SECTION 1.  Chapter 159 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out Section 19A, in its entirety, and inserting, in place thereof, the following:

Section 19A.  Directory assistance; handicapped or elderly customers.

"Customers who are certified handicapped or elderly pursuant to regulations promulgated by the department shall be allowed an unlimited number of directory assistance calls without charge, and subject to such other terms and conditions as the department finds reasonable; provided, however, that no rate, fare, toll or charge for directory assistance service may be charged to users of coin operated telephones. 

For the purpose of this section, “directory assistance service” or “directory assistance call” shall mean information given to a customer of a telecommunications company to provide such customer with a telephone number for another customer within the commonwealth.  A telecommunications company that provides such a service or a service which gives customers information about telephone numbers in another state shall not be required to file a schedule with the department to offer such service and the department shall have no authority to review or approve the offering of the latter such service. " .