By West                                                S.B. No. 295
         77R1677 MTB-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to certain limitations on discontinuance of basic local
 1-3     telecommunications service.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 55.012(a), Utilities Code, as added by
 1-6     Chapter 1579, Acts of the 76th Legislature, Regular Session, 1999,
 1-7     is amended to read as follows:
 1-8           (a)  A provider of basic local telecommunications service may
 1-9     not discontinue that service because of nonpayment by a residential
1-10     customer of charges for service other than basic local
1-11     telecommunications service [long distance service].  Payment shall
1-12     first be allocated to basic local telecommunications service.
1-13           SECTION 2.  Section 55.013(a), Utilities Code, is amended to
1-14     read as follows:
1-15           (a)  A provider of basic local telecommunications service may
1-16     not discontinue that service because of nonpayment by a residential
1-17     customer of charges for service other than basic local
1-18     telecommunications service [long distance service].  Payment shall
1-19     first be allocated to basic local telecommunications service.
1-20           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.