BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                          SB 531
                                                          Page  1

SENATE THIRD READING
SB 531 (Baca)
As Amended  August 19, 1999
Majority vote

  SENATE VOTE  :   39-0
  
  UTILITIES AND COMMERCE          11-0                 
APPROPRIATIONS      20-0        
  
 ----------------------------------------------------------------- 
|Ayes:|Wright, Pescetti,         |Ayes:|Migden, Brewer, Ackerman, |
|     |Calderon, Cardenas,       |     |Ashburn, Campbell,        |
|     |Frusetta, Maddox,         |     |Washington, Davis,        |
|     |Mazzoni, Papan, Reyes,    |     |Hertzberg, Kuehl,         |
|     |Vincent, Wesson           |     |Maldonado, Aroner,        |
|     |                          |     |Romero, Runner, Shelley,  |
|     |                          |     |Steinberg, Thomson,       |
|     |                          |     |Wesson, Wiggins, Wright,  |
|     |                          |     |Zettel                    |
 ----------------------------------------------------------------- 
  
SUMMARY  :  Establishes rules and procedures for submitting  
  informal complaints electronically 
before the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).   
  Specifically,  this bill  : 

1)Requires CPUC to establish procedures to permit the submission  
  of informal complaints through electronic means after July 1,  
  2001.

2)Requires that on or before January 1, 2002, CPUC provide the  
  means by which consumers may submit informal complaints  
  through electronic means.

3)Clarifies that electronic means includes but is not limited to  
  e-mail or the Internet or both.  

4)Requires CPUC to forward any complaints received by electronic  
  means to the entity named in the complaint.

5)Permits submission of informal complaints by electronic means  
  only for complaints that do not exceed the jurisdictional  
  limit of a the small claim court as specified in the Code of  
  Civil Procedure and once CPUC has addressed any impediments to  








                                                          SB 531
                                                          Page  2

  the electronic systems.  

6)Requires CPUC to include a notice on its Internet website of  
  the availability to submit informal complaints electronically.

7)Requires CPUC to make available an industry specific on-line  
  complaint form that is relevant for the purposes of resolving  
  a dispute.

8)Clarifies that the provisions of this bill may not be  
  implemented prior to July 1, 2001 without the concurrence of  
  CPUC and the authorization of the Department of Information  
  technology pursuant to Executive Order D-3-99.

  EXISTING LAW  requires CPUC to publish specified information on  
its Internet website.  Requires the information published on the  
website include, but not be limited to decisions and  
resolutions, general orders, Commissions Rules of Practice and  
Procedure, and rulings in proceedings.  

  FISCAL EFFECT :  Minor absorbable costs to CPUC to establish the  
procedures and capability for electronic submission of informal  
complaints.

  COMMENTS  :  The author has introduced this bill to streamline and  
simplify the informal complaint process for small business and  
residential customers in those cases where the monetary value at  
issue does not exceed $5,000.  According to the author  
"electronic filing is the right approach . . .it is parallel to  
CPUC's 1999-2000 business plan for increased Internet use."   
Additionally, SB 779 (Calderon), Chapter 886, Statutes of 1998,  
mandated CPUC to specified material available over its website.   
The author believes this bill will enable consumers to use the  
website to save time and resources in submitting complaints  
since there are only two major locations in California to submit  
a complaint in person.   

This bill applies only to informal complaints, which are  
currently handled with a CPUC staffperson serving as an  
intermediary.  Currently, consumer complaints are received over  
the telephone and CPUC staff prepares a written confirmation to  
the consumer and the company that is the subject of the  
complaint.  Instituting this informal complaint process will  
enable the consumer to file complaints without CPUC staff  
resources and may thus result in savings to the agency.








                                                          SB 531
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In February 1999, Governor Gray Davis issued Executive Order  
D-3-99 indicating that the Administration's utmost priority is  
its responsibility to coordinate and develop a comprehensive  
solution to the State's Year 2000 problem.  To that end, each  
agency is required to defer commencing any new non-Year 2000  
computer projects that is not currently required by law.  This  
bill is compliant with the requirements of Executive Order  
D-3-99.  CPUC is not required to either establish procedures or  
begin to take complaints pursuant to electronic means until  
after the sunset date of the Executive Order, June 30, 2001.


  Analysis Prepared by  :  Carolyn Veal-Hunter / U. & C. / (916)  
319-2083 


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