SB2731eng 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB2731 Engrossed LRB093 17673 AMC 43349 b

AN ACT concerning utilities.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Public Utilities Act is amended by adding Sections 13-230, 13-231, 13-232, 13-233, 13-404.1, and 13-404.2 as follows:

(220 ILCS 5/13-230 new)

Sec. 13-230. Prepaid calling service. "Prepaid calling service" means telecommunications service that must be paid for in advance by an end user, enables the end user to originate calls using an access number or authorization code, whether manually or electronically dialed, and is sold in predetermined units or dollars of which the number declines with use in a known amount. A prepaid calling service call is a call made by an end user using prepaid calling service. "Prepaid calling service" does not include prepaid wireless telephone service as defined in Section 10 of the Wireless Emergency Telephone Safety Act.

(220 ILCS 5/13-231 new)

Sec. 13-231. Prepaid calling service provider. "Prepaid calling service provider" means and includes every corporation, company, association, joint stock company or association, firm, partnership, or individual and their lessees, trustees, or receivers appointed by any court whatsoever that contracts directly with a telecommunications carrier to resell or offers to resell telecommunications service as prepaid calling service to one or more distributors, prepaid calling resellers, prepaid calling service retailers, or end users.

(220 ILCS 5/13-232 new)

Sec. 13-232. Prepaid calling service retailer. "Prepaid calling service retailer" means and includes every corporation, company, association, joint stock company or association, firm, partnership or individual and their lessees, trustees, or receivers appointed by any court whatsoever that sells or offers to sell prepaid calling service directly to one or more end users.

(220 ILCS 5/13-233 new)

Sec. 13-233. Prepaid calling service reseller. "Prepaid calling service reseller" means and includes every corporation, company, association, joint stock company or association, firm, partnership or individual and their lessees, trustees, or receivers appointed by any court whatsoever that purchases prepaid calling services from a prepaid calling service provider and sells those services to one or more distributors of prepaid calling services or to one or more prepaid calling service retailers.

(220 ILCS 5/13-404.1 new)

Sec. 13-404.1. Prepaid calling service authority; rules.

(a) The General Assembly finds that it is necessary to require the certification of prepaid calling service providers to protect and promote against fraud the legitimate business interests of persons or entities currently providing prepaid calling service to Illinois end users and Illinois end users who purchase these services.

(b) It shall be unlawful for any prepaid calling service provider to offer or provide or seek to offer or provide to any distributor, prepaid calling service reseller, prepaid calling service retailer, or end user any prepaid calling service unless the prepaid calling service provider has applied for and received a Certificate of Prepaid Calling Service Provider Authority from the Commission. The Commission shall approve an application for a Certificate of Prepaid Calling Service Provider Authority upon a showing by the applicant, and a finding by the Commission, after notice and hearing, that the applicant possesses sufficient technical, financial, and managerial resources and abilities to provide prepaid calling services. The Commission may adopt rules necessary for the administration of this Section.

(c) Any and all enforcement authority granted to the Commission under this Article over any Certificate of Service Authority shall apply equally and without limitation to Certificates of Prepaid Calling Service Provider Authority.

(220 ILCS 5/13-404.2 new)

Sec. 13-404.2. Prepaid calling service standards. The Commission may establish and implement minimum service quality standards for prepaid calling service, which may include fines, penalties, customer credits, remedies, and other enforcement mechanisms to ensure enforcement of the rules. The rules may also require each prepaid calling service provider to provide to the Commission, on a quarterly basis and in a form suitable for posting on the Commission's website, a public report that includes performance data for prepaid calling service quality.

Section 10. The Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act is amended by adding Section 2QQ as follows:

(815 ILCS 505/2QQ new)

Sec. 2QQ. Prepaid calling service.

(a) For purposes of this Section 2QQ, the terms "Prepaid Calling Service", "Prepaid Calling Service Provider", "Prepaid Calling Service Retailer", and "Prepaid Calling Service Reseller" shall have the same definitions as those in Sections 13-230, 13-231, 13-232, and 13-233, respectively, of the Public Utilities Act.

(b) It is an unlawful practice under this Act for any prepaid calling service provider or prepaid calling service reseller to sell or offer to sell prepaid calling service to any prepaid calling service retailer unless the prepaid calling service provider has applied for and received a Certificate of Prepaid Calling Service Provider Authority from the Illinois Commerce Commission pursuant to the Public Utilities Act and the prepaid calling service provider or prepaid calling service reseller shows proof of the prepaid calling service provider's Certificate of Prepaid Calling Service Provider Authority to the prepaid calling service retailer.

(c) It is an unlawful practice under this Act for any prepaid calling service retailer to sell or offer to sell prepaid calling service to any consumer unless the prepaid calling service retailer retains proof of certification of the prepaid calling service provider by the Illinois Commerce Commission pursuant to the Public Utilities Act. The prepaid calling service retailer must retain proof of certification for one year or the duration of the contract with the reseller, whichever is longer.

(d) No prepaid calling service provider or prepaid calling service reseller shall sell or offer to sell prepaid calling service, as those terms are defined in Article XIII of the Public Utilities Act, to any Illinois consumer, either directly or through a prepaid calling service retailer, unless the following disclosures are made clearly and conspicuously:

(1) At a minimum, the following terms and conditions shall be disclosed clearly and conspicuously on the prepaid calling card, if applicable:

(A) the full name of the Prepaid Calling Service Provider as certificated by the Illinois Commerce Commission; The toll-free customer service number;

(B) the toll-free network access number;

(C) the authorization code, if required to access service; and

(D) a disclosure as to where the remaining terms, refund policy, and conditions are disclosed (for example, on the card, in the packaging, or in the display materials).

(2) At a minimum, all the material terms and conditions of the prepaid calling service shall be disclosed clearly and conspicuously on the packaging materials accompanying the prepaid calling card including, but not limited to, the following, if applicable:

(A) the maximum charge per minute of prepaid calling service;

(B) all surcharges and fees; and

(C) the expiration policy.

(3) At a minimum, the following information shall be disclosed clearly and conspicuously and accurately through the toll-free customer service telephone number for the prepaid calling card, if requested:

(A) the Illinois Commerce Commission certificate number of the Prepaid Calling Service Provider;

(B) all applicable rates, terms, surcharges, and fees;

(C) the balance of use in the consumer's account; and

(D) the applicable expiration date or period.