BILL NUMBER: AB 1149	CHAPTERED
	BILL TEXT

	CHAPTER   844
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE   OCTOBER 10, 1999
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR   OCTOBER 8, 1999
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY   AUGUST 30, 1999
	PASSED THE SENATE   AUGUST 25, 1999
	AMENDED IN SENATE   AUGUST 17, 1999
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   APRIL 26, 1999
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   APRIL 8, 1999

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Aroner

                        FEBRUARY 25, 1999

   An act relating to public utilities.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1149, Aroner.  Underground electric and communications
facilities.
   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
communications facilities with underground facilities.
   This bill would require the commission to conduct a study as to
the ways to amend, revise, and improve those  rules, as specified.
The commission would have the authority to revise these rules without
prior approval of the Legislature.  The commission would be required
to submit a report on the study to the Legislature on or before
January 1, 2001.


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


  SECTION 1.  (a) The Public Utilities Commission shall conduct a
study as to the ways to amend, revise, and improve rules governing
the replacement of overhead electric and communications facilities
with underground facilities.  The issues to be addressed shall
include, but not be limited to, all of the following:
   (1) Discovering and eliminating barriers to establishing
continuity of the existing underground system and ways to eliminate
uneven patches of overhead facilities.
   (2) How to enhance public safety.
   (3) How to improve reliability.
   (4) How to provide more flexibility and control to local
governments.
   (b) The Public Utilities Commission may revise these rules without
prior approval of the Legislature.
   (c) Notwithstanding Section 7550.5 of the Government Code, the
Public Utilities Commission shall submit a report on the study
required by subdivision (a) to the Legislature on or before January
1, 2001.