SRC-TBR H.B. 1351 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 1351
77R7442 MTB-DBy: Brimer (Armbrister)
Business & Commerce
5/4/2001
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Current law requires pay phone operators to pay the same Texas universal
service fund (TUSF) charges as other phone carriers.  H.B. 1351 prohibits
the Public Utility Commission of Texas from assessing, on pay telephone
service, the uniform charge that funds TUSF. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a
state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 56.022(c), Utilities Code, to prohibit the
Public Utility Commission, in establishing the charge and the services to
which the charge will apply, from granting an unreasonable preference or
advantage to a telecommunications provider; assessing the charge on pay
telephone service; or subjecting a telecommunications provider to
unreasonable prejudice or disadvantage. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 2001.