BILL NUMBER: SB 711	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  JANUARY 6, 2014

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Padilla

                        FEBRUARY 22, 2013

   An act to amend Section  121595 of the Health and Safety
Code, relating to public health   1904 of, and to repeal
Section 1906 of, the Public Utilities Code, relating to the Public
Utilities Commission  .



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 711, as amended, Padilla.  Public health: communicable
diseases: rabies.   Public Utilities Commission: fees.
 
   Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory
authority over public utilities. Existing law allows the commission
to charge and collect a fee of $75 for filing each application for a
certificate of public convenience and necessity, or for the mortgage,
lease, transfer, or assignment of a certificate.  
   This bill would instead require the fee to not exceed the
reasonable costs to the commission for filing these applications. The
bill would authorize the fee in an amount not to exceed $500 and
would authorize the commission to adjust this fee based on the
Consumer Price Index.  
   Existing law establishes the Public Utilities Commission Utilities
Reimbursement Account and generally provides that all fees and
charges collected under the Public Utilities Code from each public
utility, except penalties, be paid into the fund. Other existing law
provides that specified fees, including, but not limited to, the fee
for filing each application for a certificate of public convenience
and necessity, or for the mortgage, lease, transfer, or assignment of
a certificate, are required to be paid at least once each month into
the State Treasury to the credit of the General Fund.  
   This bill would repeal the provision that requires certain fees to
be paid at least once each month into the State Treasury to the
credit of the General Fund.  
   Existing law requires that whenever any case of rabies is
reported, the State Department of Public Health must make, or cause
to be made, a preliminary investigation as to whether the disease
exists, and as to the probable area of the state in which the
population or animals are endangered.  
   This bill would make a technical, nonsubstantive change to that
provision. 
   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 1904 of the   Public
Utilities Code   is amended to read: 
   1904.  The commission shall also charge and collect the following
fees:
   (a) Except as otherwise provided in Section 1036 for filing each
application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity, or
for the mortgage, lease, transfer, or assignment thereof, 
seventy-five dollars ($75)   an amount not to exceed
five hundred dollars ($500). The commission may adjust this fee based
on the Consumer Price Index. The fee charged and collected pursuant
to this subdivision shall not exceed the reasonable costs to the
commission for filing the application  .
   (b) For a certificate authorizing an issue of bonds, notes, or
other evidences of indebtedness, two dollars ($2) for each one
thousand dollars ($1,000) of the face value of the authorized issue
or fraction thereof up to one million dollars ($1,000,000), one
dollar ($1) for each one thousand dollars ($1,000) over one million
dollars ($1,000,000) and up to ten million dollars ($10,000,000), and
fifty cents ($0.50) for each one thousand dollars ($1,000) over ten
million dollars ($10,000,000), with a minimum fee in any case of
fifty dollars ($50). No fee need be paid on such portion of any such
issue as may be used to guarantee, take over, refund, discharge, or
retire any stock, bond, note or other evidence of indebtedness on
which a fee has theretofore been paid to the commission. If the
commission modified the amount of the issue requested in any case and
the applicant thereupon elects not to avail itself of the commission'
s authorization, no fee shall be paid, and if such fee is paid prior
to the issuance of such certificate by the commission, such fee shall
be returned.
   SEC. 2.    Section 1906 of the   Public
Utilities Code   is repealed.  
   1906.  All fees collected under this chapter shall be paid, except
as provided in Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 5001) of Division
2, at least once each month into the State Treasury to the credit of
the General Fund.  
  SECTION 1.    Section 121595 of the Health and
Safety Code is amended to read:
   121595.  Whenever a case of rabies is reported as existing in any
county or city, the department shall make, or cause to be made, a
preliminary investigation as to whether the disease exists, and as to
the probable area of the state in which the population or animals
are endangered.