BILL NUMBER: AB 1387	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Cogdill
   (Coauthor: Assembly Member Pescetti)

                        FEBRUARY 23, 2001

   An act to add Section 785.6 to the Public Utilities Code, relating
to public utilities.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1387, as introduced, Cogdill.  Public utilities:  natural gas.
   (1) Existing law authorizes the Public Utilities Commission to
ascertain and fix just and reasonable standards, classifications,
regulations, practices, measurements, or service to be furnished,
imposed, observed, and followed by all gas corporations.
   This bill would require a gas corporation to approve or deny a
request by a gas producer to connect a developed gas well to a
utility pipeline within 21 days of the request.  The bill would
authorize the gas producer to file a complaint with the commission if
the gas corporation does not comply with these provisions.  The bill
would require the commission to convene an arbitration hearing no
later than 14 days after a complaint has been filed and to issue a
final ruling in the matter no more than 14 days after completion of
the hearing.  The bill would require all counties to take action on
all permit applications related to natural gas wells, natural gas
pipelines, and natural gas well interconnections within 21 days.  By
imposing new duties on counties, the bill would create a
state-mandated local program.  Because a violation of the Public
Utilities Act is a crime under existing provisions of law, this bill
would create a state-mandated local program by expanding the
definition of a crime.
  (2) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse
local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state.  Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement, including the creation of a State Mandates Claims Fund
to pay the costs of mandates that do not exceed $1,000,000 statewide
and other procedures for claims whose statewide costs exceed
$1,000,000.
   This bill would provide that with regard to certain mandates no
reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
   With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that,
if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains
costs so mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall
be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
   Vote:  majority.  Appropriation:  no.  Fiscal committee:  yes.
State-mandated local program:  yes.


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


  SECTION 1.  Section 785.6 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to
read:
   785.6.  (a) A gas corporation shall approve or deny a request by a
gas producer to connect a developed gas well to a utility pipeline
within 21 days of the request.
   (b) A gas producer may file a complaint with the commission if the
gas corporation does not comply with this section.  The commission
shall convene an arbitration hearing no later than 14 days after a
complaint has been filed. The commission shall issue a final ruling
in the matter no more than 14 days after completion of the hearing.
   (c) All counties shall take action on all permit applications
related to natural gas wells, natural gas pipelines, and natural gas
well interconnections within 21 days.
  SEC. 2.  No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to
Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution for certain
costs  that may be incurred by a local agency or school district
because in that regard this act creates a new crime or infraction,
eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime
or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government
Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of
Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution.
   However, notwithstanding Section 17610 of the Government Code, if
the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains
other costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies
and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7
(commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the
Government Code.  If the statewide cost of the claim for
reimbursement does not exceed one million dollars ($1,000,000),
reimbursement shall be made from the State Mandates Claims Fund.