From The Capitol

Bill blocks telemarketers

Members of the Senate agreed Tuesday, Idahoans shouldn’t be interrupted in the middle of dinner by telemarketers.

Senators granted final passage to a bill that will allow citizens to place their name on a “do not call list.”

Similar legislation died last year after phone companies complained that the bill was too strict.

“This is a bill that consumers want,” Rep. Jerry Stoicheff, D-Sandpoint said. “We should do more to protect the consumer.”

House bill 744 allows people to pay $10 to have their name placed on the do not call list for three years. To renew, the cost would drop to $5. The list would be updated every quarter and sold to companies for $25.

Telemarketers who call people on the list will be subject to fines of $500 to $5,000. Legislators say that the bill is a step in the right direction and gives consumers another tool to avoid telemarketers.

Attorney General Al Lance brought the legislation forward. Lance said that the bill will go into effect June 30, 2001, if it is signed by the governor.

More information about how to sign up for the list will be available later this summer.

“I know that many Idahoans - including the Attorney General - are anxious to sign up and get some relief from unwanted telemarketer calls,” Lance said. “We will get this program up and running as soon as possible.”

Bill eases ORV restrictions

BOISE - Rep. Jeff Alltus’ long crusade to ease restrictions on off-road vehicles paid off Tuesday when the Senate passed his bill on a 28-5 vote.

HB 561 would make it clear that off-road vehicles can be ridden on unpaved roads without license plates, as long as they have official off-road vehicle stickers. The measure also eliminates the requirement for a motorcycle endorsement on a driver’s license if the cycling is done only off-road, and allows local jurisdictions to designate regular roads that connect off-road trails as OK for ORV enthusiasts to traverse without license plates.

Sen. Clyde Boatright, R-Rathdrum, was the only North Idaho senator to oppose the bill. Sens. Gordon Crow, R-Hayden; Jack Riggs, R-Coeur d’Alene; Shawn Keough, R-Sandpoint; and Marguerite McLaughlin, D-Orofino; voted in favor. The bill now goes to the governor.

The proposal was scaled back from Alltus’ earlier plan, which would’ve allowed riders without driver’s licenses - including young children - free run of unpaved forest roads.

State helps honor WWII vets

BOISE - Idaho legislators voted to contribute to the National World War II memorial Tuesday.

Rep. June Judd, D-St. Maries and Sen. Mel Richardson, R-Boise, co-sponsored the bill that gives $66,000 toward the memorial. Idaho is joining in a nationwide campaign to fund the memorial.

“To say thank you is vitally important … Think what would have happened if we hadn’t won that war,” Richardson said as he pitched the bill to the Senate.

“The memorial will show young people we still need heroes, we need fighters for freedom.”

The bill is expected to be signed by the governor.