By: Sibley S.B. No. 1659
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the format of telecommunications utility billing
1-3 statements.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Section 55.012, Utilities Code, as added by
1-6 Chapter 1212, Acts of the 76th Legislature, Regular Session, 1999,
1-7 is amended to read as follows:
1-8 Sec. 55.012. TELECOMMUNICATIONS BILLING. (a) The
1-9 proliferation of charges for separate services, products,
1-10 surcharges, fees, and taxes on a bill for telecommunications
1-11 products or services has increased the complexity of those bills to
1-12 such an extent that in some cases the bills have become difficult
1-13 for customers to understand.
1-14 (b) A bill from a local exchange company for
1-15 telecommunications products or services should be [simplified into
1-16 general categories to the extent that simplification is] consistent
1-17 with providing customers sufficient information about the charges
1-18 included in the bill to understand the basis and source of the
1-19 charges.
1-20 (c) To the extent permitted by law, a monthly bill from a
1-21 local exchange company for local exchange telephone service shall
1-22 clearly identify all charges including [include an aggregate charge
1-23 for each of the following categories:]
1-24 [(1)] basic local service charges, [and] fees, [which
1-25 includes] carrier's charges, [for basic local telecommunications
2-1 service and related fees,] assessments, [and] surcharges,[;]
2-2 [(2)] optional services,[;] and
2-3 [(3)] taxes[, which includes any taxes applicable to
2-4 the charges described by Subdivisions (1) and (2)].
2-5 (d) Local exchange carriers shall annually file a copy of
2-6 that portion of their bill that has not been previously approved by
2-7 the commission for compliance review with this section.
2-8 (e) The commission shall have all necessary authority to
2-9 enforce this section.
2-10 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
2-11 a vote of two-thirds of all members elected to each house, as
2-12 provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
2-13 Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
2-14 Act takes effect September 1, 2001.