BILL ANALYSIS
Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
AB 301 (Wright)
Hearing Date: 8/23/99 Amended: 7/7/99
Consultant: Bob Franzoia Policy Vote: E,U&C 11-0
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BILL SUMMARY:
AB 301 would require the Public Utilities Commission (PUC)
to modify its rules to permit interested parties to
petition the commission to adopt, amend, or repeal a
regulation. The bill would provide the commission with a
six-month period during which the commission may consider
the petition and either deny the petition or institute a
proceeding. The bill would appropriate $136,435 from the
PUC Utilities Reimbursement Account to fund the cost of the
bill for six months.
Fiscal Impact (in thousands)
Major Provisions 1999-00 2000-01 2001-02
Fund
Regulation review $286 annuallySpecial*
Appropriation $136 Special*
* PUC Utilities Reimbursement Account
STAFF COMMENTS:
This bill meets the criteria to be placed on the Suspense
file.
If the PUC grants one of the petitions authorized by the
bill, it would open a rulemaking proceeding to consider
adoption, amendment, or repeal of the regulation. The PUC
has 31 open rulemaking proceedings. Over the past two
years, it has opened on its own motion 23 rulemakings or
approximately 12 rulemakings annually.
The PUC estimates the bill will result in one additional
petition per month. Of those, the PUC estimates that 25
percent of the petitions will result in additional
rulemaking proceedings annually.
The appropriation would fund PUC costs for the period from
January 1, 2000 to June 30, 2000.