By Hilbert H.B. No. 2216 76R6557 CBH-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the disclosure of the rates for long distance calls 1-3 made from a pay telephone. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Subchapter H, Chapter 55, Utilities Code, is 1-6 amended by adding Section 55.1775 to read as follows: 1-7 Sec. 55.1775. LONG DISTANCE PAY TELEPHONE RATES. (a) Before 1-8 connecting an interexchange telecommunications call made from a pay 1-9 telephone, the interexchange telecommunications carrier providing 1-10 the interexchange telecommunications service shall: 1-11 (1) announce the carrier's name; and 1-12 (2) quote the rate and any other fee or charge that 1-13 applies to the call and that is charged by the carrier. 1-14 (b) An interexchange telecommunications carrier may not 1-15 impose a charge for: 1-16 (1) providing information under Subsection (a); or 1-17 (2) a call in which the caller decides not to use the 1-18 carrier to connect the call. 1-19 (c) This section applies only to an interexchange 1-20 telecommunications carrier whose average rates for interexchange 1-21 telecommunications service from a pay telephone are at least 15 1-22 percent higher than the average rates for similar service charged 1-23 by the three largest interexchange telecommunications carriers 1-24 operating in this state. 2-1 (d) The commission shall adopt rules to implement and 2-2 enforce this section. 2-3 SECTION 2. (a) This Act takes effect September 1, 1999. 2-4 (b) Not later than January 1, 2000, the Public Utility 2-5 Commission of Texas shall adopt rules to implement and enforce 2-6 Section 55.1775, Utilities Code, as added by this Act. 2-7 (c) Section 55.1775, Utilities Code, as added by this Act, 2-8 applies to a call made on or after January 1, 2000. A call made 2-9 before January 1, 2000, is governed by the law in existence when 2-10 the call was made, and that law is continued in effect for that 2-11 purpose. 2-12 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 2-13 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-14 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-15 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-16 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.