Bill Text: CA SB1154 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Public Utilities Commission: Earned Income Tax Credit.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Vetoed) 2010-09-29 - In Senate. To unfinished business. (Veto) [SB1154 Detail]

Download: California-2009-SB1154-Amended.html

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BILL NUMBER: SB 1154	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  APRIL 5, 2010

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Cedillo

                        FEBRUARY 18, 2010

    An act to amend Section 201 of the Revenue and Taxation
Code, relating to taxation.   An act to add Section 713
to the Public Utilities Code, relating to public utilities. 


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 1154, as amended, Cedillo.  Property taxation.
  Public Utilities Commission: Earned Income Tax Credit.
 
   (1) Existing law requires the Public Utilities Commission to
establish a program of assistance to low-income electric and gas
customers, which is referred to as the California Alternate Rates for
Energy (CARE) program. The Moore Universal Telephone Service Act
establishes the Universal Lifeline Telephone Service (ULTS) program
in order to provide low-income households with access to affordable
basic residential telephone service.  
   This bill would require the commission to ensure that all
applications for the California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) and
the Universal Lifeline Telephone Service (ULTS) programs include
information about the applicant's eligibility to qualify for the
federal Earned Income Tax Credit.  
   (2) Existing law makes any public utility, as defined, and any
corporation other than a public utility, that violates the Public
Utilities Act, or that fails to comply with any part of any order,
decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the commission,
guilty of a crime.  
   Because the provisions of this bill are within the act and require
action by the commission to implement its requirements, a violation
of these provisions would impose a state-mandated local program by
expanding the definition of a crime.  
   (3) 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.  
   Existing property tax law provides that all property in this
state, not exempt under the laws of the United States or of this
state, is subject to taxation.  
   This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to this
provision. 
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  no
  yes  . State-mandated local program:  no
  yes  .


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

   SECTION 1.    Section 713 is added to the  
Public Utilities Code   , to read:  
   713.  (a) The commission shall ensure that all applications for
the California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) and the Universal
Lifeline Telephone Service (ULTS) programs include information about
the applicant's eligibility to qualify for the federal Earned Income
Tax Credit.
   (b) The information described in subdivision (a) may be included
on a separate sheet in the same envelope that the application for the
CARE or ULTS program is sent.
   (c) CARE and ULTS applicants shall be provided with information
about all of the following pursuant to this section:
   (1) The federal Earned Income Tax Credit requirements.
   (2) The potential benefit to the applicant's tax return.
   (3) Contact information about where they can receive further
information. 
   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.  
  SECTION 1.    Section 201 of the Revenue and
Taxation Code is amended to read:
   201.  All property in this state that is not exempt under the laws
of the United States or of this state is subject to taxation under
this code.