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