BILL NUMBER: SB 1055	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Hueso

                        FEBRUARY 16, 2016

   An act to amend Section 270 of, and to repeal Section 279 of, the
Public Utilities Code, relating to telecommunications.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 1055, as introduced, Hueso. Payphone Service Providers
Committee.
   Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory
authority over public utilities, including telephone corporations.
Existing law establishes the Payphone Service Providers Committee to
advise the commission regarding the development, implementation, and
administration of programs to educate payphone service providers,
ensure compliance with the commission's requirements for payphone
operations, and educate consumers on matters related to payphones, as
provided for in a specified decision of the commission. Existing law
establishes the Payphone Service Providers Committee Fund and
requires that all revenues collected by telephone corporations in
rates authorized by the commission to fund programs to educate
payphone service providers, ensure compliance with the commission's
requirements for payphone operations, and educate consumers on
matters related to payphones be deposited into the fund.
   This bill would repeal those provisions establishing the committee
and the fund.
   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 270 of the Public Utilities Code is amended to
read:
   270.  (a) The following funds are hereby created in the State
Treasury:
   (1) The California High-Cost Fund-A Administrative Committee Fund.

   (2) The California High-Cost Fund-B Administrative Committee Fund.

   (3) The Universal Lifeline Telephone Service Trust Administrative
Committee Fund.
   (4) The Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications Program
Administrative Committee Fund. 
   (5) The Payphone Service Providers Committee Fund. 

   (6) 
    (5)  The California Teleconnect Fund Administrative
Committee Fund. 
   (7) 
    (6)  The California Advanced Services Fund.
   (b) Moneys in the funds are held in trust and may only be expended
pursuant to this chapter and upon appropriation in the annual Budget
Act or upon supplemental appropriation.
   (c) The commission, in administering the universal service program
funds listed in subdivision (a), and in administering state
participation in federal universal service programs, is encouraged,
consistent with the state's universal service policies and goals, to
maximize the amount of federal funding to California participants in
the federal programs.
   (d) Moneys in each fund shall not be appropriated, or in any other
manner transferred or otherwise diverted, to any other fund or
entity, except as provided in Sections 19325 and 19325.1 of the
Education Code.
  SEC. 2.  Section 279 of the Public Utilities Code is repealed.

   279.  (a) There is hereby created the Payphone Service Providers
Committee, which is an advisory board to advise the commission
regarding the development, implementation, and administration of
programs to educate pay phone service providers, ensure compliance
with the commission's requirements for pay phone operations, and
educate consumers on matters related to pay phones, as provided for
in commission Decision 90-06-018.
   (b) All revenues collected by telephone corporations in rates
authorized by the commission to fund the programs specified in
subdivision (a) shall be submitted to the commission pursuant to a
schedule established by the commission. Commencing on October 1,
2001, and continuing thereafter, the commission shall transfer the
moneys received, and all unexpended revenues collected prior to
October 1, 2001, to the Controller for deposit in the Payphone
Service Providers Committee Fund. All interest earned by moneys in
the fund shall be deposited in the fund.
   (c) Moneys appropriated from the Payphone Service Providers
Committee Fund to the commission shall be utilized exclusively by the
commission for the program specified in subdivision (a), including
all costs of the board and the commission associated with the
administration and oversight of the program and the fund.