BILL NUMBER: SB 1858	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  APRIL 29, 2004
	AMENDED IN SENATE  MARCH 25, 2004

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Dunn

                        FEBRUARY 20, 2004

   An act to add Section 451.5 to the Public Utilities Code, relating
to the statewide emergency telephone system.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 1858, as amended, Dunn.  Telephone corporations:  statewide
emergency telephone system.
   Existing law generally sets forth the criteria governing the
statewide "911" emergency telephone system.   Under 
 The existing Emergency Telephone Users Surcharge Act
generally imposes a surcharge on amounts paid by every person in the
state for intrastate telephone service to fund "911" emergency
telephone system costs.  Surcharge amounts are paid to the State
Board of Equalization by the telephone service supplier, and are
deposited into the State Treasury to the credit of the State
Emergency Telephone Number Account in the General Fund, for
appropriation by the Legislature solely for certain purposes
associated with the "911" emergency telephone number system,
including the payment of bills submitted by service suppliers for the
installation of, and ongoing expenses for, that system. 

   Under  existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has
regulatory authority over public utilities, including telephone
corporations, and authorizes the commission to fix just and
reasonable rates and charges, and requires that all charges demanded
or received by any public utility for any product or commodity
furnished or any service rendered  by  be 
just and reasonable.
   This bill would require the commission to  ensure that all
funds paid to a telephone corporation from the State Emergency
Telephone Number Account, are reflective of charges that 
 review the rates and charges by telephone corporations for "911"
emergency telephone service to ensure that those rates and charges
 are just and reasonable.
   Vote:  majority.  Appropriation:  no.  Fiscal committee:  no.
State-mandated local program:  no.


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


  SECTION 1.  Section 451.5 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to
read:
   451.5.   The commission shall ensure that all funds paid
to a telephone corporation from the State Emergency Telephone Number
Account pursuant to the Emergency Telephone Users Surcharge Act (Part
20 (commencing with Section 41001) of Division 2 of the Revenue and
Taxation Code), are reflective of charges that are just and
reasonable.   The commission shall review the rates and
charges by telephone corporations for "911" emergency telephone
service to ensure that those rates and charges are just and
reasonable.