By Driver H.B. No. 3167 75R6185 DWS-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to change of a customer's telecommunications provider. 1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-4 SECTION 1. Subtitle D, Title III, Public Utility Regulatory 1-5 Act of 1995 (Article 1446c-0, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is 1-6 amended by adding Section 3.156 to read as follows: 1-7 Sec. 3.156. CHANGING TELECOMMUNICATIONS PROVIDER. (a) If a 1-8 customer's telecommunications provider is changed, the 1-9 telecommunications provider serving the customer after the change 1-10 shall ensure that the first bill sent to the customer after the 1-11 change includes a notice that includes: 1-12 (1) a statement that the customer's telecommunications 1-13 provider has been changed to the new provider; 1-14 (2) a statement that if the change is without the 1-15 customer's consent, the customer is entitled to return to the 1-16 telecommunications provider from which the customer was changed 1-17 without charge; and 1-18 (3) a toll-free telephone number at which the customer 1-19 to which Subdivision (2) of this subsection applies may call to 1-20 request the return. 1-21 (b) On receipt of a request under Subsection (a)(3) of this 1-22 section from a customer entitled to return to the 1-23 telecommunications provider from which the customer was changed, 1-24 the telecommunications provider to which the customer's service was 2-1 changed shall: 2-2 (1) immediately return the customer to the service of 2-3 the telecommunications provider from which the customer was 2-4 changed; and 2-5 (2) pay all costs for returning the customer. 2-6 SECTION 2. The importance of this legislation and the 2-7 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-8 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-9 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-10 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 2-11 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 2-12 passage, and it is so enacted.