SRC-CTC, TBR C.S.S.B. 1659 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 1659 By: Sibley Business & Commerce 3/28/2001 Committee Report (Substituted) DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently, the Public Utility Regulatory Act (PURA) sets out specific requirements for the format of telecommunications utility bills. C.S.S.B. 1659 amends 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 certain portions of the carrier's bill every year with the Public Utility 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 annually file a copy of that portion of their bill that has not been previously approved by the Public Utility Commission (commission) for compliance review with this section. (e) Requires the commission to have all necessary authority to enforce this section. SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES SECTION 1. Amends As Filed S.B. 1659 in Subsection (d) to require local exchange carriers to annually file a copy of that portion of their bill that has not been previously approved by the Public Utility Commission for compliance review with this section.