BILL ANALYSIS
AB 1734
Page 1
CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
AB 1734 (Wright)
As Amended May 13, 2002
2/3 vote
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|ASSEMBLY: | |(May 10, 2001) |SENATE: |38-0 |(May 16, 2002) |
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(vote not relevent)
Original Committee Reference: U. & C.
SUMMARY : Modifies the Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications
Program (DDTP) within the California Public Utilities Commission
(PUC).
The Senate amendments delete the Assembly version of this bill,
and instead:
1)Authorize PUC, subject to annual appropriation of funds by the
Legislature, to contract with others to operate Deaf and
Disabled Telecommunications Program (DDTP), and makes related
findings and declarations.
2)As of July 1, 2003, rename the Deaf and Disabled
Telecommunications Program Administrative Committee as the
Telecommunications Access for Deaf and Disabled Administrative
Committee (hereafter "committee").
3)Require PUC to establish qualifications for the specifying
that at least two-thirds of the committee members shall be
deaf or disabled.
4)State the intent of the Legislature that existing members of
the committee should serve out their current terms, but not
beyond July 1, 2003.
5)Require the committee to make recommendations to PUC for
administration and governance of DDTP, including
recommendations for the establishment of a designated office
and program function, within state government, that is staffed
in a manner to provide expert oversight and governance to
ensure the long-term integrity of DDTP.
6)Specify that, commencing July 1, 2003, any increased staffing
AB 1734
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costs incurred by PUC for the oversight and administration of
DDTP be funded by the Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications
Program Administrative Committee Fund.
7)Delay transfer of program funds from PUC to the committee fund
in the State Treasury until July 1, 2003, by which time the
committee must develop a transition plan for program
administration and governance and submit it to PUC.
8)Permit PUC to enter into personal service contracts under
state civil service law for telecommunication services for the
deaf and disabled community.
9)Require PUC to employ staff overseeing DDTP who are members of
the deaf and disabled community, to the extent feasible and
consistent with state civil service requirements.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Creates DDTP to enable and subsidize telecommunications
service for the deaf, hearing impaired, and handicapped.
Among other things, DDTP provides telecommunications services
and equipment to persons who are deaf or disabled.
2)Establishes the committee to advise PUC regarding the
implementation and administration of DDTP.
3)Created a fund in the State Treasury to receive money in
support of DDTP and to disburse monies to pay for it. PUC is
required to transfer funding for these programs from a
PUC-administered account to this account by July 1, 2002.
AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY , this bill set forth a policy for
encouraging the development and deployment of infrastructure to
support new technologies for provision of telecommunications
services in a way that efficiently meets consumer need and
encourages availability of state-of-the-art services.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Senate Appropriations
Committee, potential increased costs, offset by surcharge
revenues, and potential cost savings, beginning in 2003,
attributable owing to the changes to the committee structure.
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COMMENTS : DDTP was established about 20 years ago and provides
telecommunications services to approximately 500,000 persons who
are deaf, hearing impaired, or handicapped. The committee
advises PUC on the administration of the program. DDTPAC's
budget is approximately $2.6 million. It is estimated that
three million people may be eligible for service. The current
program budget is approximately $56 million, but is projected to
be $69 million in 2002-03, accounting for an already approved
expansion in relay service. DDTP revenues are derived from a
surcharge on all intrastate telecommunications billings.
PUC has long administered programs to assist the deaf and
disabled in using telephone service. The programs provide
specialized telecommunications equipment, discounted telephone
rates, and a translator service, known as a dual-party relay
service, through which the deaf can communicate with others.
Funding for these programs is provided by a surcharge on
telecommunications service, which has been kept in accounts
administered by PUC.
These programs are currently contracted out to private vendors,
with the committee providing advice and program administration
to PUC.
SB 669 (Polanco), Chapter 677, Statutes of 1999, was enacted to
move this account, as well as all specially funded
telecommunications accounts, from PUC into the state treasury.
The transfer of funds into the state treasury meant that fund
administrators and programmatic employees could no longer be
contracted out without legislative authorization, a restriction
affecting 94 employees. Consequently, SB 669 also required PUC
to develop a plan to have the programs administered by state
employees instead of being contracted out.
PUC's transition plan suggested three approaches to changing the
current system:
1)Converting the administrative and programmatic employees into
PUC state employees.
2)Secure authority to contract out for the services.
3)Transfer the employees to another state agency serving the
disabled.
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This bill authorizes PUC, subject to annual appropriation of
funds by the Legislature, to contract with others to operate the
telecommunications programs for the deaf, hearing impaired, and
disabled.
This bill was substantially amended in the Senate and the
Assembly-approved provisions of this bill were deleted. This
bill as amended is not consistent with the Assembly version of
this bill.
Analysis prepared by : Paul Donahue / U. & C. / (916) 319-2083
FN: 0004876