, will soon arrive at Townsend's Commerce and Labor Committee. Since Townsend has proposed a different bill already, it appears unlikely that his committee will process AB232.

If Townsend's bill arrives in the Democrat-controlled Assembly, it appears unlikely to be processed.