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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the eligibility process for customer service benefits. |
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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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ELIGIBILITY PROCESS FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE |
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[DISCOUNTS]BENEFITS. [The commission by rule shall provide for an
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integrated eligibility process for customer service discounts,
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including discounts under Sections
39.903
and
55.015.]The Texas |
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Department of Health and Human Services, on request of the |
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commission, shall assist in developing an automatic process to |
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provide for identification of low-income customers to retail |
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electric providers and certified telecommunications utilities to |
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enable those providers to offer customer service, discounts, bill |
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payment assistance, or other methods of assistance. The |
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commissioner and the Texas Department of Health and Human Services |
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shall continue the memorandum of understanding in effect on January |
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1, 2017 that establishes the respective duties of the commission |
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and the department in relation to the automatic process, and may |
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amend the memorandum of understanding as necessary to achieve the |
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goals of this section. |
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a) The commission may not require a retail electric provider |
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or certified telecommunications utility to offer customer service |
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discounts, bill payment assistance, or other benefits for which the |
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provider is not reimbursed. |