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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the amount of emergency service fees for certain |
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telecommunications providers. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 771.071(b), Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(b) The amount of the fee may not exceed 50 cents a month for |
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each line. The commission shall suspend the fees established under |
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this section for the duration of any state fiscal biennium for which |
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the unencumbered balance of the 9-1-1 services fee account and the |
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anticipated revenue to be deposited to the account from fees on |
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wireless telecommunications connections imposed under Section |
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771.0711 are sufficient to pay for all of the appropriations from |
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that account. The commission may reinstate its imposition of the |
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fees under this section if the commission anticipates that in the |
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next succeeding state fiscal biennium the unencumbered balance of |
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the 9-1-1 services fee account will not otherwise be sufficient to |
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pay for all of the appropriations from that account. |
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SECTION 2. Sections 771.0711(a) and (b), Health and Safety |
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Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) To provide for automatic number identification and |
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automatic location identification of wireless 9-1-1 calls, the |
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commission shall impose on each wireless telecommunications |
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connection a 9-1-1 emergency service fee in an amount determined by |
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the commission to be sufficient, when considered together with the |
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anticipated revenue from the 9-1-1 emergency service fees imposed |
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under Section 771.071, to fund all entities in this state that |
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provide emergency communications services but not more than 50 |
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cents a month for each connection. A political subdivision may not |
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impose another fee on a wireless service provider or subscriber for |
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9-1-1 emergency service. |
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(b) A wireless service provider shall collect the fee [in an
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amount equal to 50 cents a month] for each wireless |
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telecommunications connection from its subscribers and shall pay |
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the money collected to the comptroller not later than the 30th day |
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after the last day of the month during which the fees were |
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collected. The comptroller may establish alternative dates for |
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payment of fees under this section. The wireless service provider |
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may retain an administrative fee of one percent of the amount |
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collected. The comptroller shall deposit the money from the fees to |
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the credit of the 9-1-1 services fee account. Until deposited to |
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the credit of the 9-1-1 services fee account as required by |
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Subsection (c), money the comptroller collects under this |
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subsection remains in a trust fund with the state treasury. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |