Bill Text: TX HB3641 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to billing for telephone service during service interruptions and establishing reporting requirements.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-03-25 - Left pending in committee [HB3641 Detail]
Download: Texas-2019-HB3641-Introduced.html
| By: Murr | H.B. No. 3641 | |
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| relating to billing for telephone service during service | ||
| interruptions and establishing reporting requirements. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Section 64.053, Utilities Code, is amended to | ||
| read as follows: | ||
| (a) The commission may require a telecommunications service | ||
| provider to submit reports to the commission concerning any matter | ||
| over which it has authority under this chapter. | ||
| (b) The commission shall adopt rules requiring | ||
| telecommunications service providers to report significant | ||
| interruptions of service that occur as a result of any hurricane, | ||
| ice or snow storm, flood, or other weather-related event or natural | ||
| disaster. The rules may require telecommunications service | ||
| providers to submit plans for service restoration for service | ||
| interruptions lasting longer than 72 hours. | ||
| SECTION 2. Chapter 64, Utilities Code, is amended by adding | ||
| Subchapter F, as follows: | ||
| SUBCHAPTER F. PROTECTION AGAINST UNFAIR CHARGES | ||
| Sec. 64.301. BILLING DURING SERVICE INTERRUPTIONS | ||
| (a) A telecommunications service provider shall not bill a | ||
| customer for services during periods when service to the customer | ||
| has been interrupted as a result of any hurricane, ice or snow | ||
| storm, flood, or other weather-related event or natural disaster. | ||
| (b) The commission has the authority to enforce this | ||
| section, including ordering refunds. | ||
| SECTION 3. Section 65.102(b), Utilities Code, is amended to | ||
| read as follows: | ||
| (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, the | ||
| commission has only the authority provided by this section over a | ||
| deregulated company that holds a certificate of operating authority | ||
| issued under this subchapter. Subject to Subsection (c), the | ||
| following provisions apply to a deregulated company and may be | ||
| enforced by the commission using the remedies provided by | ||
| Subchapter B, Chapter 15, and Subsection (d): | ||
| (1) Subchapter A, Chapter 15; | ||
| (2) Subchapters A, C, and D, Chapter 17, as applicable | ||
| to carriers holding a certificate of operating authority; | ||
| (3) Sections 52.007, 52.060, and 52.156; | ||
| (4) Sections 54.001, 54.002, 54.003, 54.004, 54.005, | ||
| 54.006, 54.008(a), 54.101, 54.102, 54.103, 54.105, 54.151, 54.156, | ||
| 54.158, 54.159, 54.255, 54.256, 54.257, 54.259, 54.260, and 54.261; | ||
| (5) Sections 55.010, 55.123, 55.133, 55.134, 55.136, | ||
| and 55.137; | ||
| (6) Chapter 56, except Subchapters F and G; | ||
| (7) Chapter 60; | ||
| (8) Chapter 62; | ||
| (9) Section 64.002, Section 64.053, and Subchapters E, | ||
| and F, Chapter 64; | ||
| (10) Sections 65.001, 65.002, 65.003, and 65.004, this | ||
| subchapter, and Subchapter E of this chapter; and | ||
| (11) Chapter 66. | ||
| SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. | ||
