Bill Text: OR SB143 | 2011 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Relating to telecommunications service to low income customers; and declaring an emergency.
Sponsorship: Unknown
Status: (Passed) 2011-05-19 - Effective date, May 19, 2011. [SB143 Detail]
Download: Oregon-2011-SB143-Enrolled.html
76th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2011 Regular Session
Enrolled
Senate Bill 143
Printed pursuant to Senate Interim Rule 213.28 by order of the
President of the Senate in conformance with presession filing
rules, indicating neither advocacy nor opposition on the part
of the President (at the request of Governor John A. Kitzhaber
for Public Utility Commission)
CHAPTER ................
AN ACT
Relating to telecommunications service to low income customers;
amending section 6, chapter 290, Oregon Laws 1987; and
declaring an emergency.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1. Section 6, chapter 290, Oregon Laws 1987, as amended
by section 1, chapter 622, Oregon Laws 1991, section 1, chapter
29, Oregon Laws 2007, and section 25, chapter 599, Oregon Laws
2009, is amended to read:
{ + Sec. 6. + } (1) In carrying out the provisions of section
2, chapter 290, Oregon Laws 1987, the Public Utility Commission
shall establish a plan to provide assistance to low income
customers through differential rates or otherwise. The plan of
assistance shall be designed to use, to the maximum extent
possible, the available funding offered by the Federal
Communications Commission, and may provide different levels of
assistance to low income customers based upon differences in
local exchange rates. The plan established by the commission
shall prescribe the amount of assistance to be provided and the
time and manner of payment.
(2) For the purpose of establishing a plan to provide
assistance to low income customers under this section, the
commission shall require all public utilities, cooperative
corporations and unincorporated associations providing local
exchange telecommunication service to participate in the plan,
except as provided in subsection (3) of this section.
(3) In lieu of participation in the commission's plan to assist
low income customers, a public utility, cooperative corporation
or unincorporated association providing local exchange
telecommunication service may apply to the commission to
establish an alternative plan for the purpose of carrying out the
provisions of section 2, chapter 290, Oregon Laws 1987, for its
own customers. The commission shall adopt standards for
determining the adequacy of alternative plans.
(4) The commission may contract with any governmental agency to
assist the commission in the administration of any assistance
plan adopted pursuant to this section.
Enrolled Senate Bill 143 (SB 143-INTRO) Page 1
(5)(a) As used in sections 2 to 6, chapter 290, Oregon Laws
1987, 'low income customer' means an individual determined by the
commission:
(A) To be receiving benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program or from another low income public assistance
program for which eligibility requirements limit participation to
individuals with income that does not exceed 135 percent of
federal poverty guidelines; or
(B) To be a resident of a long term care facility, as defined
in ORS 442.015, or a residential care facility, as defined in ORS
443.400 { + , + } { - : - }
{ - (i) - } who receives medical assistance under ORS
chapter 414 { - ; and - }
{ - (ii) Who has income that does not exceed 135 percent of
federal poverty guidelines - } .
(b) The commission must be able to verify the continuing
participation of a low income customer in a program described in
paragraph (a) of this subsection.
SECTION 2. { + This 2011 Act being necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency
is declared to exist, and this 2011 Act takes effect on its
passage. + }
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Passed by Senate February 17, 2011
.............................................................
Robert Taylor, Secretary of Senate
.............................................................
Peter Courtney, President of Senate
Passed by House May 10, 2011
.............................................................
Bruce Hanna, Speaker of House
.............................................................
Arnie Roblan, Speaker of House
Enrolled Senate Bill 143 (SB 143-INTRO) Page 2
Received by Governor:
......M.,............., 2011
Approved:
......M.,............., 2011
.............................................................
John Kitzhaber, Governor
Filed in Office of Secretary of State:
......M.,............., 2011
.............................................................
Kate Brown, Secretary of State
Enrolled Senate Bill 143 (SB 143-INTRO) Page 3
