BILL NUMBER: AB 1149	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Aroner

                        FEBRUARY 25, 1999

   An act to add Section 762.7 to the Public Utilities Code, relating
to public utilities.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1149, as introduced, Aroner.  Underground electric and
telephone facilities.
   (1) Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has
regulatory authority over public utilities and, under that authority,
has adopted rules for the replacement of overhead electric and
telephone facilities with underground facilities.
   This bill would require the commission to amend those rules to
require new underground facilities to meet certain continuity, public
safety, and reliability requirements.  Because violations of the
rules of the commission are crimes, this bill would impose a
state-mandated local program by creating new crimes.
  (2) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse
local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state.  Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement.
   This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this
act for a specified reason.
   Vote:  majority.  Appropriation:  no.  Fiscal committee:  yes.
State-mandated local program:  yes.


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


  SECTION 1.  Section 762.7 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to
read:
   762.7.  The Public Utilities Commission shall amend its rules for
the replacement of overhead electric and telephone facilities with
underground facilities to require new underground facilities to do
all of the following:
   (a) Provide continuity with an existing underground system or
eliminate uneven patches of overhead facilities that create an
aesthetically unattractive environment.
   (b) Enhance public safety.
   (c) Provide improved reliability over the replaced overhead
facilities, within an existing system of underground facilities.
  SEC. 2.  No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to
Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution because the
only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district
will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction,
eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime
or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government
Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of
Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution.