BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                          AB 617
                                                          Page  1

Date of Hearing:   May 12, 1999

              ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS 
                    Carole Migden, Chairwoman

         AB 617 (Campbell) - As Amended: April 19, 1999 

Policy Committee:                              Utilities and  
Commerce     Vote:                             11-0

Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local  
Program:NoReimbursable:            

  SUMMARY  :

Extends existing immunity protections for disclosure of  
information by telephone companies, when acting in good faith  
with law enforcement, to also include companies that provide  
one-way paging service.
  
FISCAL EFFECT  :

Absorbable costs to the Public Utilities Commission.

  COMMENTS  :

  Background and Purpose  .  Upon issuance of a state or federal  
court warrant or order of administrative subpoena, certain  
telecommunications providers may release information about  
subscribers to law enforcement officials and other local, state,  
or federal agencies.  Under these circumstances, the release or  
disclosure of information without the written consent of the  
subscriber is not subject to civil actions relating to the  
subscriber's right to privacy. This bill would extend these  
liability protections to companies providing one-way paging  
service.


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