SENIOR ASSEMBLY PROPOSAL NO. 13

INTRODUCED BY SENIOR ASSEMBLY MEMBER KAMMERER

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AP 13: TELEPHONE SERVICE: DEAF, HEARING IMPAIRED, ABD DISABLED ACCESS.

UNDER EXISTING LAW, THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION IS REQUIRED TO OVERSEE ADMINISTRATION OF THE STATE’S UNIVERSAL SERVICES PROGRAMS, INCLUDING THE DEAF AND DISABLED PROGRAMS. EXISTING LAW REQUIRES THE COMMISSION TO DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT A PROGRAM TO PROVIDE A TELECOMMUNICATIONS DEVICE CAPABLE OF SERVING THE NEEDS OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE DEAF, HEARING IMPAIRED, OR DISABLED. EXISTING LAW ALSO REQUIRES THE COMMISSION TO PROVIDE A SINGLE PARTY LINE TO INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING, AND DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT A PROGRAM TO PROVIDE A DUAL-PARTY RELAY SYSTEM TO CONNECT THEM WITH SPECIFIED GOVERNMENT OFFICES OR ORGANIZATIONS. EXISTING LAW REQUIRES THE COMMISSION TO ESTABLISH, UNTIL JANUARY 1, 2014, A SURCHARGE, NOT TO EXCEED 1/2 OF 1 PERCENT, UNIFORMLY APPLIED TO A SUBSCRIBER’S INTRASTATE TELEPHONE SERVICE TO ALLOW SERVICE AND EQUIPMENT PROVIDERS TO RECOVER COSTS INCURRED UNDER THE PROGRAM.

THIS MEASURE WOULD MEMORIALIZE THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR TO ENACT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD REMOVE THE TERMINATION DATE FOR THE SURCHARGE.

VOTE: MAJORITY.

AP 13: RELATING TO TELEPHONE SERVICE

WHEREAS, THE CALIFORNIA PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION DEAF AND DISABLED TELECOMMUNICATIONS PROGRAM, THROUGH FEBRUARY 2012, HAS SUCCESSFULLY PROVIDED 581,531 SPECIAL NEEDS TELEPHONES TO PERSONS WITH SPEECH, COGNITIVE, HEARING LOSS, OR MOBILITY PROBLEMS, MOST OF WHOM ARE ELDERLY; AND

WHEREAS, THERE IS CURRENTLY NO COST TO THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO RUN THE PROGRAM BECAUSE, UNTIL JANUARY 1, 2014, IT IS SUPPORTED BY A MINIMAL MONTHLY FEE OF $0.04 TO $0.06 TO SUBSCRIBERS OF INTRASTATE TELEPHONE SERVICE; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT

RESOLVED, BY THE SENIOR ASSEMBLY AND THE SENIOR SENATE, JOINTLY, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AT ITS 2012 REGULAR SESSION, A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS VOTING THEREFOR, HEREBY PROPOSES THAT THE TERMINATION DATE OF JANUARY 1, 2014, FOR THE SURCHARGE AUTHORIZED PURSUANT TO STATE LAW BE REMOVED; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA RESPECTFULLY MEMORIALIZES THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO ENACT APPROPRIATE LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ADDRESS THE CONCERNS SET FORTH IN THIS MEASURE; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT A COPY OF THIS MEASURE BE TRANSMITTED TO THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE, AND THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

- 0 -

RN 12 16476