IDAHO LEGISLATURE 
 
The past few weeks the Idaho Legislature placed a major 

focus on transportation, and most importantly the audit 
of the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) by the Office

of Performance Evaluations.  This audit and evaluation 

was approved by the Idaho Legislature last year, in an 

effort to determine if ITD was spending taxpayers' dollars 

wisely.  This evaluation will give the Idaho Legislature 

important information to move into the 2009 legislative  session and in making decisions on transportation funding.
 

Following the release of the evaluation results the 

transportation committee held a hearing to discuss 

the next steps to take.  The goal of this audit was to 

find cost savings, and to provide a plan to continue cost 

savings in years to come.  As you can imagine, with 
5,000 miles of highways in Idaho there is a lot of work 

that goes into supporting and maintaining our Idaho 

roads.  As the legislature moves  into setting the 

budget for FY2010 they will be taking into consideration 

the findings of this audit, some of which would provide 

potential one time cost savings of $19.6 million. Most importantly, the audit process determined that 

ITD has insufficient funds to preserve state highways.  
 
OTHER NEWS 
 
On Wednesday the Senate Health and Welfare 

Committee heard presentations on Medicaid Enhanced 

Plan Benefits.  This will be an ongoing discussion in the 

upcoming weeks as legislators take into consideration Governor Otter's proposal to appropriate $366.6 million 

to try to find financial solutions in this tough economic 

climate. 
 
It has been a fast paced and productive two weeks in the 

Idaho Legislature, and I will continue to keep you 

informed of important information and legislation in the 

upcoming weeks. 

 

 

On September 1, an "existing business relationship" will not be enough

In 2008, the FTC adopted an amendment to the Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR) that, among other things, prohibits prerecorded telemarketing calls without a consumer's express written agreement to receive such calls. 

As of December 1, 2008, sellers (including dealers who make such calls) and telemarketers are required to provide an opt-out mechanism promptly at the outset of any prerecorded message call, as well as a toll-free number that a consumer may use to assert a request not to receive such calls. The rule also requires that automated calls allow the telephone to ring for at least fifteen seconds or four rings before disconnecting an unanswered call.

Under the new rule, sellers and telemarketers may, for the time being, continue to place calls that deliver prerecorded messages to consumers based on an existing business relationship (EBR) with that customer -- provided they do so in compliance with the above requirements.

However, as of September 1, 2009, sellers and telemarketers may not make such prerecorded calls unless they have a prior express written agreement from the recipient to receive such calls. That written agreement:

1) cannot be required (directly or indirectly) of customers as a condition of purchasing any good or service;
2) must "evidence the willingness" of the recipient to receive such calls; and
3) must include the recipient's telephone number and signature (although such signature may be electronic in compliance with ESIGN).

Note that these restrictions apply only to automated calls made "to induce the purchase of any good or service." Note also that this amendment differs in some regards from current FCC restrictions regarding prerecorded telemarketing calls. If you have any questions about the new restrictions or the FCC restrictions, consult www.nada.org and search "telemarketing sales rule."  The amendment to the TSR can be found at www.ftc.gov/os/2008/08/R411001tsrfrn.pdf.