Telecom bills are advancing in 6 states—Fla., Ill., Ky., Mich....

Telecom bills are advancing in 6 states -- Fla., Ill., Ky., Mich., Minn., S.D. S.D. Gov. Bill Janklow (R) signed bill (HB-1001) authorizing state to participate in multistate Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement being developed by group of states to simplify and standardize sales taxes so states can tax out-of-state merchants selling via Internet. Bill also authorizes state revenue department to levy taxes on Internet and catalog merchants once states have agreed on standardized tax administration and Congress lifts current moratorium on taxing out-of-state Internet sales. In Ky., Senate passed amended version of no-call telemarketing bill (HB-47) that House had voted in Jan. House-passed bill would narrow current broad list of no-call exemptions. Senate amended measure to delete all exemptions, making list into “zero-call” list. If House refuses to concur, bill will go to conference committee. Ky. House Tourism & Energy Committee passed bill (HB-418) to do away with mandatory transcripts of contested Ky. PSC cases. Under bill, any party to contested case hearing could request transcripts but would be responsible for their cost. Bill now goes to House floor. N.Y. Assembly passed 2 telecom bills. First is AB- 1669 that would require local providers to waive unlisted number fees for persons under protective social service orders, such as domestic abuse victims. Second is AB-5787, which would require local providers to offer small businesses installment billing with up to 12 monthly payments for nonrecurring service installation charges. Parallel Minn. no-call telemarketing bills (SF-3246 and HF-2710) cleared first committee in their respective chambers and are pending at 2nd committees. Legislation would authorize Minn. Commerce Commissioner to establish state no-call telemarketing list and impose fines up to $2,000 per offending call. It also would require that local service providers inform their customers how to get on state list and that numbers on state list be turned over to federal authorities managing any federal no-call list. Senate’s version now goes to Senate Judiciary Committee and House version to House Economic Development Committee. Fla. Senate passed bill to preempt all local ordinances restricting use of wireless phones while driving. Measure sent to House (SB- 358) also would direct state Dept. of Motor Vehicles & Highway Safety to collect data on auto accidents where cellphones and other types of driver distractions were factor. Bill would preempt Miami-Dade County ordinance banning use of handheld mobile phones while driving, which is to take effect Oct. 1. Mich. House passed bill (HB-4991) to give local school boards option to permit student use of cellphones on school grounds. Current state law bans student cellphones, even though it’s not enforced vigilantly.