Bill Text: TX HB1466 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to repairs to be completed by telecommunications utility providers during a state declared disaster.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-03-25 - Left pending in committee [HB1466 Detail]

Download: Texas-2019-HB1466-Introduced.html

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By: Murr H.B. No. 1466

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to repairs to be completed by telecommunications utility
providers during a state declared disaster.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 52.104, Texas Utilities Code, is amended
by adding Section 52.104 (4) as follows:
Section 52.104. COMMISSION MAY INVESTIGATE
(4) "As established by commission rule, complaints received
by the commission regarding a specific telecommunications utility
provider's response to repairs, maintenance and restoration of
service to areas affected by an event constituting a state declared
disaster or emergency shall be investigated by the commission in
conjunction with the Texas Office of Attorney General. A report of
the investigation shall be submitted to the commission, the Federal
Communications Commission or successor regulatory agency, and made
available to the public within ninety (90) days of the notice of the
complaint.
(a) Based on findings of fact from this investigation, the
commission shall impose monetary penalties and other enforcement
actions deemed appropriate, with a minimum amount assessed at
$1,000 per occurrence or per day, whichever is greater. The
commission may also recommend criminal charges be pursued.
(b) The commission may adopt establish rules and guidelines
for lengths of time deemed appropriate to reasonably make repairs
and restore telecommunications service for counties having a
population of 50,000 or less, but the maximum permitted time to
restore service shall be ten (10) working days. A
telecommunications provider may petition the commission for an
extension of this time frame. Any telecommunications provider
seeking an extension of the time frame shall provide notice to its
affected customers, by way of notice provisions and requirements
promulgated by the commission.
(c) For purposes of this section, complaints shall include
any complaint relating to any conduct or state declared disaster or
emergency occurring after January 1, 2018.
SECTION 2. This ACT takes effect on September 1, 2019.