BILL NUMBER: SB 531	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE   APRIL 7, 1999

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Baca

                        FEBRUARY 19, 1999

   An act to add Section 311.4 to the Public Utilities Code, relating
to public utilities.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 531, as amended, Baca.  Public Utilities Commission:
complaints.
   The Public Utilities  Law   Act 
requires the Public Utilities Commission, on and after July 1, 1999,
to publish specified information on its Internet site, including, but
not limited to, decisions and resolutions, general orders, the Rules
of Practice and Procedure of the commission, rulings in proceedings,
and a docket card for each proceeding listing documents in the case.

   This bill would require the commission  on or before July 1,
2000,  to develop and implement a procedure to permit complaints
to be filed, and related complaint proceedings to be administered,
through electronic means, as defined.  The bill would prescribe
related matters.   The bill would make related legislative
findings and declarations and a statement of legislative intent.

   Vote:  majority.  Appropriation:  no.  Fiscal committee:  yes.
State-mandated local program:  no.


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


  SECTION 1.   (a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
   (1) The Legislature has encouraged state agencies to make
information available to the public through various means, including
the Internet.
   (2) The Internet has permitted increased communication between the
people of this state and state agencies, educating the people of
this state on the role and function of each agency.
   (3) The Internet website maintained by the Public Utilities
Commission provides the people of this state with information
regarding the commission and the markets and services that the
commission regulates.  The website also provides a way for members of
the public to communicate with the commission.
   (4) Currently, the Public Utilities Commission website accepts
complaints.
   (5) Customers for services regulated by the Public Utilities
Commission and the companies offering those services are entitled to
an efficient dispute resolution process.
   (6) The Internet is an ideal means for resolving disputes between
customers and service providers in an efficient manner, regardless of
the geographic location of the customer.
   (b) It is the intent of the Legislature to enhance the role of the
Public Utilities Commission by allowing customers and service
providers the option to resolve disputes through electronic
communications to provide a greater level of efficiency for the
parties involved and to make the Public Utilities Commission dispute
resolution process accessible to all people of this state.
  SEC. 2.   Section 311.4 is added to the Public Utilities Code,
to read:
   311.4.   The   On or before July 1, 2000, the
 commission shall develop and implement a procedure to permit
complaints  described in Section 1702  to be filed, and
related complaint proceedings to be administered, through electronic
means.   Commencing one year from the date that the procedure is
implemented, the commission may annually review the procedure and any
related rules, and the technology involved to ensure the continued
effectiveness of the program, and shall report any findings to the
Legislature.  For the purpose of this section, "electronic means"
may include, but shall not be limited to, e-mail or the Internet, or
both.  Upon receipt of a complaint filed by electronic means, the
commission shall immediately serve notice to the entity named in the
complaint.  The commission shall permit a complaint proceeding to be
conducted through electronic means, if, as determined by the
commission,  both   all  of the following
conditions are met:
   (a) All parties agree to a complaint proceeding conducted through
electronic means.
   (b)  The dollar amount in the complaint does not exceed the
jurisdictional limit of a small claims court specified in subdivision
(a) of Section 116.220 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
   (c) The case can be competently adjudicated through electronic
means, taking into account the facts and law involved.
   (d)  The hearing officer has the requisite technical means to
administer the proceeding.  
   (e) The commission has addressed any impediments in the electronic
systems employed by the commission that would prevent or
substantially adversely affect the ability of the commission to
conduct the proceeding by electronic means.