BILL NUMBER: AB 909 CHAPTERED BILL TEXT CHAPTER 565 FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE SEPTEMBER 29, 2003 APPROVED BY GOVERNOR SEPTEMBER 28, 2003 PASSED THE ASSEMBLY SEPTEMBER 2, 2003 PASSED THE SENATE AUGUST 28, 2003 AMENDED IN SENATE JULY 15, 2003 AMENDED IN SENATE JULY 2, 2003 AMENDED IN SENATE JUNE 18, 2003 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 and repeal Section 2898 of the Public Utilities Code, relating to telecommunications. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 909, Reyes. Telecommunications: local and long-distance service. 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, until January 1, 2007, would require that every incumbent local exchange carrier and competitive local exchange carrier provide, upon request and without charge, to customers electing to purchase a service package for both local and long-distance service, or for customers that buy a set number of minutes for a fixed price, a breakdown showing the total minutes of use in the billing period listed under one telephone number for toll and long-distance service. 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. 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. (a) Every incumbent local exchange carrier and competitive local exchange carrier shall provide, upon request and without charge, to customers electing to purchase any service package that includes both local and long-distance service, or for customers that buy a set number of minutes for a fixed price, a breakdown showing the total minutes of use in the billing period listed under one telephone number for toll and long-distance service. (b) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2007, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2007, deletes or extends that date. 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.