Friday, January 16, 2009

The Senate Judiciary Committee is going to rework a bill that would protect consumers from unscrupulous telemarketers.

Chairman Tim Owens said Friday the bill is being reworked by Senate Majority Leader Derek Schmidt and the attorney general's office, which said the original version probably was unconstitutional. Owens said the committee would vote on the bill after it's reworked.

Schmidt's bill is aimed at those soliciting money for charities. It would require telemarketers to disclose over the phone how much of the money they're raising would go to the charities.

State law already requires many charities raising money in Kansas to register annually with the secretary of state. Professional fundraising firms also are required to register each year.