1-1 By: Sibley S.B. No. 1659
1-2 (In the Senate - Filed March 9, 2001; March 14, 2001, read
1-3 first time and referred to Committee on Business and Commerce;
1-4 March 29, 2001, reported adversely, with favorable Committee
1-5 Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 6, Nays 0; March 29, 2001,
1-6 sent to printer.)
1-7 COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 1659 By: Sibley
1-8 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-9 AN ACT
1-10 relating to the format of telecommunications utility billing
1-11 statements.
1-12 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-13 SECTION 1. Section 55.012, Utilities Code, as added by
1-14 Chapter 1212, Acts of the 76th Legislature, Regular Session, 1999,
1-15 is amended to read as follows:
1-16 Sec. 55.012. TELECOMMUNICATIONS BILLING. (a) The
1-17 proliferation of charges for separate services, products,
1-18 surcharges, fees, and taxes on a bill for telecommunications
1-19 products or services has increased the complexity of those bills to
1-20 such an extent that in some cases the bills have become difficult
1-21 for customers to understand.
1-22 (b) A bill from a local exchange company for
1-23 telecommunications products or services should be [simplified into
1-24 general categories to the extent that simplification is] consistent
1-25 with providing customers sufficient information about the charges
1-26 included in the bill to understand the basis and source of the
1-27 charges.
1-28 (c) To the extent permitted by law, a monthly bill from a
1-29 local exchange company for local exchange telephone service shall
1-30 clearly identify all charges including [include an aggregate charge
1-31 for each of the following categories:]
1-32 [(1)] basic local service charges, [and] fees, [which
1-33 includes] carrier's charges, [for basic local telecommunications
1-34 service and related fees,] assessments, [and] surcharges,[;]
1-35 [(2)] optional services,[;] and
1-36 [(3)] taxes[, which includes any taxes applicable to
1-37 the charges described by Subdivisions (1) and (2)].
1-38 (d) Local exchange carriers shall annually file a copy of
1-39 that portion of their bill that has not been previously approved by
1-40 the commission for compliance review with this section.
1-41 (e) The commission shall have all necessary authority to
1-42 enforce this section.
1-43 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
1-44 a vote of two-thirds of all members elected to each house, as
1-45 provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
1-46 Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
1-47 Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
1-48 * * * * *