1-1     By:  Shapleigh, Barrientos                            S.B. No. 1020
 1-2           (In the Senate - Filed March 9, 1999; March 10, 1999, read
 1-3     first time and referred to Committee on Economic Development;
 1-4     April 15, 1999, reported favorably by the following vote:  Yeas 7,
 1-5     Nays 0; April 15, 1999, sent to printer.)
 1-6                            A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-7                                   AN ACT
 1-8     relating to telephone prepaid calling services; providing
 1-9     penalties.
1-10           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-11           SECTION 1.  Subchapter J, Chapter 55, Utilities Code, is
1-12     amended by adding Section 55.253 to read as follows:
1-13           Sec. 55.253.  TELEPHONE PREPAID CALLING SERVICES.  (a)  In
1-14     this section:
1-15                 (1)  "Prepaid calling card company" means a company
1-16     that provides a prepaid calling service to the public using its own
1-17     network or resold services.
1-18                 (2)  "Prepaid calling service" means a prepaid
1-19     telecommunications service that allows an end user to originate a
1-20     call using an access number and authorization code.
1-21           (b)  The commission by rule may prescribe standards regarding
1-22     the information a prepaid calling card company shall disclose to
1-23     customers in relation to the rates and terms of service for prepaid
1-24     calling services offered in this state.
1-25           (c)  The commission is granted all necessary jurisdiction to
1-26     adopt rules under this section and to enforce those rules and this
1-27     section.
1-28           (d)  A violation of a rule adopted under this section is
1-29     subject to enforcement under Subchapter B, Chapter 15.
1-30           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the
1-31     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-32     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-33     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-34     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
1-35     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
1-36     passage, and it is so enacted.
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