By West                                               S.B. No. 1251
         76R8611 DWS-F                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to discontinuance of basic local telecommunications
 1-3     service.
 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.  LIMITATIONS ON DISCONTINUANCE OF BASIC LOCAL
 1-8     TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICE.  (a)  A provider of basic local
 1-9     telecommunications service may not discontinue that service because
1-10     of nonpayment by a residential customer of charges for long
1-11     distance service.
1-12           (b)  Notwithstanding Sections 52.102 and 52.152, the
1-13     commission has all jurisdiction necessary to enforce this section.
1-14           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
1-15           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
1-16     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-17     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-18     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-19     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.