Bill Text: CA AB3111 | 2017-2018 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Telecommunications: universal service.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-05-25 - In committee: Held under submission. [AB3111 Detail]

Download: California-2017-AB3111-Introduced.html


CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2017–2018 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill No. 3111


Introduced by Assembly Member Eduardo Garcia

February 16, 2018


An act to amend Section 878 of, to add Section 871.9 to, and to repeal Section 872 of, the Public Utilities Code, relating to telecommunications.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 3111, as introduced, Eduardo Garcia. Telecommunications: universal service.
Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory authority over public utilities, including telephone corporations. The Moore Universal Telephone Service Act establishes the Universal Lifeline Telephone Service program in order to provide low-income households with access to affordable basic residential telephone service. Existing law requires each lifeline telephone service subscriber to be provided with one lifeline subscription, as defined by the commission, at his or her principal place of residence, and provides that no other member of that subscriber’s family or household, as defined, who maintains residence at that place is eligible for lifeline telephone service.
This bill would revise that latter provision to make other members of that subscriber’s household who maintain residence at the subscriber’s principal place of residence also eligible for lifeline telephone service, and would expressly provide that multiple lifeline telephone service subscribers may maintain the same principal place of residence. The bill would require the commission to ensure all eligible individuals are provided with information about the lifeline program and given equal opportunities to subscribe to the lifeline service, and would require the commission, as part of that outreach, to maximize the participation of all groups, including students, veterans, and the formerly incarcerated.
Under existing law, a violation of the Public Utilities Act or any order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the commission is a crime.
Because the provisions of this bill would be a part of the act and because a violation of an order, decision, or rule of the commission implementing its requirements would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program by expanding the application of a 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   Local Program: YES  

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


SECTION 1.

 Section 871.9 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to read:

871.9.
 The commission shall ensure all eligible individuals, including students, veterans, and the formerly incarcerated, are provided with information about the lifeline program and given equal opportunities to subscribe to the lifeline service. In performing this outreach, the commission shall seek to maximize the participation of all groups, including students, veterans, and the formerly incarcerated.

SEC. 2.

 Section 872 of the Public Utilities Code is repealed.
872.

As used in this article, “household” means a residential dwelling that is the principal place of residence of the lifeline telephone service subscriber, and excludes any industrial, commercial, or other nonresidential building.

SEC. 3.

 Section 878 of the Public Utilities Code is amended to read:

878.
 (a) A lifeline telephone service subscriber shall be provided with one lifeline subscription, as defined by the commission, at his or her principal place of residence, and no other member of that subscriber’s family or household who maintains residence at that place is eligible for lifeline telephone service.

An

(b) An applicant for lifeline telephone service may report only one address in this state as the principal place of residence.
(c) Multiple lifeline telephone service subscribers may maintain the same principal place of residence.

SEC. 4.

 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.
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