BILL NUMBER: AB 1200	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 16, 2001

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Cardenas
    (Coauthors:  Assembly Members Briggs, Calderon, Diaz,
Frommer, Kelley, Pescetti, and Vargas) 
    (Coauthors:  Senators Alarcon and Soto) 

                        FEBRUARY 23, 2001

   An act to add Section 706 to the Public Utilities Code, relating
to public utilities.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1200, as amended, Cardenas.  Public Utilities Commission.
   Existing law authorizes the Public Utility Commission to supervise
and regulate every public utility in the state and to do all things
that are necessary and convenient in the exercise of that power and
jurisdiction.  Pursuant to its powers, the commission has issued
orders and regulations.
   This bill would require the commission to conduct a study as to
the ways to amend, revise, and improve rules governing the handling
of  informal   telecommunications  matters
by the commission.  The bill would  expressly authorize the
commission to revise the rules subject to the study without prior
approval of the Legislature   require the study to
include an evaluation of whether the commission should regulate any
service, except local exchange service, offered by incumbent local
exchange carriers differently than it regulates any comparable
service offered by competitive local exchange carriers.   The
bill would require the commission to submit a report on the study to
the Legislature on or before May 1, 2002.
   Vote:  majority.  Appropriation:  no.  Fiscal committee:  yes.
State-mandated local program:  no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  The Legislature finds and declares as follows:
   (a) The people of California benefit when telecommunications
providers are permitted to offer new, enhanced, and improved services
to telecommunications consumers on the most expedited basis
possible.
   (b) Telecommunications consumers in California further benefit by
increased equity and fairness in the regulation and oversight of
California's competitive telecommunications markets.
  SEC. 2.  Section 706 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to
read:
   706.  (a) The commission shall conduct a study as to the ways to
amend, revise, and improve rules governing the handling of 
informal   telecommunications  matters by the
commission.  The issues to be addressed  shall include, but not be
limited to, all of the following:  
   (1) How the commission's General Order No. 96-A relating to the
filing and posting of schedules of rates, rules, and contracts should
be revised to reflect major changes in telecommunications.
   (2) How timeframes for reviewing matters at the commission can be
reduced.
   (3)  
   (1)  How to ensure equity in application of the rules among
competitors so that no provider has an undue competitive advantage.
 This portion of the study shall include an evaluation of whether
the commission should regulate any service, except local exchange
service, offered by incumbent local exchange carriers differently
than it regulates any comparable service offered by competitive local
exchange carriers.  If it is determined that any service or category
of services warrants differential regulatory treatment, the study
shall identify the basis on which differential treatment is warranted
and the nature of the differential treatment.
   (2) How the commission can reduce the time for reviewing matters,
including, but not limited to, advice letters, applications,
complaints, rulemakings, and investigations.  
   (4)  
   (3)  How to ensure that new services can be brought to
customers as quickly as possible.  
   (5)  
   (4)  How to provide more flexibility to utilities in
providing their services and meeting competition.  
   (6)  
   (5)  What matters that are currently handled under an
application process should instead be handled under rules governing
informal filings.  
   (b) The commission may revise the rules studied in subdivision (a)
without prior approval of the Legislature.
   (c)  
   (b)  The commission shall submit a report on the study
required by subdivision (a) to the Legislature on or before May 1,
2002.