Bill Text: TX HB1475 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to telecommunications service discounts for educational institutions, libraries, hospitals, and telemedicine centers.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 11-2)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-04-14 - Withdrawn from schedule [HB1475 Detail]
Download: Texas-2015-HB1475-Introduced.html
84R8080 CBH-D | ||
By: Aycock | H.B. No. 1475 |
|
||
|
||
relating to telecommunications service discounts for educational | ||
institutions, libraries, hospitals, and telemedicine centers. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Section 58.258(a), Utilities Code, is amended to | ||
read as follows: | ||
(a) Notwithstanding the pricing flexibility authorized by | ||
this subtitle, an electing company's rates for private network | ||
services may not be increased before January 1, 2024 [ |
||
However, an electing company may increase a rate in accordance with | ||
the provisions of a customer specific contract. | ||
SECTION 2. Section 58.268, Utilities Code, is amended to | ||
read as follows: | ||
Sec. 58.268. CONTINUATION OF OBLIGATION. Notwithstanding | ||
any other provision of this title, an electing company shall | ||
continue to comply with this subchapter until January 1, 2024 | ||
[ |
||
(1) the date the company elected under this chapter; | ||
or | ||
(2) any action taken in relation to that company under | ||
Chapter 65. | ||
SECTION 3. Section 59.077(a), Utilities Code, is amended to | ||
read as follows: | ||
(a) Notwithstanding the pricing flexibility authorized by | ||
this subtitle, an electing company's rates for private network | ||
services may not be increased before January 1, 2024 [ |
||
SECTION 4. Section 59.083, Utilities Code, is amended to | ||
read as follows: | ||
Sec. 59.083. CONTINUATION OF OBLIGATION. Notwithstanding | ||
any other provision of this title, an electing company shall | ||
continue to comply with this subchapter until January 1, 2024 | ||
[ |
||
(1) the date the company elected under this chapter; | ||
or | ||
(2) any action taken in relation to that company under | ||
Chapter 65. | ||
SECTION 5. Section 65.102, Utilities Code, is amended by | ||
adding Subsection (e) to read as follows: | ||
(e) This section does not affect an infrastructure | ||
commitment under Chapter 58 or 59. | ||
SECTION 6. (a) The amendment made by this Act to Section | ||
65.102, Utilities Code, is a clarification of existing law and does | ||
not imply that existing Section 65.102, Utilities Code, may be | ||
construed as inconsistent with Section 65.102, Utilities Code, as | ||
amended by this Act. | ||
(b) The legislature finds and declares that: | ||
(1) it was not the intent of the legislature in | ||
enacting any law, including Chapter 98 (S.B. 980), Acts of the 82nd | ||
Legislature, Regular Session, 2011, or Chapter 210 (S.B. 259), Acts | ||
of the 83rd Legislature, Regular Session, 2013, to supersede or | ||
impliedly repeal Section 58.268 or 59.083, Utilities Code, or | ||
otherwise to negate the continuing infrastructure obligation of a | ||
deregulated company; | ||
(2) a deregulated company that charged a rate or | ||
provided a service on or after September 1, 2011, that did not | ||
comply with the company's continuing infrastructure obligation | ||
failed to comply with the requirements of Title 2, Utilities Code, | ||
and shall refund or credit to each affected customer all money that | ||
has been paid by the customer in excess of the amount allowed under | ||
Subchapter G, Chapter 58, or Subchapter D, Chapter 59, Utilities | ||
Code, as appropriate; and | ||
(3) the Public Utility Commission of Texas has the | ||
jurisdiction and authority to and shall: | ||
(A) take appropriate action under Chapter 15, | ||
Utilities Code, and other applicable law to require compliance with | ||
Title 2, Utilities Code, and this Act; and | ||
(B) impose appropriate penalties for the failure | ||
to comply with Title 2, Utilities Code, and this Act. | ||
SECTION 7. 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, 2015. |