By Danburg H.B. No. 2156
77R10984 MTB-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to certain utility customer discounts.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 17, Utilities Code, is
1-5 amended by adding Section 17.007 to read as follows:
1-6 Sec. 17.007. ELIGIBILITY PROCESS FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE
1-7 DISCOUNTS. The commission by rule shall provide for an integrated
1-8 eligibility process for customer service discounts, including
1-9 discounts under Sections 39.903 and 55.015.
1-10 SECTION 2. Section 56.021, Utilities Code, is amended to read
1-11 as follows:
1-12 Sec. 56.021. UNIVERSAL SERVICE FUND ESTABLISHED. The
1-13 commission shall adopt and enforce rules requiring local exchange
1-14 companies to establish a universal service fund to:
1-15 (1) assist telecommunications providers in providing
1-16 basic local telecommunications service at reasonable rates in high
1-17 cost rural areas;
1-18 (2) [reimburse telecommunications providers for
1-19 revenue lost by providing tel-assistance service under Subchapter
1-20 C;]
1-21 [(3)] reimburse the telecommunications carrier that
1-22 provides the statewide telecommunications relay access service
1-23 under Subchapter D;
1-24 (3) [(4)] finance the specialized telecommunications
2-1 assistance program established under Subchapter E;
2-2 (4) [(5)] reimburse the department, the Texas
2-3 Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and the commission for
2-4 costs incurred in implementing this chapter and Chapter 57; [and]
2-5 (5) [(6)] reimburse a telecommunications carrier
2-6 providing lifeline service as provided by 47 C.F.R. Part 54,
2-7 Subpart E, as amended; and
2-8 (6) finance the implementation and administration of
2-9 an integrated eligibility process created under Section 17.007 for
2-10 customer service discounts relating to telecommunications services,
2-11 including outreach expenses the commission determines are
2-12 reasonable and necessary.
2-13 SECTION 3. Section 39.903(e), Utilities Code, is amended to
2-14 read as follows:
2-15 (e) The system benefit fund shall provide funding solely for
2-16 the following regulatory purposes:
2-17 (1) programs to assist low-income electric customers
2-18 provided by Subsections (f)-(l);
2-19 (2) customer education programs; [and]
2-20 (3) the school funding loss mechanism provided by
2-21 Section 39.901; and
2-22 (4) reimbursement to the commission and the Texas
2-23 Department of Human Services for expenses incurred in the
2-24 implementation and administration of an integrated eligibility
2-25 process created under Section 17.007 for customer service discounts
2-26 relating to retail electric service, including outreach expenses
2-27 the commission determines are reasonable and necessary.
3-1 SECTION 4. (a) Subchapter C, Chapter 56, Utilities Code, is
3-2 repealed.
3-3 (b) The tel-assistance service program under Subchapter C,
3-4 Chapter 56, Utilities Code, is discontinued. On September 1, 2001:
3-5 (1) all funds, employees, and resources of the Public
3-6 Utility Commission of Texas and the Texas Department of Human
3-7 Services dedicated to the tel-assistance service program become
3-8 funds, employees, and resources dedicated to the lifeline service
3-9 program under Section 55.015, Utilities Code; and
3-10 (2) all persons receiving benefits under the
3-11 tel-assistance service program shall be automatically enrolled in
3-12 the lifeline service program.
3-13 SECTION 5. If a person receiving benefits under the
3-14 tel-assistance service program immediately before the effective
3-15 date of this Act receives a greater benefit under the
3-16 tel-assistance service program than the person will receive under
3-17 the lifeline service program, the telecommunications provider shall
3-18 continue the higher benefit and may be reimbursed for the higher
3-19 benefit from the universal service fund. The provider must continue
3-20 to provide that service until the person discontinues basic local
3-21 service in the exchange in which the person is receiving service.
3-22 SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.