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United States Call Center Worker and Consumer Protection Act

Introduced: December 7, 2011 See on congress.gov
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Dec 9, 2011
Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade.
Dec 7, 2011
Introduced in House
Dec 7, 2011
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, Armed Services, and Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

United States Call Center Worker and Consumer Protection Act - Requires a business enterprise that employs 50 or more employees, excluding part-time employees, or 50 or more employees who in the aggregate work at least 1,500 hours per week, exclusive of overtime, in a call center to notify the Secretary of Labor at least 120 days before relocating such center outside of the United States. Subjects violators to a civil penalty of up to $10,000 a day. Directs the Secretary to maintain and make publicly available a list of all such employers that relocate a call center.

Requires such an employer to remain on the list for up to three years after each relocation. Makes such an employer ineligible for federal grants or federal guaranteed loans for five years after being added to the list, except where the employer demonstrates that a lack of such loan or grant would threaten national security, result in substantial job loss in the United States, or harm the environment. Requires the head of federal or state executive agency or military department, when awarding a civilian or defense-related contract, to give preference to a U.S. employer that does not appear on the list.

Requires a business entity that initiates or receives a customer service communication to require each of its employees or agents participating in the communication to disclose their physical location at the beginning of each such communication unless all involved employees or agents are located in the United States. Exempts any communication: (1) initiated by a consumer if the consumer knows or reasonably should know that the employee or agent is located outside the United States, or (2) related to the provision of emergency services. Requires such a business entity, upon request, to transfer a customer to a customer service agent who is physically located in the United States.

Authorizes the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to exclude certain classes or types of business entities or customer services communications from the requirements of this Act under exceptionally compelling circumstances. Sets forth enforcement provisions.

What's happening now December 9, 2011

Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade.

 Committees of jurisdiction 5
 Cosponsors 41
D
Himes, James A.
Connecticut · Jul 18, 2012
D
Castor, Kathy
Florida · Jun 26, 2012
D
Wasserman Schultz, Debbie
Florida · Jun 5, 2012
D
Neal, Richard E.
Massachusetts · May 16, 2012
D
Scott, Robert C. "Bobby"
Virginia · May 16, 2012
D
Matsui, Doris O.
California · May 10, 2012
D
Markey, Edward J.
Massachusetts · May 7, 2012
D
Chu, Judy
California · Apr 24, 2012
D
Moore, Gwen
Wisconsin · Apr 24, 2012
D
Wilson, Frederica S.
Florida · Apr 24, 2012
D
DeGette, Diana
Colorado · Apr 19, 2012
D
Garamendi, John
California · Apr 17, 2012
D
Johnson, Henry C. "Hank"
Georgia · Apr 17, 2012
D
Lynch, Stephen F.
Massachusetts · Apr 17, 2012
D
Thompson, Bennie G.
Mississippi · Apr 17, 2012
D
Pallone, Frank
New Jersey · Mar 28, 2012
D
Green, Al
Texas · Mar 26, 2012
D
Baldwin, Tammy
Wisconsin · Mar 21, 2012
D
McCollum, Betty
Minnesota · Mar 20, 2012
D
Cohen, Steve
Tennessee · Mar 19, 2012
D
DeLauro, Rosa L.
Connecticut · Mar 19, 2012
D
McGovern, James P.
Massachusetts · Mar 19, 2012
D
Murphy, Christopher
Connecticut · Mar 19, 2012
D
Hirono, Mazie K.
Hawaii · Mar 6, 2012
D
Courtney, Joe
Connecticut · Feb 28, 2012
D
Doggett, Lloyd
Texas · Feb 28, 2012
D
Heinrich, Martin
New Mexico · Feb 14, 2012
D
Welch, Peter
Vermont · Feb 14, 2012
D
Peters, Gary C.
Michigan · Feb 8, 2012
D
Schiff, Adam B.
California · Feb 6, 2012
D
Cleaver, Emanuel
Missouri · Feb 2, 2012
D
Tonko, Paul
New York · Feb 2, 2012
D
Kaptur, Marcy
Ohio · Feb 1, 2012
D
Luján, Ben Ray
New Mexico · Feb 1, 2012
D
Pingree, Chellie
Maine · Jan 31, 2012
D
Velázquez, Nydia M.
New York · Jan 31, 2012
D
Nadler, Jerrold
New York · Jan 23, 2012
D
Sánchez, Linda T.
California · Jan 23, 2012
D
Clarke, Yvette D.
New York · Jan 17, 2012
D
Keating, William R.
Massachusetts · Jan 17, 2012
D
Sherman, Brad
California · Jan 17, 2012