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.