By:  Shapleigh, Barrientos                            S.B. No. 1020
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
                                       AN ACT
 1-1     relating to telephone prepaid calling services; providing
 1-2     penalties.
 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-4           SECTION 1.  Subchapter J, Chapter 55, Utilities Code, is
 1-5     amended by adding Section 55.253 to read as follows:
 1-6           Sec. 55.253.  TELEPHONE PREPAID CALLING SERVICES.  (a)  In
 1-7     this section:
 1-8                 (1)  "Prepaid calling card company" means a company
 1-9     that provides a prepaid calling service to the public using its own
1-10     network or resold services.
1-11                 (2)  "Prepaid calling service" means a prepaid
1-12     telecommunications service that allows an end user to originate a
1-13     call using an access number and authorization code.
1-14           (b)  The commission by rule may prescribe standards regarding
1-15     the information a prepaid calling card company shall disclose to
1-16     customers in relation to the rates and terms of service for prepaid
1-17     calling services offered in this state.
1-18           (c)  The commission is granted all necessary jurisdiction to
1-19     adopt rules under this section and to enforce those rules and this
1-20     section.
1-21           (d)  A violation of a rule adopted under this section is
1-22     subject to enforcement under Subchapter B, Chapter 15.
1-23           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the
1-24     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
 2-1     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
 2-2     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
 2-3     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
 2-4     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
 2-5     passage, and it is so enacted.