BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    




                    Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
                                           1723 (Wright)
          Hearing Date:  8/20/01          Amended: 7/18/01       
          Consultant:  Bob Franzoia           Policy Vote: E, U&C   
          9-0           
          ____________________________________________________________ 
          ___
          BILL SUMMARY: 
          
          AB 1723 would authorize the State Librarian to provide  
          toll-free telephone access to telephonic reading systems  
          for persons with print disabilities.  The bill would  
          authorize the State Librarian to operate a telephonic  
          reading system or fund the operation of such a system  
          operated by qualifying entities.  The bill would  
          appropriate $2,000,000 from the California Teleconnect Fund  
          Administrative Committee Fund to the State Library to fund  
          the seven existing telephonic reading centers until 7/1/02.  
           Any funds appropriated to the State Library, which are not  
          encumbered by 7/1/02, revert to the fund.

                              Fiscal Impact (in thousands)
           
          Major Provisions            2001-02             2002-03              
           2003-04            Fund  
          
          Appropriation      $2,000                          Special*

          California Teleconnect Fund Administrative Committee Fund
          
          STAFF COMMENTS:  
          
          This bill meets the criteria to be placed on the Suspense  
          File.

          The California Teleconnect Fund provided approximately $50  
          million annually of discounted telecommunications services  
          to schools, libraries, hospitals, and community-based  
          organizations, paid for by every California telephone  
          customer via a 0.185 percent surcharge on their bill.   
          Qualifying organizations receive a 50 percent discount off  
          the best rate they can negotiate with competing  
          telecommunication providers.

          Centers in Los Angeles (2), Sacramento (2), Fresno, San  
          Diego, and San Francisco serve an estimated 47,819 print  










          disabled Californian's.  These programs received federal  
          funding through 9/30/00.  State funding was made available  
          for these sites from 10/1/00 to 9/30/01, through an  
          appropriate of $245,000 in the 2000-01 Budget Act.  The  
          centers have statewide toll-free access that costs up to  
          $800,000 annually.  Since the bill requires funding for six  
          months, the appropriation should be for approximately  
          $525,000 for that period.