BILL ANALYSIS Ó SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Senator Ricardo Lara, Chair 2015 - 2016 Regular Session AB 825 (Rendon) - Public Utilities Commission. ----------------------------------------------------------------- | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- |--------------------------------+--------------------------------| | | | |Version: July 16, 2015 |Policy Vote: E., U., & C. 11 - | | | 0 | | | | |--------------------------------+--------------------------------| | | | |Urgency: No |Mandate: Yes | | | | |--------------------------------+--------------------------------| | | | |Hearing Date: August 27, 2015 |Consultant: Marie Liu | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- *********** ANALYSIS ADDENDUM - SUSPENSE FILE *********** The following information is revised to reflect amendments adopted by the committee on August 27, 2015 Bill Summary: AB 825 would make a number of changes to the CPUC to increase public access to documents and to ease participation in proceedings. Fiscal Impact: Ongoing costs of at least $170,000 and up to $1 million (special*) to increase the amount of information available on the CPUC website. Ongoing costs of approximately $200,000 (special*) for the public advisor to have independent responsibility over the CPUC website. Unknown costs (special*) to post the transcripts of documents, evidence, testimony, and proceedings online. One-time costs of $157,000 annually for two years (special*) for a proceeding to reopen its confidentiality practices. Ongoing costs of $626,000 annually (special*) for hearings to AB 825 (Rendon) Page 1 of ? consider motions to make confidential documents public. Unknown costs (special*) to require that the assigned commissioner attend all hearings in a proceeding. Ongoing costs between $450,000 and $850,000 (special*) to appoint an inspector general from the State Auditor's office to the CPUC. Ongoing costs of $220,000 annually (special*) to provide legal staff at the public advisor's office to ensure compliance with the Public Records Act and the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act. These costs may be offset by reduced workload in other CPUC division to oversee compliance. * Public Utilities Commission Utilities Reimbursement Account. Author Amendments: Delete the requirement for each commissioner to hold monthly public office hours and to specify requirements of the inspector general. Committee Amendments: Delete §722(b) from the bill to make clear there are no changes to the existing way the Office of the Public Advisor is funded and specify that the inspector general shall recover its costs from the reimbursement fees paid to the CPUC upon appropriation of the Legislature. -- END --