SRC-DPW H.B. 2910 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 2910
76R7497 JJT-DBy: Naishtat (Barrientos)
Economic Development
5/14/1999
Engrossed


DIGEST 

Relay access service is a service provided by the state that enables
persons with an impairment of hearing or speech to access the telephone.
This service is called Relay Texas. Currently, the Public Utility
Commission of Texas (commission) contracts with one vendor to provide basic
statewide telecommunications relay access service. The commission has been
interested in providing various possible special features of Relay Texas
that would allow for enhanced communication for Texans with a hearing or
speech impairment. For example, Video Relay Interpreting is a special
feature that would allow for better communication between deaf and
hard-of-hearing Texans, as well as individuals with a speech impairment.
However, the Utilities Code does not specifically address the purchasing of
special features. Additionally, the code limits the commission from
contracting with multiple vendors, and the preferred vendor for the basic
service may not offer the desired special feature or may be unable to
provide the special features at a reasonable cost.  H.B. 2910 allows the
commission to contract for a special feature for Relay Texas if the
commission determines that the feature will provide certain benefits. This
bill also allows the commission, in contracting for special features of
Relay Texas, to contract with vendors other than the provider of the basic
relay access service if the provider is unable to provide the special
feature at the best value to the state.  

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 2910 authorizes contracts for special features of the
telecommunications relay access service. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter D, Chapter 56, Utilities Code, by adding
Section 56.1085, as follows:  

Sec. 56.1085. SPECIAL FEATURES FOR RELAY ACCESS SERVICE. Authorizes the
Public Utility Commission of Texas (commission) to contract for a special
feature for the state's telecommunications relay access service if the
commission determines the installation will have the enumerated benefits.
Authorizes the commission, if the carrier selected to provide the
telecommunications relay access service under Section 56.108 (Selection of
Telecommunications Relay Access Service Carrier) is unable to provide the
special feature at the best value to the state, to make a written award of
a contract for a carrier to provide the special feature to the
telecommunications carrier whose proposal is most advantageous to the
state, considering the enumerated items. Requires the commission to
consider each proposal in a manner that does not disclose the contents of
the proposal to a telecommunications carrier making a competing proposal.
Requires the commission's evaluation of a telecommunications carrier's
proposal to include the considerations provided by Section 5.108(d).  

SECTION 2. Amends Section 56.109(a), Utilities Code, to require the
telecommunications carrier selected to provide the telecommunications relay
access service under Section 56.108 or the carrier selected to provide a
special feature for the telecommunications relay access service under
Section  56.1085 to be compensated at rates and on terms provided by the
carrier's contract with the commission.  

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 4. Emergency clause.