SRC-TBR S.B. 1659 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1659
By: Sibley
Business & Commerce
3/26/2001
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the Public Utility Regulatory Act (PURA) sets out specific
requirements for the format of telecommunications utility bills.  As
proposed, S.B. 1659 amend PURA to allow companies flexibility as to where
and how charges appear on a customer's bill and requires a local exchange
carrier to file a copy of the carrier's bill every year with the Public
Utilities Commission for compliance review. 

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 55.012, Utilities Code, as follows:

(b)  Deletes language requiring a bill from a local exchange company for
telecommunications products or services to be simplified into general
categories to the extent that simplification is consistent with the
purposes of this section. 

(c)  Requires, to the extent permitted by law, a monthly bill from a local
exchange company for local exchange telephone service to clearly identify
all charges.  Deletes language regarding general categories, aggregate
charge, and basic local telecommunication service. 

(d)  Requires local exchange carriers to file a copy of their bill annually
with the Public Utility Commission (commission) for a compliance review
with this section. 

 (e)  Provides the commission with all necessary authority to enforce this
section. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.