HB 882 -- HUMAN VOICE CONTACT ACT

SPONSOR:  Page

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Special Committee on
Government Affairs by a vote of 6 to 0.

This bill establishes the Human Voice Contact Act which requires
state agencies that use automated answering equipment for
incoming calls other than the General Assembly, the courts, the
Governor's office, and political subdivisions to provide callers
with an option to speak to a live operator if calling during
regular business hours.  Field offices, emergency hotlines,
general information services, and touch tone customer service
systems that allow customers to complete various transactions
over the phone will be exempt from the provisions of the bill.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2008, FY 2009, and
FY 2010.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that Missouri residents are
frustrated when they are not able to reach live operators at
state agencies.  Currently, some agencies only have automated
voice prompts and do not offer any live operators to assist
callers.  The bill ensures that callers will have an option to
speak with a live operator at every state agency.

Testifying for the bill was Representative Page.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Missouri House of Representatives
94th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated July 25, 2007 at 11:20 am