This bill generally requires businesses to make U.S.-based, human customer service agents available to consumers and makes certain businesses ineligible for federal loans or grants if they relocate a call center overseas or contract for overseas call center work.
Generally, at the beginning of a customer service communication, agents must disclose their location and, if the agent is outside of the United States, that the consumer may request immediate transfer to a U.S.-based agent. Businesses that use artificial intelligence (AI) for customer service communications must also disclose that a nonhuman AI or machine is being used and that the consumer may request immediate transfer to a U.S.-based, human agent.
Separately, the Department of Labor must maintain a list of businesses that operate call centers of a specified size and that either relocate a call center out of the United States or contract call center work overseas. Businesses must generally remain on the list for up to five years, but Labor must remove a business from the list if the business meets certain requirements.
Businesses on the list are generally ineligible for federal grants or federally guaranteed loans for a specified period. Businesses with existing federal grants or loans that are added to the list must pay a monthly penalty and are ineligible for further disbursement while they remain on the list. If such a business remains on the list after one year, the grant or loan must be cancelled.