By Barrientos S.B. No. 687 76R5374 DWS-F A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to lifeline and tel-assistance 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. LIFELINE SERVICE. (a) The commission shall 1-8 adopt rules prohibiting a telecommunications provider from 1-9 discontinuing local exchange telephone service to a consumer who 1-10 receives lifeline service because of nonpayment by the consumer of 1-11 charges for other services billed by the provider, including long 1-12 distance service. 1-13 (b) The commission shall adopt rules providing for automatic 1-14 enrollment to receive lifeline service for eligible consumers. 1-15 Each state agency, on request of the commission, shall assist in 1-16 the adoption and implementation of those rules. 1-17 (c) A telecommunications provider may block a lifeline 1-18 service participant's access to all long distance service except 1-19 toll-free numbers when the participant owes an outstanding amount 1-20 for that service. The telecommunications provider shall remove the 1-21 block without additional cost to the participant on payment of the 1-22 outstanding amount. 1-23 (d) A telecommunications provider shall offer a consumer who 1-24 applies for or receives lifeline service the option of blocking all 2-1 toll calls or placing a limit on the amount of toll calls. The 2-2 provider may not charge the consumer an administrative charge or 2-3 other additional amount for the blocking service. 2-4 SECTION 2. Section 56.072, Utilities Code, is amended by 2-5 adding Subsection (d) to read as follows: 2-6 (d) The commission shall adopt rules providing for automatic 2-7 enrollment to receive tel-assistance service for eligible 2-8 consumers. Each state agency, on request of the commission, shall 2-9 assist in the adoption and implementation of those rules. 2-10 SECTION 3. Subchapter C, Chapter 56, Utilities Code, is 2-11 amended by adding Section 56.079 to read as follows: 2-12 Sec. 56.079. RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER SERVICES. (a) The 2-13 commission shall adopt rules prohibiting a telecommunications 2-14 provider from discontinuing local exchange telephone service to a 2-15 consumer who receives tel-assistance service because of nonpayment 2-16 by the consumer of charges for other services billed by the 2-17 provider, including long distance service. 2-18 (b) A telecommunications provider may block a tel-assistance 2-19 service participant's access to all long distance service except 2-20 toll-free numbers when the participant owes an outstanding amount 2-21 for that service. The telecommunications provider shall remove the 2-22 block without additional cost to the participant on payment of the 2-23 outstanding amount. 2-24 (c) A telecommunications provider shall offer a consumer who 2-25 applies for or receives tel-assistance service the option of 2-26 blocking all toll calls or placing a limit on the amount of toll 2-27 calls. The provider may not charge the consumer an administrative 3-1 charge or other additional amount for the blocking service. 3-2 SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999. 3-3 SECTION 5. The importance of this legislation and the 3-4 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 3-5 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 3-6 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 3-7 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.