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AN ACT
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relating to benefit programs provided by retail electric providers |
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and certificated telecommunications utilities for low-income |
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customers. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 17.007, Utilities Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 17.007. IDENTIFICATION [ELIGIBILITY] PROCESS FOR |
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CUSTOMER SERVICE BENEFITS [DISCOUNTS]. (a) The Health and Human |
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Services Commission, on request of the commission, shall assist in |
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developing an automatic process for identifying low-income |
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customers to retail electric providers and certificated |
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telecommunications utilities to enable those providers and |
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utilities to offer customer service, discounts, bill payment |
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assistance, or other methods of assistance [The commission by rule
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shall provide for an integrated eligibility process for customer
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service discounts, including discounts under Sections 39.903 and
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55.015]. |
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(b) The commission and the Health and Human Services |
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Commission shall continue the memorandum of understanding entered |
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into by those agencies in effect on January 1, 2017, that |
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establishes the respective duties of those agencies in relation to |
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the automatic process, and may amend the memorandum of |
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understanding as necessary to achieve the goals of this section. |
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(c) The commission may not require a retail electric |
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provider or a certificated telecommunications utility to offer |
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customer service, discounts, bill payment assistance, targeted |
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bill messaging, or other benefits for which the provider or utility |
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is not reimbursed. |
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(d) The commission may not submit a request to the Health |
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and Human Services Commission to provide for a process to identify |
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low-income electric customers for a fiscal year unless: |
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(1) the commission receives a request from one or more |
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retail electric providers not later than July 31 of the previous |
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fiscal year for a list of low-income electric customers to be |
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developed; and |
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(2) each retail electric provider that submits a |
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request to the commission under Subdivision (1) agrees to reimburse |
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the commission for the cost of development of the list on terms |
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agreed to by the commission and the provider. |
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SECTION 2. Section 55.015(b), Utilities Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) The commission shall adopt rules providing for |
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automatic enrollment to receive lifeline service for eligible |
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consumers. The Health and Human Services Commission [Texas
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Department of Human Services], on request of the commission, shall |
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assist in the adoption and implementation of those rules. The |
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commission and the Health and Human Services Commission [Texas
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Department of Human Services] shall enter into a memorandum of |
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understanding establishing the respective duties of those agencies |
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[the commission and department] in relation to the automatic |
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enrollment. |
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SECTION 3. Section 56.021, Utilities Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 56.021. UNIVERSAL SERVICE FUND ESTABLISHED. The |
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commission shall adopt and enforce rules requiring local exchange |
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companies to establish a universal service fund to: |
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(1) assist telecommunications providers in providing |
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basic local telecommunications service at reasonable rates in high |
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cost rural areas under two plans: |
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(A) the Texas High Cost Universal Service Plan |
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(16 T.A.C. Section 26.403); and |
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(B) the Small and Rural Incumbent Local Exchange |
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Company Universal Service Plan (16 T.A.C. Section 26.404); |
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(2) reimburse the telecommunications carrier that |
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provides the statewide telecommunications relay access service |
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under Subchapter D; |
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(3) finance the specialized telecommunications |
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assistance program established under Subchapter E; |
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(4) reimburse the department and the commission for |
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costs incurred in implementing this chapter and Chapter 57; |
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(5) reimburse a telecommunications carrier providing |
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lifeline service as provided by 47 C.F.R. Part 54, Subpart E, as |
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amended; |
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(6) finance the implementation and administration of |
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the identification process under [an integrated eligibility
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process created under] Section 17.007 for [customer service
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discounts relating to] telecommunications services[, including
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outreach expenses the commission determines are reasonable and
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necessary]; |
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(7) reimburse a designated provider under Subchapter |
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F; |
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(8) reimburse a successor utility under Subchapter G; |
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and |
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(9) finance the program established under Subchapter |
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H. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1976 passed the Senate on |
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April 26, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1976 passed the House on May |
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6, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 132, Nays 9, one present not |
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voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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Approved: |
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______________________________ |
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Date |
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______________________________ |
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Governor |