BILL NUMBER: AB 2218	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  AUGUST 19, 2014
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 24, 2014
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 10, 2014

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Bradford

                        FEBRUARY 20, 2014

   An act to add Section 739.3 to the Public Utilities Code, relating
to energy.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2218, as amended, Bradford. Electricity and natural gas rates.
   Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory
authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations
and gas corporations, as defined. Existing law authorizes the
commission to fix the rates and charges for every public utility, and
requires that those rates and charges be just and reasonable.
Existing law requires the commission to establish a program of
assistance to low-income electric and gas customers, referred to as
the California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) program.
   This bill would require each electrical corporation and gas
corporation  , subject to direction and supervision by the
commission,  to develop and implement a program of rate
assistance to eligible food banks, as defined,  subject to
direction and supervision by the commission.   at a
fixed percentage to be determined by the commission. The bill would
authorize the commission to adjust the fixed percentage of rate
assistance as appropriate. 
   Under existing law, a violation of the Public Utilities Act or any
order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the
commission is a crime.
   Because the provisions of this bill would be a part of the act and
because a violation of an order or decision of the commission
implementing its requirements would be a crime, the bill would impose
a state-mandated local program by creating a new crime.
   The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local
agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement.
   This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this
act for a specified reason.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: yes.


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 739.3 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to
read:
   739.3.   (a)    Subject to direction and
supervision by the commission, each electrical corporation and gas
corporation shall develop and implement a program of rate assistance
to eligible food  banks.   banks at a fixed
percentage to be determined by the commission. The commission may
adjust the fixed percentage as appropriate.  The funding source
for the rate assistance program is subject to the approval of the
commission.  For 
    (b)     For  purposes of this section,
 "eligible   the following terms have the
following meanings: 
    (1)     "Eligible  food bank" means a
 public or charitable institution that participates 
 qualified eligible recipient agency that has executed an
agreement with the State Department of Social Services in order to
participate  in The Emergency Food Assistance Program
administered by the Food and Nutrition Service of the United States
Department of Agriculture. 
   (2) "Eligible recipient agency" has the same meaning as defined in
Section 251.3(d) of Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
 
   (3) "Agreement" means an agreement executed in compliance with
Section 251.2 of Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations. 
  SEC. 2.  No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to
Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because
the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school
district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or
infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty
for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the
Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the
meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California
Constitution.