| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the elimination of certain charges and programs |
|
|
associated with the universal service fund. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Chapter 56, Utilities Code, is amended by adding |
|
|
Subchapter I to read as follows: |
|
|
SUBCHAPTER I. ELIMINATION OF CHARGES AND PROGRAMS NOT REQUIRED BY |
|
|
FEDERAL LAW |
|
|
Sec. 56.351. ELIMINATION OF CHARGES AND PROGRAMS NOT |
|
|
REQUIRED BY FEDERAL LAW. (a) For the purposes of this section, |
|
|
"charge" includes a surcharge and a fee. |
|
|
(b) The commission shall by rule adopt a plan to: |
|
|
(1) eliminate each charge or portion of a charge that: |
|
|
(A) is established under this chapter; and |
|
|
(B) is not required by federal law; and |
|
|
(2) eliminate each program or service that: |
|
|
(A) is established under this chapter or receives |
|
|
funding under this chapter; |
|
|
(B) is funded solely from the universal service |
|
|
fund; and |
|
|
(C) is not required by federal law. |
|
|
(c) The plan must reduce the charges or portions of charges |
|
|
over a five-year period in equal increments so that the charges or |
|
|
portions of charges are eliminated by the end of that period. The |
|
|
five-year period must begin not later than September 1, 2018. |
|
|
(d) If this section conflicts with another provision of this |
|
|
title, this section prevails. |
|
|
SECTION 2. (a) The Public Utility Commission of Texas shall |
|
|
adopt rules as necessary to ensure that: |
|
|
(1) a charge, surcharge, or fee established under |
|
|
Chapter 56, Utilities Code, and not required by federal law is not |
|
|
collected for a billing cycle any part of which falls on or after |
|
|
October 1, 2024; and |
|
|
(2) a charge, surcharge, or fee established under |
|
|
Chapter 56, Utilities Code, due for a billing cycle completed |
|
|
before October 1, 2024, is collected and remitted for deposit to the |
|
|
credit of the universal service fund under Chapter 56, Utilities |
|
|
Code. |
|
|
(b) The change in law made by this Act does not affect the |
|
|
liability for a payment of a charge, surcharge, or fee established |
|
|
under Chapter 56, Utilities Code, that accrues before October 1, |
|
|
2024. That liability continues in effect as if this Act had not |
|
|
been enacted. The former law is continued in effect for the |
|
|
collection of charges, surcharges, or fees due, for remission of |
|
|
the collected charges, surcharges, or fees for deposit to the |
|
|
universal service fund, for enforcement of the liability for and |
|
|
remission of those charges, surcharges, or fees, and for the |
|
|
purposes of Subsection (a)(2) of this section. |
|
|
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |