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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the update of discounted telecommunication services |
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provided to educational institutions, libraries, hospitals, and |
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health centers. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 58.252, Utilities Code, is amended by |
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adding Subdivision (1-a) to read as follows: |
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(1-a) "Health center" means a federally qualified |
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health center service delivery site. |
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SECTION 2. Section 58.253(a), Utilities Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) On customer request, an electing company shall provide |
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private network services to: |
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(1) an educational institution; |
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(2) a library as defined in Section 57.021; |
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(3) a nonprofit telemedicine center; |
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(4) a public or not-for-profit hospital; [or] |
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(5) a legally constituted consortium or group of |
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entities listed in this subsection; or |
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(6) a nonprofit health center. |
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SECTION 3. Section 58.255(b), Utilities Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) An electing company shall offer private network service |
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contracts under this subchapter at 110 [105] percent of the long run |
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incremental cost of providing the private network service, |
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including installation. |
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SECTION 4. Section 58.258(a), Utilities Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) Notwithstanding the pricing flexibility authorized by |
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this subtitle, an electing company's rates for private network |
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services may not be increased before January 1, 2016 |
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[2012]. However, an electing company may increase a rate in |
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accordance with the provisions of a customer specific contract. |
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SECTION 5. Section 58.259(b), Utilities Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) The tariff rate may not be: |
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(1) distance sensitive; or |
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(2) higher than 110 [105] percent of the service's |
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statewide average long run incremental cost, including |
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installation. |
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SECTION 6. Section 58.260(c), Utilities Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(c) The rate for the service may not be higher than 110 [105] |
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percent of the service's long run incremental cost, including |
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installation. |
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SECTION 7. Section 58.261(b), Utilities Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) The rate for the service may not be higher than 110 [105] |
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percent of the service's long run incremental cost, including |
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installation. |
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SECTION 8. Section 58.268, Utilities Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 58.268. CONTINUATION OF OBLIGATION. Notwithstanding |
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any other provision of this title, an electing company shall |
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continue to comply with this subchapter until January 1, 2016 |
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[2012], regardless of: |
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(1) the date the company elected under this chapter; |
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or |
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(2) any action taken in relation to that company under |
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Chapter 65. |
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SECTION 9. Section 59.077(a), Utilities Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) Notwithstanding the pricing flexibility authorized by |
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this subtitle, an electing company's rates for private network |
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services may not be increased before January 1, 2016 [2012]. |
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SECTION 10. Section 59.083, Utilities Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 59.083. CONTINUATION OF OBLIGATION. Notwithstanding |
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any other provision of this title, an electing company shall |
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continue to comply with this subchapter until January 1, 2016 |
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[2012], regardless of: |
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(1) the date the company elected under this chapter; |
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or |
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(2) any action taken in relation to that company under |
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Chapter 65. |
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SECTION 11. The changes in law made by this Act apply only |
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to a company that elects to provide discounted services on or after |
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the effective date of this Act. A company that elects to provide |
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discounted services before the effective date of this Act is |
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subject to the law in effect immediately before that date, and that |
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law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 12. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |