BILL ANALYSIS
Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
------------------------------------------------------------
| |1563(Polanco) |
|-------------------------------+----------------------------|
| | |
|-------------------------------+----------------------------|
|Hearing Date: 5/13/02 |Amended: 4/30/02 |
|-------------------------------+----------------------------|
|Consultant: Lisa Matocq |Policy Vote: E, U & C 8-0 |
| | |
| | |
------------------------------------------------------------
____________________________________________________________
___
BILL SUMMARY:
SB 1563 requires the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to,
by February 1, 2004, submit a report to the Governor and
Legislature identifying where telecommunications
infrastructure is inadequate, and recommending strategies
for encouraging investment in infrastructure, as specified.
Fiscal Impact (in thousands)
Major Provisions 2002-03 2003-04
2004-05 Fund
Proceedings and report Unknown costs, probably under $150.
Special*
Increased costs should be offset by
fee revenues.
*Public Utilities' Reimbursement Account (PURA)
STAFF COMMENTS:
In preparing the report, the PUC is required to convene a
specified proceeding.
The bill also modifies the legislative findings in the
Public Utilities Act which identify California's policies
for telecommunications, by adding two policies:
"to assist in bridging the 'digital divide' by
encouraging expanded access to state-of-the-art
technologies by rural, inner city, low-income, and
disabled Californians"
"to encourage fair treatment of consumers through the
provision of sufficient information for making informed
choices, establishment of reasonable service quality
standards, and establishment of processes for equitable
resolution of billing and service problems"
PURA revenues are derived from an annual fee imposed on
utilities. Therefore, any increased costs should be offset
by fee revenues. Costs are based on similar proceedings
and reports.