BILL NUMBER: SB 724	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  MARCH 27, 2007

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Kuehl

                        FEBRUARY 23, 2007

   An act to amend Section 1701.5 of the Public Utilities Code,
relating to public utilities.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 724, as amended, Kuehl. Public Utilities Commission:
ratesetting and quasi-legislative cases.
   Under the Public Utilities Act, the Public Utilities Commission
has regulatory authority over public utilities and is authorized to
conduct investigations and conduct proceedings. The act authorizes
the commission to determine whether a proceeding requires a hearing,
and if so, to determine whether the matter requires a
quasi-legislative, adjudication, or ratesetting hearing. The act
requires the commission, with certain exceptions, to resolve issues
raised in a specified scoping memo within 18 months of the date on
which the scoping memo is issued.
   This bill would  make technical, nonsubstantive changes to
the provision requiring the resolution of the issues raised in the
scoping memo   require the commission, in a ratesetting
or quasi-legislative case   involving a light rail grade
crossing, to resolve issues raised in the scoping memo within 9
months of the date of the memo, unless the commission makes a written
determination that the deadline cannot be met, including findings as
to the reason, and issues an order extending the deadline  .
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  no
  yes  . State-mandated local program: no.


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 1701.5 of the Public Utilities Code is amended
to read:
   1701.5.  (a) Except as specified in  subdivision (b)
  subdivisions (b) and (c)  , in a ratesetting or
quasi-legislative case, the commission shall resolve the issues
raised in the scoping memo within 18 months of the date the scoping
memo is issued, unless the commission makes a written determination
that the deadline cannot be met, including findings as to the reason,
and issues an order extending the deadline. No single order may
extend the deadline for more than 60 days.
   (b) Notwithstanding  subdivision (a)  
subdivisions (a) and (c)  , the commission may specify in a
scoping memo a resolution date later than 18 months from the date the
scoping memo is issued, if that scoping memo includes specific
reasons for the necessity of a later date and the commissioner that
is assigned to the case approves the date. 
   (c) Notwithstanding subdivisions (a) and (b), in a ratesetting or
quasi-legislative case involving a light rail grade crossing, the
commission shall resolve the issues raised in the scoping memo within
nine months of the date the scoping memo is issued, unless the
commission makes a written determination that the deadline cannot be
met, including findings as to the reason, and issues an order
extending the deadline. No single order may extend the deadline for
more than 60 days.