1. The Legislature finds and declares that:

(a) The sale of goods or services or the solicitation of donations by telephone has a significant impact upon the economy and well-being of this state and its local communities.

(b) Many legitimate solicitors by telephone merit certain protections pursuant to the laws of this state.

(c) Certain unscrupulous practices by persons soliciting donations or the sale of goods or services by telephone are contrary to good business practices and have caused consumers to suffer substantial losses because of misrepresentation, the lack of complete information relating to goods, services and the persons initiating or causing the solicitation by telephone, and the lack of delivery of the goods and services purchased.

2. It is the intent of the Legislature to:

(a) Provide each consumer with information necessary to make an intelligent decision relating to donations or offers of sale;

(b) Educate and assist the public to distinguish between honest and dishonest practices of solicitation by telephone;

(c) Safeguard the public against deceptive practices and financial hardship;

(d) Prohibit representations that tend to be misleading;

(e) Ensure, foster and encourage competition and fair dealings among sellers by requiring sellers to disclose certain information adequately; and

(f) Protect the integrity of the industry relating to solicitation by telephone.

3. As the provisions of this chapter are necessary to protect the public welfare, it is also the intent of the Legislature that the provisions of this chapter be liberally construed to effectuate its purposes.

(Added to NRS by 1993, 2095; A 1995, 931)