Bill Text: TX HB3379 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Comm Sub
Bill Title: Relating to the eligibility process for customer service benefits.
Sponsorship: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-05-05 - Laid on the table subject to call [HB3379 Detail]
Download: Texas-2017-HB3379-Comm_Sub.html
| By: Paddie, Giddings, Perez, Meyer | H.B. No. 3379 | |
|
|
||
|
|
||
| relating to the eligibility process for customer service benefits. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Section 17.007, Utilities Code, is amended to | ||
| read as follows: | ||
| ELIGIBILITY PROCESS FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE |
||
| [ |
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
| Human Services, on request of the commission, shall assist in | ||
| developing an automatic process to provide for identification of | ||
| low-income customers to retail electric providers and certified | ||
| telecommunications utilities to enable those providers to offer | ||
| customer service, discounts, bill payment assistance, or other | ||
| methods of assistance. The commissioner and the Texas Department | ||
| of Health and Human Services shall continue the memorandum of | ||
| understanding in effect on January 1, 2017 that establishes the | ||
| respective duties of the commission and the department in relation | ||
| to the automatic process, and may amend the memorandum of | ||
| understanding as necessary to achieve the goals of this section. | ||
| a) The commission may not require a retail electric provider | ||
| or certified telecommunications utility to offer customer service | ||
| discounts, bill payment assistance, or other benefits for which the | ||
| provider is not reimbursed. | ||
| SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives | ||
| a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as | ||
| provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this | ||
| Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this | ||
| Act takes effect September 1, 2017. | ||
