By: Whitmire S.B. No. 1976     A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to benefit programs provided by retail electric providers   and certificated telecommunications utilities for low-income   customers.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 17.007, Utilities Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 17.007.  IDENTIFICATION [ELIGIBILITY] PROCESS FOR   CUSTOMER SERVICE BENEFITS [DISCOUNTS].  (a)  The Health and Human   Services Commission, on request of the commission, shall assist in   developing an automatic process for identifying low-income   customers to retail electric providers and certificated   telecommunications utilities to enable those providers and   utilities to offer customer service, discounts, bill payment   assistance, or other methods of assistance [The commission by rule   shall provide for an integrated eligibility process for customer   service discounts, including discounts under Sections 39.903 and   55.015].          (b)  The commission and the Health and Human Services   Commission shall continue the memorandum of understanding entered   into by those agencies in effect on January 1, 2017, that   establishes the respective duties of those agencies in relation to   the automatic process, and may amend the memorandum of   understanding as necessary to achieve the goals of this section.          (c)  The commission may not require a retail electric   provider or a certificated telecommunications utility to offer   customer service, discounts, bill payment assistance, targeted   bill messaging, or other benefits for which the provider or utility   is not reimbursed.          (d)  The commission may not submit a request to the Health   and Human Services Commission to provide for a process to identify   low-income electric customers for a fiscal year unless:                (1)  the commission receives a request from one or more   retail electric providers not later than July 31 of the previous   fiscal year for a list of low-income electric customers to be   developed; and                (2)  each retail electric provider that submits a   request to the commission under Subdivision (1) agrees to reimburse   the commission for the cost of development of the list on terms   agreed to by the commission and the provider.          SECTION 2.  Section 55.015(b), Utilities Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (b)  The commission shall adopt rules providing for   automatic enrollment to receive lifeline service for eligible   consumers.  The Health and Human Services Commission [Texas   Department of Human Services], on request of the commission, shall   assist in the adoption and implementation of those rules.  The   commission and the Health and Human Services Commission [Texas   Department of Human Services] shall enter into a memorandum of   understanding establishing the respective duties of those agencies    [the commission and department] in relation to the automatic   enrollment.          SECTION 3.  Section 56.021, Utilities Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 56.021.  UNIVERSAL SERVICE FUND ESTABLISHED.  The   commission shall adopt and enforce rules requiring local exchange   companies to establish a universal service fund to:                (1)  assist telecommunications providers in providing   basic local telecommunications service at reasonable rates in high   cost rural areas under two plans:                      (A)  the Texas High Cost Universal Service Plan   (16 T.A.C. Section 26.403); and                      (B)  the Small and Rural Incumbent Local Exchange   Company Universal Service Plan (16 T.A.C. Section 26.404);                (2)  reimburse the telecommunications carrier that   provides the statewide telecommunications relay access service   under Subchapter D;                (3)  finance the specialized telecommunications   assistance program established under Subchapter E;                (4)  reimburse the department and the commission for   costs incurred in implementing this chapter and Chapter 57;                (5)  reimburse a telecommunications carrier providing   lifeline service as provided by 47 C.F.R. Part 54, Subpart E, as   amended;                (6)  finance the implementation and administration of   the identification process under [an integrated eligibility   process created under] Section 17.007 for [customer service   discounts relating to] telecommunications services[, including   outreach expenses the commission determines are reasonable and   necessary];                (7)  reimburse a designated provider under Subchapter   F;                (8)  reimburse a successor utility under Subchapter G;   and                (9)  finance the program established under Subchapter   H.          SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.