Res. No. 1526 Title Resolution urging the Governor to sign into law S.8132/A.10817-B that would establish a statewide registry of consumers who do not wish to receive unsolicited telemarketing sales calls. Body By Council Members Berman, Quinn, Koslowitz, Dear, Fisher, Freed, Lopez, Michels, Abel, Fiala and Golden; also Council Members DiBrienza, Eisland, Nelson, Povman, Provenzano, Reed and Rodriguez Whereas, Telemarketers use telephone solicitors and automatic dialing-announcing devices to get consumers to purchase a wide variety of goods and services, including consumer products, financial services, offers of credit and real estate; and Whereas, The proliferation of electronic databases has made it increasingly difficult for consumers to prevent their private information from being obtained by telemarketers, thus leading to households receiving an ever-increasing number of unsolicited telemarketing calls; and Whereas, A number of consumers believe that these unsolicited telemarketing sales calls are a nuisance and an invasion of privacy; and Whereas, Although most telemarketers are not dishonest, the Federal Bureau of Investigations estimates that nationwide, consumers lose $40 to $60 billion each year to fraudulent telemarketers who use misleading and deceptive practices for soliciting money, often targeting the elderly; and Whereas, Senate Bill 8132 and Assembly Bill 10817-B would require the State Consumer Protection Board to establish a No Telemarketing Sales Calls statewide registry consisting of consumers who do not wish to receive unsolicited telemarketing sales calls; and Whereas, The State legislation would prohibit telemarketers from contacting any consumer who has placed his or her name on the registry; and Whereas, The New York State Assembly and Senate passed such legislation which awaits signature by the Governor; now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York urges the Governor to sign into law S.8132/A.10817-B that would establish a statewide registry of consumers who do not wish to receive unsolicited telemarketing sales calls. LS#3202 09/11/99 - 2 -