BILL NUMBER: AB 1732	CHAPTERED  07/21/05

	CHAPTER  98
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  JULY 21, 2005
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  JULY 21, 2005
	PASSED THE SENATE  JULY 7, 2005
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  MAY 2, 2005

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member La Malfa

                        FEBRUARY 22, 2005

   An act to amend Section 895 of the Public Utilities Code, relating
to natural gas, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect
immediately.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1732, La Malfa  Natural gas: Gas Consumption Surcharge Fund.
   Under existing law, the California Public Utilities Commission
(CPUC) has regulatory authority over public utilities, including gas
corporations. Existing law establishes a surcharge on all natural gas
consumed in the state to fund certain low-income assistance
programs, cost-effective energy efficiency and conservation
activities, and public interest research and development. Existing
law requires a public utility gas corporation, as defined, to collect
the surcharge from natural gas consumers, as specified. The moneys
from the surcharge is deposited in the Gas Consumption Surcharge Fund
and is continuously appropriated to specified entities, including
the CPUC, or an entity designated by the CPUC, to fund low-income
assistance programs, cost-effective energy efficiency and
conservation activities, and public interest research and development
not adequately provided by the competitive and regulated markets.
   The existing Warren-Alquist State Energy Resources Conservation
and Development Act establishes the State Energy Resources
Conservation and Development Commission (Energy Commission) and
requires it to develop, implement, and administer the Public Interest
Research, Development, and Demonstration Program.
   This bill would provide that if the Energy Commission is
designated by the CPUC to receive funds from the Gas Consumption
Surcharge Fund for public interest research and development, the
Energy Commission is authorized to administer the program pursuant to
the Public Interest Research, Development, and Demonstration
Program.
  This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an
urgency statute.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  Section 895 of the Public Utilities Code is amended to
read:
   895.  Notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, funds
in the Gas Consumption Surcharge Fund are continuously appropriated,
without regard to fiscal years, as follows:
   (a) To the commission or an entity designated by the commission to
fund programs described in subdivision (a) of Section 890. If the
State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission is
designated by the commission to receive funds for public interest
research and development, the State Energy Resources Conservation and
Development Commission may administer the program pursuant to
Chapter 7.1 (commencing with Section 25620) of Division 15 of the
Public Resources Code.
   (b) To pay the commission for its costs in carrying out its duties
and responsibilities under this article.
   (c) To pay the State Board of Equalization for its costs in
administering this article.
  SEC. 2.  This act is an urgency statute necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within the
meaning of Article IV of the Constitution and shall go into immediate
effect. The facts constituting the necessity are:
   In order to improve the administrative efficiency and the delivery
of services by the State Energy Resources Conservation and
Development Commission to clients and customers, it is necessary that
this act take effect immediately.