By Flores                                              H.B. No. 548
         76R2735 DWS-F                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to unauthorized charges on a bill for telecommunications
 1-3     services.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 55, Utilities Code, is
 1-6     amended by adding Section 55.012 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 55.012.  CHARGE FOR UNAUTHORIZED GOOD OR SERVICE.  (a)
 1-8     A person, including a telecommunications utility, may not include
 1-9     or cause to be included on a bill for telecommunications services a
1-10     charge for a good or service unless the customer receiving the bill
1-11     has authorized the receipt of the good or service and the inclusion
1-12     of the charge for the good or service on the bill.
1-13           (b)  A customer receiving a bill for telecommunications
1-14     services is not liable for payment of any charge on the bill for a
1-15     good or service if:
1-16                 (1)  the customer did not authorize the receipt of the
1-17     good or service and the inclusion of the charge for the good or
1-18     service on the bill; or
1-19                 (2)  the customer did not receive the good or service.
1-20           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
1-21           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
1-22     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-23     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-24     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
 2-1     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.