BILL NUMBER: AB 535	CHAPTERED
	BILL TEXT

	CHAPTER   384
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE   SEPTEMBER 15, 1999
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR   SEPTEMBER 15, 1999
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY   AUGUST 30, 1999
	PASSED THE SENATE   AUGUST 26, 1999
	AMENDED IN SENATE   AUGUST 17, 1999
	AMENDED IN SENATE   JULY 8, 1999
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   MAY 6, 1999
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   APRIL 7, 1999

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Reyes

                        FEBRUARY 18, 1999

   An act to add Section 2889.4 to the Public Utilities Code,
relating to telecommunications.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 535, Reyes.  Telecommunications:  services.
   Existing law requires telephone corporations to provide specified
customer and subscriber services.
   This bill would require a local exchange service provider that
offers and charges for pay per use features that do not require an
access code to be dialed to activate the service to provide a new
residential subscriber, including an existing residential customer
ordering an additional line, during the verbal service order process,
with information about those features.  The bill would require the
representatives of a provider to offer that subscriber blocking
options for these features.  The bill would require a local exchange
service provider that offers these features to advise an existing
residential subscriber who inquires about the features, or who seeks
a bill adjustment for the inadvertent or unauthorized use of those
per use custom calling features, that the features can be blocked,
and to inquire as to whether the subscriber would like to block any
or all of the features.  The bill would require a local exchange
service provider that offers these features to provide a prescribed
notice to all existing residential subscribers not later than May 1,
2000, describing all features provided on a per use basis, the charge
for each activation, any additional charges, and detailed
information about the ability to block these features.  The bill
would provide that a local exchange service subscriber that has not
blocked per use features is entitled to a one-time bill adjustment,
as specified.


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


  SECTION 1.  Section 2889.4 is added to the Public Utilities Code,
to read:
   2889.4.  (a) A local exchange service provider that offers and
charges for pay per use features that do not require an access code
to be dialed to activate the service shall provide a new residential
subscriber, including an existing residential customer ordering an
additional line, during the verbal service order process, with
information about those features.  The representatives of a provider
shall offer that subscriber blocking options for those features.
   (b) (1) A local exchange service provider that offers the features
described in subdivision (a) shall advise an existing residential
subscriber who inquires about the features, or who seeks a bill
adjustment for the inadvertent or unauthorized use of those per use
custom calling features, that the features can be blocked and shall
inquire as to whether the subscriber would like to block any or all
of the features.
   (2) (A) A local exchange service provider that offers the features
described in subdivision (a) shall provide notice to all existing
residential subscribers not later than May 1, 2000, describing all
features provided on a per use basis, the charge for each activation,
any additional usage or other charges, and detailed information
about the ability to block these features.
   (B) The notice shall contain a toll-free number for further
information and shall contain a noticeable postcard size bill insert
that may be returned in the subscriber's bill envelope if they wish
to block any or all of the per use features described in subdivision
(a).
   (c) A local exchange service subscriber that has not blocked per
use features in accordance with this section is entitled to a
one-time bill adjustment which shall equal the sum of the charges for
every incident that occurred during the first billing cycle pursuant
to which the subscriber notifies the local exchange service provider
that inadvertent or unauthorized activation occurred with regard to
those per use services that do not require coded dialing to activate.
  The one-time bill adjustment shall include an adjustment for any
additional usage charges occurring as a result of inadvertent or
unauthorized activation.  The adjustment shall take the form of a
credit to the subscriber's account if the existing technology or
facilities of the local exchange service provider measure usage and
permit a usage credit to be determined and provided.
   (d) Nothing in this section prohibits a local exchange service
provider from providing additional bill adjustments at its discretion
in connection with charges imposed for features described in
subdivision (a).