HBA-SEP H.B. 1351 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1351 By: Brimer State Affairs 3/1/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Current law requires pay phone operators to pay the same Texas universal service fund (TUSF) charges as other phone carriers. However, pay phone operators cannot pass these charges along to customers on a monthly basis like other telecommunication operators. House Bill 1351 exempts a provider of customerowned pay telephone service from paying TUSF charges and receiving TUSF benefits. 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 exempt a provider of a customer-owned pay telephone service from the uniform charge that funds the universal service fund and from receiving financial assistance from the fund. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.