CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2019–2020 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill No. 1072

Introduced by Assembly Member Patterson

February 21, 2019

An act to amend Section 321 of the Public Utilities Code, relating to the Public Utilities Commission.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 1072, as introduced, Patterson. Public Utilities Commission: public participation.
Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory authority over public utilities and can establish its own procedures, subject to the statutory restrictions and constitutional requirements of due process. Existing law requires the commission to appoint an executive director, who, among other things, is responsible for the commission’s executive and administrative duties, organizes, coordinates, supervises, and directs the operations and affairs of the commission, and expedites all matters within the commission’s jurisdiction. Existing law requires the commission to appoint a public advisor and establish an office of the public advisor, both of which are required, among other things, to perform specified duties relating to public participation in commission proceedings. Existing law requires the public advisor and executive director to publicize the commission’s programs for encouraging and supporting participation in the commission’s proceedings.
This bill would specify that the duty of the public advisor and executive director to publicize those programs includes publishing information about those programs on the commission’s internet website.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Section 321 of the Public Utilities Code is amended to read:

321.
 (a) The commission shall appoint a public advisor and establish an office of the public advisor, including a separate office in the Los Angeles office of the commission. The commission may employ staff as necessary to carry out the duties of the office of the public advisor. The office of the public advisor shall assist members of the public and ratepayers who desire to testify before or present information to the commission in any hearing or proceeding of the commission. The public advisor shall advise the commission on procedural matters relating to public participation in proceedings of the commission.
(b) The public advisor and executive director shall publicize the commission’s programs for encouraging and supporting participation in the commission’s proceedings. proceedings, including publishing information about those programs on the commission’s internet website.
(c) The public advisor shall receive complaints and comments from members of the public concerning how the commission is carrying out its functions. The public advisor shall maintain the confidentiality of the identity of a member of the public who makes a complaint or comment unless the member of the public expressly indicates a desire to communicate his or her that identity to the commission. The public advisor shall assess the nature of substantive complaints and comments from members of the public and take them into consideration when analyzing and recommending options for resolution of the matters underlying those complaints and comments.