BILL NUMBER: SB 1055	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  MAY 22, 2001

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Morrow

                        FEBRUARY 23, 2001

   An act to amend Section 2772 of the Public Utilities Code,
relating to public utilities  , and declaring the urgency
thereof, to take effect immediately  .


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 1055, as amended, Morrow.  Public Utilities Commission:
customer priorities:  health facilities.
    Existing 
    (1) Existing  law requires the Public Utilities
Commission to establish priorities among the types or categories of
customers of every electrical corporation and every gas corporation.
Existing law requires the commission to include specified
considerations when establishing these priorities.
   This bill would require the commission to include as a
consideration when establishing these priorities a determination that
certain health facilities shall have access to uninterruptible
supplies of electricity.  
   (2) This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately
as an urgency statue. 
   Vote:   majority   2/3  .
Appropriation:  no.  Fiscal committee:  yes. State-mandated local
program:  no.


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


  SECTION 1.  Section 2772 of the Public Utilities Code is amended to
read:
   2772.  In establishing the priorities pursuant to Section 2771,
the commission shall include, but not be limited to, a consideration
of all the following:
   (a) A determination of the customers and uses of electricity and
gas, in descending order of priority, that provide the most important
public benefits and serve the greatest public need.
   (b) A determination of the customers and uses of electricity and
gas that are not included under subdivision (a).
   (c) A determination of the economic, social, and other effects of
a temporary discontinuance in electrical or gas service to the
customers or for the uses determined in accordance with subdivision
(a) or (b).
   (d) Any curtailment or allocation rules, orders, or regulations
issued by any agency of the federal government.
   (e) A determination that any nursing facility  , 
 or  skilled nursing facility  , and intermediate
care facility/developmentally disabled nursing  , as defined
pursuant to Section 1250 of the Health and Safety Code shall have
access to uninterruptible supplies of electricity.   
  SECTION 2.  This act is an urgency statute necessary for the
immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within
the meaning of Article IV of the Constitution and shall go into
immediate effect. The facts constituting the necessity are: 

   In order to immediately protect the elderly and disabled residents
who reside in the states 1,200 skilled nursing facilities and who
depend on the facility's ability to provide quality care in a safe,
low stress environment, and to maintain temperature control,
lighting, infection control and the use of technologically advanced
medical equipment, it is necessary that this act take effect
immediately.