Establishes task force to study technology and other methods used to reduce or eliminate telemarketing harassment and intimidation.

S3845

SENATE, No. 3845

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED MARCH 10, 2026

Sponsored by:

Senator� ANTHONY M. BUCCO

District 25 (Morris and Passaic)

SYNOPSIS

���� Establishes task force to study technology and other
methods used to reduce or eliminate telemarketing harassment and intimidation.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Act

establishing a task force to study technology
and other methods used to reduce or eliminate telemarketing harassment and
intimidation.

����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.��� a.� There is established
in the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety
a task force to study technology and other methods used to reduce telemarketing
harassment and intimidation.� The purpose of this task force is to evaluate and
make recommendations relating to the cost and feasibility of implementing
appropriate technology and other methods to eliminate or reduce incidents of
telemarketing harassment and intimidation of consumers in this State.

���� b.��� The task force shall
consist of 11 members as follows:

���� (1)�� the Attorney General,
the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs, and the Director of the
Division of Rate Counsel, or their designees, who shall serve ex-officio; and

���� (2)�� eight public members who
shall be appointed by the Governor, including a telecommunications technology
expert from AT&T Communications of New Jersey, a telecommunications
technology expert from Verizon New Jersey, a telecommunications technology expert
from Verizon New Jersey with particular expertise in fiber optic technology, a
representative from the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), a
representative from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, and three senior
citizens who have experienced telemarketing harassment and intimidation.

���� c.���� Within 90 days after
the effective date of P.L.��� , c. (C. )
(pending before the Legislature as this bill), a majority of the task force�s
authorized membership shall be appointed, and the task force shall hold its
initial meeting.� The task force shall organize upon the appointment of a
majority of its authorized membership and shall elect a chair from among the
members.� The members of the task force, other than those serving ex-officio,
shall serve for the duration of the existence of the task force.� Any vacancy
shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.� The task force
members shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for necessary
expenses incurred in the performance of their duties within the limits of funds
available to the task force.

���� d.��� Not later than 180 days
after the initial meeting of the task force, the task force shall issue a
report to the Governor and to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of
P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), which shall include, but not be limited to, a
cost-benefit analysis concerning the implementation of technology and other
methods that may be used to reduce telemarketing harassment and intimidation of
consumers in this State, the various options for financing the cost of
implementation, any other information relevant to the subject of the report,
and any draft legislation the task force deems appropriate to implement the
purposes of P.L.��� , c.��� (C.����� ) (pending before the Legislature as this
bill).

���� e.���� The task force shall be
entitled to the assistance and services of employees of any State board,
bureau, commission, or agency as the task force may require and as may be
available to it for these purposes, including, but not limited to, stenographic
and clerical assistants.

���� f.���� The Office of
Information Technology shall assist the task force in the performance of its
duties and provide the task force with studies, data, or other materials, to
the extent that the assistance is relevant to the purposes of the task force.

���� 2.��� This act shall take
effect immediately and shall expire upon the issuance of the report submitted
by the task force pursuant to section 1 of P.L.��� , c.��� (C.����� ) (pending
before the Legislature as this bill).

STATEMENT

���� This bill establishes in the
Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety a task
force to study technology and other methods used to reduce or eliminate
telemarketing harassment and intimidation.� The purpose of this task for is to
evaluate and make recommendations relating to the cost and feasibility of
implementing appropriate technology and other methods to reduce incidents of
telemarketing harassment and intimidation of consumers in this State.

���� The task force is to consist
of 11 members as follows:

���� 1) the Attorney General, the
Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs, and the Director of the Division
of Rate Counsel, or their designees, who are to serve ex-officio; and

���� 2) eight public members who
shall be appointed by the Governor, including a telecommunications technology
expert from AT&T Communications of New Jersey, a telecommunications
technology expert from Verizon New Jersey, a telecommunications technology expert
from Verizon New Jersey with particular expertise in fiber optic technology, a
representative from the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), a
representative from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, and three senior
citizens who have experienced telemarketing harassment and intimidation.

���� The bill requires the task
force is to issue a report to the Governor and to the Legislature, which is to
include, but not be limited to, a cost-benefit analysis concerning the
implementation of technology and other methods that may be used to reduce telemarketing
harassment and intimidation in this State, the various options for financing
the cost of implementation, any other information relevant to the subject of
the report, and any draft legislation the task force deems appropriate to
implement the purposes of this bill.