BILL NUMBER: SB 1488	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Bowen

                        FEBRUARY 19, 2004

   An act to amend Section 583 of the Public Utilities Code, relating
to the Public Utilities Commission.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 1488, as introduced, Bowen.  Public Utilities Commission:
public information.
   Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory
authority over public utilities.  Every public utility is required
to furnish such reports as the commission may require.  No
information furnished to the commission by a public utility, except
those matters specifically required to be open to public inspection,
are open to public inspection or made public except by order of the
commission or a commissioner in the course of a hearing or
proceeding.  Any present or former officer or employee of the
commission who divulges any information in violation of these
provisions is guilty of a misdemeanor.
   This bill would provide that all information furnished to the
commission by a public utility, except those matters specifically
required to be closed to public inspection, are open to public
inspection and may not be withheld from public inspection except by
order of the commission or a commissioner in the course of a hearing
or proceeding.  The bill would further provide that any present or
former officer or employee of the commission who divulges information
made confidential by the commission is guilty of a misdemeanor.
   Vote:  majority.  Appropriation:  no.  Fiscal committee:  yes.
State-mandated local program:  no.


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


  SECTION 1.  Section 583 of the Public Utilities Code is amended to
read:
   583.   No   All  information furnished
to the commission by a public utility, or any business which is a
subsidiary or affiliate of a public utility, or a corporation which
holds a controlling interest in a public utility, except those
matters specifically required to be  open  
closed  to public inspection by this part, shall be open to
public inspection  or made public   and may not
be withheld from public inspection  except on order of the
commission, or by the commission or a commissioner in the course of a
hearing or proceeding.  Any present or former officer or employee of
the commission who divulges  any such  information
 made confidential by the commission  is guilty of a
misdemeanor.