Bill Text: OR SB203 | 2013 | Regular Session | Enrolled

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Bill Title: Relating to low income customers of telecommunication services; and declaring an emergency.

Spectrum: Unknown

Status: (Passed) 2013-04-12 - Effective date, April 5, 2013. [SB203 Detail]

Download: Oregon-2013-SB203-Enrolled.html

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     77th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2013 Regular Session

                            Enrolled

                         Senate Bill 203

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,
  M.D., for Public Utility Commission)

                     CHAPTER ................

                             AN ACT

Relating to low income customers of telecommunication services;
  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, section 25, chapter 599, Oregon Laws 2009,
and section 1, chapter 77, Oregon Laws 2011, 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, - }   { + is in addition to + } 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  { + Public Utility + } 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 203 (SB 203-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: - }   { + has the meaning given
that term by the commission by rule. + }
    { - (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, who receives medical assistance under ORS
chapter 414. - }
    { - (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 2013 Act being necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency
is declared to exist, and this 2013 Act takes effect on its
passage. + }
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Passed by Senate February 7, 2013

    .............................................................
                               Robert Taylor, Secretary of Senate

    .............................................................
                              Peter Courtney, President of Senate

Passed by House March 28, 2013

    .............................................................
                                     Tina Kotek, Speaker of House

Enrolled Senate Bill 203 (SB 203-INTRO)                    Page 2

Received by Governor:

......M.,............., 2013

Approved:

......M.,............., 2013

    .............................................................
                                         John Kitzhaber, Governor

Filed in Office of Secretary of State:

......M.,............., 2013

    .............................................................
                                   Kate Brown, Secretary of State

Enrolled Senate Bill 203 (SB 203-INTRO)                    Page 3