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.