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.