LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session April 26, 2001 TO: Honorable David Sibley, Chair, Senate Committee on Business & Commerce FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: HB2345 by Naishtat (Relating to the specialized telecommunications assistance program.), As Engrossed ************************************************************************** * No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. * ************************************************************************** The bill would amend Sections 56.152 and 56.153 of the Utilities Code, which relate to eligibility for the Specialized Telecommunications Assistance Program (STAP). The bill would remove the requirement that an individual have access to a telephone line in the individual's home or place of business and remove the $35 application fee currently required. The bill would also change the length of time a recipient must wait before he/she is eligible for another voucher from seven years to five years. In addition, the bill would add Section 56.156, Promotion of Program, to allow the Public Utility Commission to promote the program. Section 55.203 would be amended to add a requirement that a telecommunications utility publisher must prominently list STAP contact information for the program. Finally, the bill would require the Public Utility Commission to adopt rules to reflect the changes made by the bill and have them apply to directories published on or after January 1, 2002. The elimination of the $35 application fee for the program would result in a minor impact on the Universal Service Fund (USF) rate charged to customers and have no fiscal impact to the State. In FY 2000, approximately 2048 vouchers were issued. Assuming the same number of applications, the changes in the bill would result in a loss of 2,048 x $35 = $71,680 per year to the USF. The other changes required by the bill could be accomplished within current agency resources. Local Government Impact No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated. Source Agencies: 335 Texas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, 473 Public Utility Commission of Texas LBB Staff: JK, DB, HD, KF, MB