By Chavez                                             H.B. No. 1561
         77R5675 CBH-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to telephone prepaid calling card services.
 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-4           SECTION 1. Section 55.253, Utilities Code, is amended to read
 1-5     as follows:
 1-6           Sec. 55.253.  TELEPHONE PREPAID CALLING SERVICES. (a)  In
 1-7     this section:
 1-8                 (1)  "Prepaid calling card company" means a company
 1-9     that provides a prepaid calling service to the public using its own
1-10     network or resold services.
1-11                 (2)  "Prepaid calling service" means a prepaid
1-12     telecommunications service that allows an end user to originate a
1-13     call using an access number and authorization code.
1-14           (b)  A person may not operate as a prepaid calling card
1-15     company in this state unless the company is registered with the
1-16     commission in accordance with Section 52.103.
1-17           (c)  The commission by rule may prescribe standards regarding
1-18     the information a prepaid calling card company shall disclose to
1-19     customers in relation to the rates and terms of service for prepaid
1-20     calling services offered in this state.
1-21           (d)  In addition to information required by Subsection (c),
1-22     the commission by rule shall require a prepaid calling card company
1-23     to print on each prepaid calling card the commission's toll-free
1-24     customer hotline.
 2-1           (e) [(c)]  The commission is granted all necessary
 2-2     jurisdiction to adopt rules under this section, to require
 2-3     registration, and to enforce those rules, that registration, and
 2-4     this section.
 2-5           (f) [(d)]  A violation of a rule adopted under this section
 2-6     or failure to register under this section is subject to enforcement
 2-7     under Subchapter B, Chapter 15.
 2-8           SECTION 2. (a)  This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
 2-9           (b)  A prepaid calling card company doing business in this
2-10     state on or after September 1, 2001, shall register with the Public
2-11     Utility Commission of Texas as required by Section 55.253,
2-12     Utilities Code, as amended by this Act, not later than January 1,
2-13     2002.