Bill Text: CA AB2097 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Public utilities: safety reports.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-05-10 - Re-referred to Com. on U. & C. [AB2097 Detail]
Download: California-2011-AB2097-Amended.html
BILL NUMBER: AB 2097 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 9, 2012
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 1, 2012
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Hill
FEBRUARY 23, 2012
An act to add and repeal Section 315.5 of the Public Utilities
Code, relating to public utilities.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 2097, as amended, Hill. Public utilities: safety reports.
Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has
regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical
corporations and gas corporations, as defined. Existing law requires
the PUC to investigate the cause of all accidents occurring within
this state upon the property of any public utility or directly or
indirectly arising from or connected with the utility's maintenance
or operation, resulting in loss of life or injury to person or
property and requiring, in the judgment of the PUC, investigation by
the PUC. Existing law also authorizes the PUC to make any order or
recommendation with respect thereto as in the PUC's judgment seems
just and reasonable.
This bill would require an investor-owned utility that provides
gas or electric service, or both, to annually report to the PUC on
the disposition of all civil complaints against the utility where a
matter of public safety that has substantial likelihood to jeopardize
the lives or health of Californians is the gravamen of a claim in
the complaint.
Under existing law, a violation of the Public Utilities Act or any
order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the PUC
is a crime.
Because the provisions of this bill are within the act, the bill
would impose a state-mandated local program by creating a new crime.
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.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this
act for a specified reason.
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 315.5 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to
read:
315.5. (a) An investor-owned utility that provides gas or
electric service, or both, shall annually report to the commission,
in a format and on a schedule determined by the commission, on the
disposition of all civil complaints against the utility where a
matter of public safety that has substantial likelihood to jeopardize
the lives or health of Californians is the gravamen of a claim in
the complaint.
(b) On or by June 1, 2013, and each year after that, the
commission shall report to the Legislature on all complaints pursuant
to subdivision (a) that have been filed in the reporting period that
precedes that reporting date. This report shall include a brief
statement summarizing the safety issue or issues in each complaint.
The report shall not include confidential settlement terms and
conditions.
(c) (1) A report to be submitted pursuant to subdivision (b) shall
be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
(2) Pursuant to Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, this
section is repealed on January 1, 2017.
SEC. 2. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to
Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because
the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school
district will be incurred because 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 XIII B of the California
Constitution.
