CHAPTER 145
FORMERLY
SENATE BILL NO. 23
AS AMENDED BY SENATE AMENDMENT NO. 1
AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 1, TITLE 26 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE PROVISION OF TELEPHONE SERVICE FOR PERSONS WITH SPEECH AND HEARING IMPAIRMENTS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:
Section 1. Amend Subchapter II, Chapter 1, Title 26 of the Delaware Code by adding thereto the following new sections:
1221. Dual Party Relay Advisory Committee
(a) The Dual Party Relay Advisory Committee shall advise any public utility which is authorized by the Commission to provide a state-wide dual party relay service; and to also advise any contractor, designee, agent or assign of such public utility on matters related to the use of the dual party relay system by hearing or speech impaired persons.
(b) The Dual Party Relay Advisory Committee shall be composed of eleven members: one member shall be a public utility, authorized by the Commission to provide a state-wide dual party relay service (DPRS utility); one member shall be a person designated by the DPRS utility, and shall be under contract with such utility to provide all or in part of a state-wide dual party relay service; one member shall be a representative of the Office of the Public Advocate; one member shall be a representative of the State Office of Tele-communications; and the remaining members shall be appointed by the Governor.
(c) A public utility acting as a member of the Dual Party Relay Advisory Committee shall be obligated to reimburse such Committee for the reasonable expenses incurred by such Committee for interpreter services. The Dual Party Relay Advisory Committee shall submit invoices for such reasonable expenses to a public utility obligated to reimburse the Committee for the same. These expenses shall be recovered by a reimbursing public utility in the manner authorized by the Commission for recovery of any other costs associated with the implementation and operation of a dual party relay system.
§222. Exemption from Criminal and Civil Liability
The following parties shall not be liable for criminal prosecution or subject to a civil action arising from the relay of any message in the course of providing, or operating, a state-wide dual party relay service:
(a) a public utility providing a state-wide dual party relay service (DPRS utility);
(b) any person or entity with whom the DPRS utility has contracted for the operation of all or a part of such relay service; or
(c) any employee or agent of a DPRS utility, and any employee of any person or entity with whom such utility has contracted."
Approved July 10, 1991.