CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20232024 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 2764Introduced by Assembly Member Jim Patterson(Coauthor: Assembly Member Sanchez)February 15, 2024 An act to add Section 304.5 to the Public Utilities Code, relating to public utilities. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 2764, as introduced, Jim Patterson. Public Utilities Commission: commissioner compensation.The California Constitution establishes the Public Utilities Commission and prescribes its membership. The Public Utilities Act requires the commissioners to be civil executive officers and their salaries to be fixed and paid in the same manner as those of other state officers. Existing law prescribes the annual salary of the commissioners and a method by which the annual salary may be increased.This bill would prohibit the annual salary and any other compensation, as defined, paid to each commissioner from being funded with revenues collected from a fee or charge imposed on ratepayers. The bill would express the Legislatures intent that funds used to compensate each commissioner are appropriated from the General Fund or another source of funding not collected from ratepayers.Under existing law, a violation of the Public Utilities Act or any order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the commission is a crime.Because the above provision would be part of the act and a violation of a commission action implementing this bills requirements would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YES Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 304.5 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to read:304.5. (a) Notwithstanding Section 304, the annual salary of each commissioner, and any other compensation, as defined in Section 706, paid to each commissioner, shall not be funded with revenues collected from a fee or charge imposed on ratepayers.(b) It is the intent of the Legislature that any funds used to compensate each commissioner are appropriated from the General Fund or another source of funding not collected from ratepayers.SEC. 2. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution.
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20232024 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 2764Introduced by Assembly Member Jim Patterson(Coauthor: Assembly Member Sanchez)February 15, 2024 An act to add Section 304.5 to the Public Utilities Code, relating to public utilities. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 2764, as introduced, Jim Patterson. Public Utilities Commission: commissioner compensation.The California Constitution establishes the Public Utilities Commission and prescribes its membership. The Public Utilities Act requires the commissioners to be civil executive officers and their salaries to be fixed and paid in the same manner as those of other state officers. Existing law prescribes the annual salary of the commissioners and a method by which the annual salary may be increased.This bill would prohibit the annual salary and any other compensation, as defined, paid to each commissioner from being funded with revenues collected from a fee or charge imposed on ratepayers. The bill would express the Legislatures intent that funds used to compensate each commissioner are appropriated from the General Fund or another source of funding not collected from ratepayers.Under existing law, a violation of the Public Utilities Act or any order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the commission is a crime.Because the above provision would be part of the act and a violation of a commission action implementing this bills requirements would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YES
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20232024 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 2764
Introduced by Assembly Member Jim Patterson(Coauthor: Assembly Member Sanchez)February 15, 2024
Introduced by Assembly Member Jim Patterson(Coauthor: Assembly Member Sanchez)
February 15, 2024
An act to add Section 304.5 to the Public Utilities Code, relating to public utilities.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 2764, as introduced, Jim Patterson. Public Utilities Commission: commissioner compensation.
The California Constitution establishes the Public Utilities Commission and prescribes its membership. The Public Utilities Act requires the commissioners to be civil executive officers and their salaries to be fixed and paid in the same manner as those of other state officers. Existing law prescribes the annual salary of the commissioners and a method by which the annual salary may be increased.This bill would prohibit the annual salary and any other compensation, as defined, paid to each commissioner from being funded with revenues collected from a fee or charge imposed on ratepayers. The bill would express the Legislatures intent that funds used to compensate each commissioner are appropriated from the General Fund or another source of funding not collected from ratepayers.Under existing law, a violation of the Public Utilities Act or any order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the commission is a crime.Because the above provision would be part of the act and a violation of a commission action implementing this bills requirements would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
The California Constitution establishes the Public Utilities Commission and prescribes its membership. The Public Utilities Act requires the commissioners to be civil executive officers and their salaries to be fixed and paid in the same manner as those of other state officers. Existing law prescribes the annual salary of the commissioners and a method by which the annual salary may be increased.
This bill would prohibit the annual salary and any other compensation, as defined, paid to each commissioner from being funded with revenues collected from a fee or charge imposed on ratepayers. The bill would express the Legislatures intent that funds used to compensate each commissioner are appropriated from the General Fund or another source of funding not collected from ratepayers.
Under existing law, a violation of the Public Utilities Act or any order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the commission is a crime.
Because the above provision would be part of the act and a violation of a commission action implementing this bills requirements would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
## Digest Key
## Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 304.5 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to read:304.5. (a) Notwithstanding Section 304, the annual salary of each commissioner, and any other compensation, as defined in Section 706, paid to each commissioner, shall not be funded with revenues collected from a fee or charge imposed on ratepayers.(b) It is the intent of the Legislature that any funds used to compensate each commissioner are appropriated from the General Fund or another source of funding not collected from ratepayers.SEC. 2. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
## The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 304.5 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to read:304.5. (a) Notwithstanding Section 304, the annual salary of each commissioner, and any other compensation, as defined in Section 706, paid to each commissioner, shall not be funded with revenues collected from a fee or charge imposed on ratepayers.(b) It is the intent of the Legislature that any funds used to compensate each commissioner are appropriated from the General Fund or another source of funding not collected from ratepayers.
SECTION 1. Section 304.5 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to read:
### SECTION 1.
304.5. (a) Notwithstanding Section 304, the annual salary of each commissioner, and any other compensation, as defined in Section 706, paid to each commissioner, shall not be funded with revenues collected from a fee or charge imposed on ratepayers.(b) It is the intent of the Legislature that any funds used to compensate each commissioner are appropriated from the General Fund or another source of funding not collected from ratepayers.
304.5. (a) Notwithstanding Section 304, the annual salary of each commissioner, and any other compensation, as defined in Section 706, paid to each commissioner, shall not be funded with revenues collected from a fee or charge imposed on ratepayers.(b) It is the intent of the Legislature that any funds used to compensate each commissioner are appropriated from the General Fund or another source of funding not collected from ratepayers.
304.5. (a) Notwithstanding Section 304, the annual salary of each commissioner, and any other compensation, as defined in Section 706, paid to each commissioner, shall not be funded with revenues collected from a fee or charge imposed on ratepayers.(b) It is the intent of the Legislature that any funds used to compensate each commissioner are appropriated from the General Fund or another source of funding not collected from ratepayers.
304.5. (a) Notwithstanding Section 304, the annual salary of each commissioner, and any other compensation, as defined in Section 706, paid to each commissioner, shall not be funded with revenues collected from a fee or charge imposed on ratepayers.
(b) It is the intent of the Legislature that any funds used to compensate each commissioner are appropriated from the General Fund or another source of funding not collected from ratepayers.
SEC. 2. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution.
SEC. 2. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution.
SEC. 2. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution.
### SEC. 2.