State Legislative - Week of July 2, 2010

Although the Legislature’s Summer Recess is scheduled to officially begin on July 2, 2010, both the Senate and Assembly have “adjourned up call” meaning that legislators may return to their districts but must be available to meet in the Capitol in 24 hours or less.

The sole exception is for the Budget Conference Committee members who will continue to meet in Sacramento to resolve the state’s budget deficit.  The state’s new fiscal year began on July 1, 2010, and for the 19th time in 25 years, the legislators have stated a new state year without a budget in place.
 

 

Creation of the California Broadband Council.  Senate Bill 1462 (Padilla) would create the California Broadband Council.  According to the Author, the intent of this bill is to maximize California’s opportunities for federal funding under the National Broadband Plan, increase the coordination of state resources for broadband networks, and ensure the continuation of California’s leadership in broadband deployment and adoption.  The Council would be charged with meeting no less than three times per year, with the first meeting to take place prior to March 1, 2011.

The council would include representatives from government agencies, a member of the Senate and Assembly and the President of the California Emerging Technology Fund.  Responding to interest from the business, education, and non-profit communities, the Author amended his proposal to provide opportunities for stakeholder groups to provide input about broadband deployment and adoption at its regular public meetings, roundtables, advisory committees, or other means, as determined by the council.
 
CCTA continues to work with the Author to ensure that the representation of the council is fair and balanced.  SB 1462 was heard in the Assembly Appropriations Committee this week and held on “Suspense.”

 

Residential Telephone Service: Warm Lines.  Under current law, local telephone corporations are required to provide a residential telephone connection with no customer account attached access to “911” emergency service.  This law was adopted when residential telephone service was provided exclusively by incumbent wireline providers operating within their franchise service territories.  When a residential telephone subscriber selects an alternative provider, the pre-existing telephone corporation, now disconnected, occasionally shorts, triggering an unintended “911” call, known as a “phantom 911” call.
 
Senate Bill 1375 (Price) would require telephone corporations to provide “911” emergency services for at least 90 days after the disconnection of residential basic exchange services due to nonpayment.  This bill would also require the telephone corporations to inform residential subscribers about the availability of “911” service for 90 days, options to avoid disconnection of service, and other options for obtaining access to “911” service.  In addition, SB 1375 would also authorize telephone corporations to disconnect the over 2 million existing warm lines after providing a 90-day notice.
 
SB 1375 is supported by the entire telecommunications industry.  The Utilities Reform Network (TURN) and several local Public Safety Answering Services (PSAPs) are opposed to the proposal, preferring that this issue be dealt with at the California Public Utilities Commission.  The bill was heard in the Assembly Utilities & Commerce Committee this week and approved.  SB 1375 will next be heard in the Assembly Appropriations Committee on August 4, 2010.
 
Split Roll Tax Bill Receives Another Chance.  Assembly Bill 2492 (Ammiano) would require a “change-of-ownership” reassessment of property taxes when a hundred percent of the ownership interest in a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or other legal entity holding the property is sold or transferred in a single transaction or in multiple transactions occurring over a period of up to three years.
 
Although AB 2492 was eligible to be heard on the Assembly Floor this week, the Author did bring it up for a vote.

Forbearance Petitions.  Assembly Bill 1315 (Fuentes) would authorize the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to require all providers of local telephone service to provide data and other information requested by the Commission for the purpose of filing a forbearance petition with the Federal Communications Commission.

Many, including the CPUC, have question the need for this bill since this is already current practice.  AB 1315 was heard in the Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee this week and approved.  The bill now moves to the Senate Appropriations Committee/