HB 292 Summary

• Extends the Mississippi Telephone Solicitation Act to include facsimile machine communications, treating unsolicited faxes the same as telemarketing calls.

• Requires telephone solicitors who use facsimile machines to purchase and comply with a "do-not-fax" database listing consumers who have objected to receiving fax solicitations.

• Establishes that facsimile solicitations must be announced clearly on the first page, can only be sent between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Central Standard Time, and cannot be sent on Sundays.

• Creates civil penalties up to $5,000 per violation for unauthorized fax solicitations, with each facsimile communication constituting a separate violation.

• Takes effect July 1, 2010, and applies to all telephone solicitors and entities using facsimile machines to conduct solicitations in Mississippi.