A group of legislators are making a final pitch, to add political robocalls to the state’s Do Not Call List. With time in this legislative session winding down a bill that would add do that has recieved a public hearing. Representatuve Andre Jacque is among those pushing for action. “Whether you’re a Republican or a Democrat, if you signed up for the do not call list with the expectation that you didn’t want to be disturbed, why shouldn’t that extend to politicians as well as annoying telemarketers?”
Current state law includes robocalls for commercial purposes on the do not call list, but political calls remain exempt. “It’s indefensible,” Jacque said. “It was basically a construction of the legislature. When the list was created there was a specific exemption that was created for politicians. It doesn’t need to be there and isn’t there in other states. There isn’t really a policy reason for it to be there, it’s a political one.”
Jacque said that because a companion bill has already passed both chambers, Senate passage of this bill woild allow the Assembly to vote on it right away. The bill (AB 96) received a public hearing last week but has not been scheduled for further action.