As used in this Chapter, the following terms and phrases shall have the meanings hereinafter ascribed to them:

(1)  “Commission” means the Louisiana Public Service Commission.

(2)  “Doing business in this state” means conducting a telephonic solicitation either from a location within this state or from a location outside of this state to residential telephonic subscribers residing in this state.

(3)  “Federal Do Not Call Law” shall mean the Telemarketing and Consumer Fraud and Abuse Prevention Act as set forth in 15 U.S.C. § 6101 to 6108 and the Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991 as set forth in 47 U.S.C. § 227, as well as any amendment or reenactment of either of those acts and any rule adopted or issued pursuant to either of those Acts, or any amendment of any such rule.

(4)  “National Do Not Call Registry” shall mean the list of consumers maintained by the Federal Trade Commission who have indicated that they do not wish to receive unsolicited or unwanted telephonic solicitations pursuant to the Federal Do Not Call Law.

(5)  “Residential telephonic subscriber” means any natural person who has subscribed to residential telephonic service from a telecommunications service provider or any other natural person living or residing with such person.

(6)  “Telephonic solicitation” means any voice or data communication made by a telephonic solicitor to a residential telephonic subscriber for the purpose of encouraging a sale or rental of or investment in property, consumer goods, or services; or for the purpose of encouraging an extension of credit for property, consumer goods, or services; or for the purpose of obtaining information that will or may be used for the direct solicitation of a sale or rental of or investment in property, consumer goods, or services or an extension of credit for such purposes; or for the solicitation of a contribution to a charitable organization, but does not include voice or data communications made for any of the following reasons:

(a)  In response to an express request of the person called.

(b)  Primarily in connection with an existing debt or contract, payment or performance of which has not been completed at the time of such call.

(c)  To any person with whom the telephonic solicitor has an existing business relationship, or a prior business relationship that was terminated or lapsed within six months of such call, except as provided in Subparagraph (g) of this Paragraph.

(d)  On behalf of an organization which has nonprofit status under Section 501(c)(3) or (6) of the Internal Revenue Code, unless such organization utilizes the services of a paid professional solicitor, as defined in La. Rev. Stat. 51:1901(6).

(e)  For the purpose of conducting marketing research, public opinion polling, or similar activities that do not involve telephonic solicitation or selling.

(f)  Constituting political activity.  For the purposes of this Chapter, communications constituting political activity shall include the following:

(i)  Communications made for the sole purpose of urging support for or opposition to a political candidate or ballot issue provided that the callers identify themselves.

(ii)  Communications made for the sole purpose of conducting political polls or soliciting the expression of opinions, ideas, or votes.

(iii)  Communications made by any newspaper or periodical in the state which is qualified to be the official journal of the state or any parish, municipality, school board, or other political subdivision, as provided by Chapters 2 and 4 of Title 43 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950.

(g)  By a person or business that conducts automobile sales and does not complete the sales presentation during the telephone solicitation and is made in contemplation of the sales presentation being completed at a later face-to-face meeting between the telephonic solicitor and the person contacted and where the contacted person has previously made purchases from the automobile dealership.

(h)  Without completing or attempting to complete a sale, said sale to be completed only after a face-to-face meeting between the telephonic solicitor and the person called at the telephonic solicitor’s primary place of business or at another location selected by the purchaser.  The call must be the result of a referral of the person called to the telephonic solicitor or be placed to an individual who is personally known to the telephonic solicitor.  If placed as a result of a referral, the telephonic solicitor must provide to the person called the name of the person who made the referral.  If the person called does not wish to be called after such initial call, then the telephonic solicitor shall not call that person and shall maintain a list of such persons.  This exemption shall not apply if directly following the sale the telephonic solicitor attempts to deliver an item or collect payment from the person called or causes another to do so.

(i)  For the purpose of follow-up or periodic wellness care when the call is made to the patient by the patient’s optometrist, dentist, or chiropractic physician, or an agent thereof.

(j)  For the purpose of follow-up or periodic wellness care when the call is made to the client by the client’s veterinarian or an agent thereof.

(k)  On behalf of an organization which has nonprofit status under Section 501(c)(5) of the Internal Revenue Code and is composed entirely of public safety personnel, the majority of whom are state residents calling from a location within the state.

(7)  “Telephonic solicitor” means any natural person, firm, organization, partnership, association, or corporation, or a subsidiary or affiliate thereof, doing business in this state, who makes or causes to be made a telephonic solicitation, including but not limited to any communication made by use of automated dialing or recorded message devices.

Acts 2001, No. 40, §1, eff. May 24, 2001; Acts 2003, No. 353, §1, eff. June 17, 2003; Acts 2003, No. 912, §1; Acts 2003, No. 988, §1, eff. July 2, 2003; Acts 2004, No. 148, §1; Acts 2004, No. 857, §1, eff. July 12, 2004; Acts 2012, No. 82, §1.