BILL NUMBER: AB 2570	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  AUGUST 19, 2016
	AMENDED IN SENATE  AUGUST 15, 2016
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 30, 2016
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 14, 2016
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 1, 2016

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Quirk

                        FEBRUARY 19, 2016

   An act to add Section 878.5 to the Public Utilities Code, relating
to telecommunications.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2570, as amended, Quirk. Telecommunications: universal service:
reimbursement claims.
   Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory
authority over public utilities, including telephone corporations.
The Moore Universal Telephone Service Act establishes the Universal
Lifeline Telephone Service program in order to provide low-income
households with access to affordable basic residential telephone
service. The act requires that a lifeline telephone service
subscriber be provided with one lifeline subscription, as defined by
the commission, at his or her principal place of residence.
   This bill would  prohibit the commission from reimbursing
a telephone corporation for a reimbursement claim for providing
lifeline service to a new subscriber who enrolls for service with the
telephone corporation if the subscriber enrolled for lifeline
service with another telephone corporation within the previous 60
days.   require the commission to adopt a portability
freeze rule for the lifeline program by January 15, 2017, and would
require the commission to consider including certain features as part
of the rule. 
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


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

   SECTION 1.    Section 878.5 is added to the 
 Public Utilities Code   , to read:  
   878.5.  The commission shall adopt a portability freeze rule for
the lifeline program by January 15, 2017. The commission shall
consider including all of the following in the rule:
   (a) A 60-day duration of the portability freeze.
   (b) A period of time when a subscriber would be able to terminate
lifeline service without penalty, similar to provisions established
in Section 4.13.5 of commission Decision 14-01-036 (January 16,
2014), Decision Adopting Revisions to Modernize and Expand the
California Lifeline Program.
   (c) A requirement that the administrator of the lifeline program
provide a telephone corporation providing lifeline service with
real-time information concerning whether a subscriber has enrolled
with another telephone corporation during the period of the
portability freeze adopted by the commission pursuant to this section
and, if the subscriber enrolled during this period, the date of
enrollment.  
  SECTION 1.    Section 878.5 is added to the Public
Utilities Code, to read:
   878.5.  (a) The commission shall not reimburse a telephone
corporation for a reimbursement claim for providing lifeline service
to a new subscriber who enrolls for service with the telephone
corporation if the subscriber enrolled in lifeline service with
another telephone corporation within the previous 60 days.
   (b) Nothing in this section shall preclude a subscriber from
terminating wireless lifeline service within 14 days of service
activation without incurring any charges, including an early
termination fee, as authorized pursuant to Rulemaking 11-03-113.