SB 129 — Deaf and disabled telecommunications program.

Summary

(1) Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory authority over public utilities, including telephone corporations. Existing law requires the commission to oversee administration of the state's telecommunications universal service programs, including the deaf and disabled programs, which are funded through the Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications Program Administrative Committee Fund. Existing law, until January 1, 2014, requires the commission to establish a surcharge, not to exceed 0.5%, that is uniformly applied to a subscriber's intrastate telephone service charges to allow providers of the equipment and service provided pursuant to the deaf and disabled programs to recover their costs. Existing law, until January 1, 2016, requires the commission to submit a report on the fiscal status of the programs to the Legislature on or before December 31 of each year. Existing law requires the report to include, among other things, an evaluation of options for controlling program expenses and program efficiency, as specified. This bill would extend imposition of the surcharge until January 1, 2020. The bill would extend the reporting requirements until January 1, 2021, and would require the commission to submit the report to the Legislature on or before March 1 of each year. This bill would also require the report to include an evaluation of any modification to the program that would maximize participation and funding opportunities under similar federal programs. As part of the report that is due no later than March 1, 2014, this bill would require the commission to evaluate options for controlling the program costs of providing speech-generating devices, and include any information on barriers to participation by eligible subscribers. (2) Existing law requires the commission to design and implement a program to provide access to a speech-generating telecommunications device to any subscriber who is certified as having a speech disability at no charge additional to the basic exchange rate. Existing law also requires the commission to expand the deaf and disabled program to include assistance to individuals with speech disabilities, including assistance in purchasing speech-generating devices, accessories, and mounting systems, and specialized telecommunications equipment. This bill would delete the first provision, described above, that requires the commission to expand the program to include assistance to individuals with speech disabilities, including assistance in purchasing speech-generating devices, accessories, and mounting systems, and specialized telecommunications equipment. (3) Existing law states the intent of the Legislature that existing members of the Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications Program Administrative Committee should serve out their current terms of office as members of the committee, but not to exceed July 1, 2003. Existing law requires the committee to develop and submit, not later that October 1, 2002, recommendations to the commission for administration and governance of the deaf and disabled programs, as prescribed. The bill would repeal these provisions. (4) Under the Public Utilities Act, a violation of any order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the commission by a public utility is a crime. Because the bill would require an order or decision of the commission to extend the surcharge funding the deaf and disabled programs and because a violation of these requirements would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program by expanding the definition of a crime. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.

Bill Text

• Chaptered 09/23/13 - Chaptered Current pdf September 23, 2013
• Enrolled 09/09/13 - Enrolled pdf September 09, 2013
• Amended 06/05/13 - Amended Assembly pdf June 05, 2013
• Amended 04/30/13 - Amended Senate pdf April 30, 2013
• Amended 04/23/13 - Amended Senate pdf April 23, 2013
• Amended 04/16/13 - Amended Senate pdf April 16, 2013
• Introduced 01/23/13 - Introduced pdf January 23, 2013
• SB129 View text html

Action History

1. September 23, 2013

   Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 332, Statutes of 2013.

2. September 23, 2013

   Approved by the Governor.

3. September 11, 2013

   Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.

4. September 06, 2013

   Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 37. Noes 0. Page 2167.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.

5. September 06, 2013

   Reconsideration granted. (Ayes 37. Noes 0. Page 2167.)

6. September 06, 2013

   Motion to reconsider made by Senator Wright.

7. September 06, 2013

   Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 35. Noes 0. Page 2165.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.

8. September 05, 2013

   In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.

9. September 04, 2013

   Read third time. Urgency clause adopted. Passed. (Ayes 72. Noes 1. Page 2870.) Ordered to the Senate.

10. September 03, 2013

    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

11. August 30, 2013

    From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 16. Noes 0.) (August 30).

12. July 03, 2013

    Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.

13. June 18, 2013

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (June 17). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

14. June 05, 2013

    From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on U. & C.

15. May 24, 2013

    Referred to Com. on U. & C.

16. May 13, 2013

    In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.

17. May 13, 2013

    Read third time. Urgency clause adopted. Passed. (Ayes 34. Noes 0. Page 904.) Ordered to the Assembly.

18. May 07, 2013

    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

19. May 06, 2013

    From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 6. Noes 1. Page 816.) (May 6).

20. April 30, 2013

    From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

21. April 26, 2013

    Set for hearing May 6.

22. April 25, 2013

    Hearing postponed by committee.

23. April 23, 2013

    From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

24. April 19, 2013

    Set for hearing April 29.

25. April 16, 2013

    Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

26. April 15, 2013

    From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 0. Page 389.) (April 2).

27. March 12, 2013

    Set for hearing April 2.

28. January 31, 2013

    Referred to Com. on E., U., & C.

29. January 24, 2013

    From printer. May be acted upon on or after February 23.

30. January 23, 2013

    Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Sponsors

• Gomez · Cosponsor
• Wright · Primary

Votes

Subjects