HB 5519

Abstract

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that every telephone directory distributed to the general public in this State, which lists the calling numbers of telephones, of any telephone exchange located in this State, shall also contain a contact number that may be called by any person who is a victim of domestic violence and has an order of protection, as defined in the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986, to have the victim's number removed from the directory. Provides that, upon contact by a victim of domestic violence, and presentation of the restraining order if required by the telephone directory company, the telephone directory company shall remove the victim's name and telephone number from the directory listing. Provides that every local exchange telephone corporation shall, without charge, change a customer's telephone number to an unlisted number, upon the request by a customer who has obtained an order of protection due to domestic violence under the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986 and has presented a copy of that order to the local exchange telephone corporation. Amends the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986. Provides that a victim of domestic violence who has obtained an order of protection under this Act may request an unlisted telephone number, to be changed without charge, as provided in the Public Utilities Act, from his or her local exchange telephone corporation. Provides that the local exchange telephone corporation may require that the victim of the domestic violence provide a copy of the order of protection to the company prior to the company granting the unlisted telephone number without a charge. Makes an exception to the requirement to change the telephone number without charge for emergency orders of protection and 30-day interim orders of protection. Effective immediately.