SRC-PNG C.S.S.B. 1251 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 1251
By: West
Economic Development
4/15/1999
Committee Report (Substituted)


DIGEST 

Currently, under Texas law, a provider of basic local telephone service may
disconnect that service for nonpayment of long distance charges.  This bill
would prohibit a provider of basic local telephone service from
disconnecting that service for nonpayment of long distance charges. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, C.S.S.B. 1251 prohibits a provider of basic local telephone
service from disconnecting that service for nonpayment of long distance
charges. 

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 Chapter 55A, Utilities Code, by adding Section 55.012, as
follows:  

Sec.  55.012.  LIMITATIONS ON DISCONTINUANCE OF BASIC LOCAL
TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICE.  Prohibits a provider of basic local
telecommunications service from discontinuing that service because of
nonpayment by a residential customer of charges for long distance service.
Requires payment to be first allocated to basic local telecommunications
service. Requires the rate for basic local telecommunications service to be
the rate the provider charges for stand-alone basic local
telecommunications service, if the provider of basic local
telecommunications service bundles its basic local telecommunications
service with long distance service and provides a discount for the basic
local telecommunications service because of that bundling.  Provides that
the Public Utility Commission has all jurisdiction necessary to enforce
this section, notwithstanding Sections 52.102 and 52.152. 

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 3. Emergency clause.

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES

SECTION 1.

Amends Chapter 55A, Utilities Code, by deleting proposed Section 55.012
regarding the prohibition of discontinuance of basic local
telecommunications service by that service, and adding a new Section
55.012, to include both the prohibition of the discontinuance of basic
local telecommunications service by that service and the rate for
stand-alone basic local telecommunications service.