BILL NUMBER: AB 909	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 1, 2003
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 23, 2003
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 10, 2003

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Reyes

                        FEBRUARY 20, 2003

   An act to add Section 2898 to the Public Utilities Code, relating
to telecommunications.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 909, as amended, Reyes.  Telecommunications.
   Existing law empowers the Public Utilities Commission to regulate
telecommunications services.  The Telecommunications Customer Service
Act of 1993 requires the commission to require telephone
corporations to provide certain customer services to
telecommunications customers, and authorizes the commission to
require telephone corporations to provide additional services.
   This bill would require  that every incumbent local exchange
carrier and competitive local exchange carrier provide customers
electing to purchase a service package for both local and
long-distance service, a breakdown separately showing the charge for
local telephone service and  usage  total
monthly usage listed under one telephone number  for
long-distance service, as part of their regular billings.  Because
violation of an order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or
requirement of the commission is a crime under existing law, the bill
would impose a state-mandated local program by creating a new crime.

  The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local
agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state.  Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement.
   This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this
act for a specified reason.
   Vote:  majority.  Appropriation:  no.  Fiscal committee:  yes.
State-mandated local program:  yes.


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


  SECTION 1.  The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
   (a) The telecommunications industry is evolving towards offering
to consumers various package options, which include local, regional,
and long-distance service.
   (b) Consumers have a right to make intelligent and informed
decisions relative to what telecommunications services they wish to
purchase.
   (c) Consumers are able to make intelligent and informed decisions
relative to what telecommunications services they wish to purchase,
only when they are able to determine how much they are being charged
for local and long distance calling.
  SEC. 2.  Section 2898 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to
read:
   2898.  Every incumbent local exchange carrier and competitive
local exchange carrier shall provide, to customers electing to
purchase any service package that includes both local and
long-distance service, a breakdown separately showing the charge for
local telephone service and  usage   total
monthly usage listed under one telephone number  for
long-distance service, as part of their regular billings.
  SEC. 3.  No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to
Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because
the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school
district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or
infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty
for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the
Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the
meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California
Constitution.