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.