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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 5 | 5 | | AN ACT |
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| 6 | 6 | | relating to the eligibility process for customer service benefits. |
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| 7 | 7 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 8 | 8 | | SECTION 1. Section 17.007, Utilities Code, is amended to |
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| 9 | 9 | | read as follows: |
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| 10 | 10 | | ELIGIBILITY PROCESS FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE DISCOUNTS BENEFITS. |
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| 11 | 11 | | [The commission by rule shall provide for an integrated eligibility |
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| 12 | 12 | | process for customer service discounts, including discounts under |
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| 13 | 13 | | Sections 39.903 and 55.015 .] The Texas Department of Health and |
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| 14 | 14 | | Human Services, on request of the commission, shall assist in |
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| 15 | 15 | | developing an automatic process to provide for identification of |
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| 16 | 16 | | low-income customers to retail electric providers and certified |
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| 17 | 17 | | telecommunications utilities to enable those providers to offer |
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| 18 | 18 | | customer service, discounts, bill payment assistance, or other |
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| 19 | 19 | | methods of assistance. The commissioner and the Texas Department |
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| 20 | 20 | | of Health and Human Services shall continue the memorandum of |
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| 21 | 21 | | understanding in effect on January 1, 2017 that establishes the |
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| 22 | 22 | | respective duties of the commission and the department in relation |
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| 23 | 23 | | to the automatic process, and may amend the memorandum of |
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| 24 | 24 | | understanding as necessary to achieve the goals of this section. |
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| 25 | 25 | | a) The commission may not require a retail electric provider |
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| 26 | 26 | | or certified telecommunications utility to offer customer service |
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| 27 | 27 | | discounts, bill payment assistance, or other benefits for which the |
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| 28 | 28 | | provider is not reimbursed. |
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| 29 | 29 | | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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| 30 | 30 | | a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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| 31 | 31 | | provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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| 32 | 32 | | Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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| 33 | 33 | | Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |
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