BILL NUMBER: AB 1200	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 23, 2001
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 19, 2001
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 16, 2001

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Cardenas
   (Coauthors:  Assembly Members Briggs, Calderon, Diaz, Frommer,
Goldberg, Havice, Kelley, Robert Pacheco, Pescetti, Strickland, and
Vargas)
   (Coauthors:  Senators Alarcon, Polanco, 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:
telecommunications.
   Existing law authorizes the Public Utilities 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 telecommunications matters by the commission without  unduly
 compromising the ability of the commission to protect consumers
and to  develop   promote  and maintain
 any  competitive markets.  The bill would 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
in a manner consistent with the  duty of the commission to
protect ratepayers and the development and maintenance of any
competitive markets.   duties of the commission,
including the duties to protect consumers, and promote and maintain
competitive markets as provided in existing law. 
   (b) Telecommunications consumers in California further benefit by
equity and fairness in the regulation and oversight of competitive
telecommunications markets.
   (c) In assessing the equity and fairness of its regulations, the
commission should take into account  , among other factors, 
differences in the competitiveness of 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
telecommunications matters by the commission without  unduly
 compromising the ability of the commission to protect consumers
and to  develop and maintain any   promote and
maintain  competitive markets.  The issues to be addressed shall
include, but are  not  limited to, all of the following:
   (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.
   (3) How to ensure that new services can be brought to customers as
quickly as possible.
   (4) How to provide more flexibility to utilities in providing
their services and meeting competition.
   (5) What matters that are currently handled under an application
process should instead be handled under rules governing informal
filings.
   (b) The commission shall submit a report on the study required by
subdivision (a) to the Legislature on or before May 1, 2002.