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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
2156 |
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TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2010 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to prepaid calling service.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. Chapter 487, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§487- Prepaid calling service; definitions; disclosures; rules; violation. (a) Any prepaid calling service company that sells or offers for sale prepaid calling service, at the time of sale, shall disclose clearly and conspicuously:
(1) Any surcharges or fees, including monthly fees, per call access fees and surcharges for the first minute or unit of use that may be applicable to the use of the prepaid calling service;
(2) Any rounding of time used by the user and the formula of computation of the rounding of time;
(3) Any application or other fees charged to the user;
(4) Any restrictions on use of the prepaid calling service; and
(5) A toll-free user assistance telephone number.
(b) The director of the office of consumer protection may adopt rules under chapter 91 prescribing additional information that a prepaid calling card company shall provide to the user at the time of sale.
(c) A violation of this section shall be deemed an unfair or deceptive act or practice under section 480-2.
(d) As used in this section:
"Prepaid calling service" means a prepaid telecommunications service that allows a user to originate a telephone call using an access number and an authorization code.
"Prepaid calling service company" means a company that provides a prepaid calling service to the public using its own network or resold services.
"Telecommunications service" means the provision of transmission service between or among points specified by a user, of information of the user's choosing, including voice, data, image, graphics, and video without change in the form or content of the information, as sent and received, by means of electromagnetic transmission, or other similarly capable means of transmission, with or without benefit of any closed transmission medium, and does not include cable service as defined in section 440G-3."
SECTION 2. This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun, before its effective date.
SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
Prepaid Calling Service; Disclosure
Description:
Requires companies selling prepaid calling services to disclose the terms and charges of the service. Makes a violation of the disclosure requirements an unfair or deceptive act or practice in trade or commerce.