BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                  AB 1735
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   May 21, 2003

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                              Darrell Steinberg, Chair

            AB 1735 (Utilities and Commerce Committee) - As Amended:  May  
                                      8, 2003 

          Policy Committee:                              Utilities and  
          Commerce Committee                            Vote: 13-0

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:  
          No     Reimbursable:               

           SUMMARY  

          This bill requires the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to  
          resolve ratesetting or quasi-legislative (policy making) cases  
          within 18 months of the filing date unless the commission makes  
          a written determination stating the reasons it is unable to meet  
          this deadline.

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          Absorbable special fund costs for the PUC to provide written  
          explanations in those instances when it does not meet the  
          18-month deadline.  (The commission's ability to meet the  
          deadline will depend in part on the balance between the  
          commission's workload and staff resources provided through the  
          state budget process.)

           COMMENTS  

           Purpose  .  SB 960 (Leonard)-Chapter 856, Statutes of 1996 in part  
          provided an uncodified statement of legislative intent, stating  
          that: "It is further the intent of the Legislature that the  
          Public Utilities Commission establish reasonable time periods  
          for the resolution of proceedings, that it meet those deadlines,  
          that those deadlines not exceed 18 months and be consistent with  
          the rate case plans, whichever is shorter."  This bill codifies  
          the 18-month deadline for ratesetting and quasi-legislative  
          proceedings. 

           Analysis Prepared by  :    Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916) 319-2081