HBA-SEP H.B. 1351 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1351 By: Brimer State Affairs 6/13/2001 Enrolled BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Prior to the 77th Legislature, pay phone operators were required to pay the same Texas universal service fund (TUSF) charges as other phone carriers. However, pay phone operators were not able to pass these charges along to customers on a monthly basis like other telecommunication operators. House Bill 1351 prohibits the Public Utility Commission from assessing, on pay telephone service, the uniform charge that funds TUSF. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS House Bill 1351 amends the Utilities Code to prohibit the Public Utility Commission of Texas from assessing, on pay telephone service, the uniform charge that funds the Texas universal service fund. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.