BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Senator Ricardo Lara, Chair
2015 - 2016 Regular Session
AB 825 (Rendon) - Public Utilities Commission.
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|Version: July 16, 2015 |Policy Vote: E., U., & C. 11 - |
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|Urgency: No |Mandate: Yes |
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|Hearing Date: August 27, 2015 |Consultant: Marie Liu |
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*********** 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
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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.
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