BILL NUMBER: AB 1919INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Davis FEBRUARY 16, 2010 An act relating to utility service. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 1919, as introduced, Davis. Terminations of utility service. Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical, gas, and water corporations, as respectively defined. Existing law authorizes the commission to establish rules for all public utilities, subject to control by the Legislature. Existing law authorizes the commission, after a hearing, to require every public utility to construct, maintain, and operate utility facilities in a manner so as to promote and safeguard the health and safety of its employees, customers, and the public. Existing law requires certain notice be given before an electrical, gas, heat, or water corporation may terminate residential service for nonpayment of a delinquent account and prohibits termination of service for nonpayment in certain circumstances. This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to require every public utility to notify the commission when any shutoff or utility-instituted termination of utility service results in death or serious injury, to reform the procedures utilized by the commission for terminations of utility service, to require the commission to investigate any shutoff or utility-instituted termination of utility service that results in death or serious injury, and to authorize the Attorney General to bring a civil action against a public utility where a shutoff or utility-instituted termination of utility service results in death or serious injury. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. (a) It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to require every public utility to notify the Public Utilities Commission when any shutoff or utility-instituted termination of utility service results in death or serious injury and to reform the procedures utilized by the commission for terminations of utility service. (b) It is the further intent of the Legislature to require the commission to investigate any shutoff or utility-instituted termination of utility service that results in death or serious injury. (c) It is the additional intent of the Legislature to authorize the Attorney General to bring a civil action against a public utility where a shutoff or utility-instituted termination of utility service results in death or serious injury.