HB5519 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB094 16446 LCT 51706 b

94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2005 and 2006
HB5519

Introduced 1/27/2006, by Rep. Aaron Schock

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

220 ILCS 5/13-705	from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 13-705
220 ILCS 5/13-705.5 new
750 ILCS 60/214.5 new

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that every telephone directory distributed to the general public in this State, which lists the calling numbers of telephones, of any telephone exchange located in this State, shall also contain a contact number that may be called by any person who is a victim of domestic violence and has an order of protection, as defined in the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986, to have the victim's number removed from the directory. Provides that, upon contact by a victim of domestic violence, and presentation of the restraining order if required by the telephone directory company, the telephone directory company shall remove the victim's name and telephone number from the directory listing. Provides that every local exchange telephone corporation shall, without charge, change a customer's telephone number to an unlisted number, upon the request by a customer who has obtained an order of protection due to domestic violence under the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986 and has presented a copy of that order to the local exchange telephone corporation. Amends the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986. Provides that a victim of domestic violence who has obtained an order of protection under this Act may request an unlisted telephone number, to be changed without charge, as provided in the Public Utilities Act, from his or her local exchange telephone corporation. Provides that the local exchange telephone corporation may require that the victim of the domestic violence provide a copy of the order of protection to the company prior to the company granting the unlisted telephone number without a charge. Makes an exception to the requirement to change the telephone number without charge for emergency orders of protection and 30-day interim orders of protection. Effective immediately.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning telephone directories.

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 changing Section 13-705 and by adding Section 13-705.5 as follows:

(220 ILCS 5/13-705) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 13-705)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on July 1, 2007)

Sec. 13-705. Telephone directories.

(a) Every telephone directory distributed after July 1, 1990 to the general public in this State which lists the calling numbers of telephones, of any telephone exchange located in this State, shall also contain a listing, at no additional charge, of any special calling number assigned to any telecommunication device for the deaf in use within the geographic area of coverage for the directory, unless the telephone company is notified by the telecommunication device subscriber that the subscriber does not wish the TDD number to be listed in the directory. Such listing shall include, but is not limited to, residential, commercial and governmental numbers with telecommunication device access and shall include a designation if the device is for print or display communication only or if it also accommodates voice transmission. In addition to the aforementioned requirements each telephone directory so distributed shall also contain a listing of any city and county emergency services and any police telecommunication device for the deaf calling numbers in the coverage area within this State which is included in the directory as well as the listing of the Illinois State Police emergency telecommunication device for the deaf calling number in Springfield. This emergency numbers listing shall be preceded by the words "Emergency Assistance for Deaf Persons" which shall be as legible and printed in the same size as all other emergency subheadings on the page; provided, that the provisions of this Section do not apply to those directories distributed solely for business advertising purposes, commonly known as classified directories.

(b) Every telephone directory distributed to the general public in this State, which lists the calling numbers of telephones, of any telephone exchange located in this State, shall also contain a contact number that may be called by any person who is a victim of domestic violence and has a restraining order, as defined in the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986, to have the victim's number removed from the directory. Upon contact by a victim of domestic violence, and presentation of the restraining order if required by the telephone directory company, the telephone directory company shall remove the victim's name and telephone number from the directory listing.

(Source: P.A. 85-1404.)

(220 ILCS 5/13-705.5 new)

Sec. 13-705.5. Unlisted number; domestic violence.

(a) Every local exchange telephone corporation shall, without charge, change a customer's telephone number to an unlisted number, upon the request by a customer who has obtained an order of protection due to domestic violence under the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986 and has presented a copy of that order to the local exchange telephone corporation.

(b) The requirements of subsection (a) of this Section shall not apply to a 30-day interim order of protection as provided for in Section 218 of the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986 or an emergency order of protection as provided for in Section 217 of the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986.

Section 10. The Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986 is amended by adding Section 214.5 as follows:

(750 ILCS 60/214.5 new)

Sec. 214.5. Remedy; unlisted telephone number.

(a) A victim of domestic violence who has obtained an order of protection under this Act may request an unlisted telephone number, to be changed without charge, as provided in Section 13-705.5 of the Public Utilities Act, from his or her local exchange telephone corporation. The local exchange telephone corporation may require that the victim of the domestic violence provide a copy of the order of protection to the company prior to the company granting the unlisted telephone number without a charge.

(b) A victim of domestic violence who has obtained an order of protection under this Act may contact any telephone directory company that distributes to the general public in this State to have his or her name removed from that directory. The telephone directory company may require that the victim of domestic violence provide the company with a copy of the order of protection.

(c) This Section shall not apply to a victim of domestic violence who has only obtained 30-day interim order of protection granted under Section 218 of this Act or an emergency order of protection granted under Section 217 of this Act.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.