BILL NUMBER: SB 291INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Senator Hill FEBRUARY 14, 2013 An act to add Section 1702.5 to the Public Utilities Code, relating to the Public Utilities Commission. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 291, as introduced, Hill. Public Utilities Commission: safety enforcement: gas and electrical corporations. Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has regulatory authority over public utilities, including gas corporations and electrical corporations, as defined. The Public Utilities Act requires the PUC to investigate the cause of all accidents occurring upon the property of any public utility or directly or indirectly arising from or connected with its maintenance or operation, resulting in loss of life or injury to person or property and requiring, in the judgment of the PUC, investigation by it, and authorizes the PUC to make any order or recommendation with respect to the investigation that it determines to be just and reasonable. The act additionally authorizes the PUC to ascertain and fix just and reasonable standards, classifications, regulations, practices, measurements, or services to be furnished, imposed, observed, and followed by specified public utilities, including electrical and gas corporations. Existing law authorizes the PUC to issue and serve citations in the enforcement of certain pipeline safety laws applicable to mobilehome park gas delivery systems and propane operators. This bill would require the PUC to develop and implement procedures for issuance of citations by PUC staff, under the direction of the Executive Director of the PUC, to gas corporations and electrical corporations for correction and punishment of safety violations. The bill would require the PUC to develop and implement an appeals process to govern issuance and appeal of citations. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 1702.5 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to read: 1702.5. (a) The commission shall develop and implement procedures for issuance of citations by commission staff, under the direction of the Executive Director, to gas corporations and electrical corporations for correction and punishment of safety violations. (b) The commission shall develop and implement an appeals process to govern the issuance and appeal of citations issued by the commission.