(a) On or before March 1, 1996, and annually thereafter, each directory publisher shall submit a report to the commissioner. The report shall indicate the percentage of recycled fiber used in the preceding calendar year, along with any information required by the commissioner to determine compliance with the provisions of sections 22a-256y to 22a-256ee, inclusive. Any directory publisher who fails to submit the report required under this section shall be deemed to have failed to meet the percentages established in § 22a-256z.

(b) The commissioner shall exempt a directory publisher from compliance with the provisions of § 22a-256z if the commissioner determines that such publisher was unable to obtain sufficient amounts of directory stock containing recycled fiber at a price comparable to the price for virgin stock, that said publisher was unable to obtain directory stock containing recycled fiber within a reasonable time or was unable to obtain directory stock which is runable. The directory publisher shall certify to the commissioner the specific reason for failing to use directory stock containing a sufficient amount of recycled fiber. Such certification shall be construed to have been made in good faith if the publisher submits proof of having contacted, to obtain directory stock containing recycled fiber, each producer of such stock which offered to sell directory stock to the publisher not more than eighteen months before the certification. Such proof shall include the address, telephone number and name of each producer contacted and the corporate name of such producer, if any.