HBA-EDN H.B. 2156 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2156 By: Danburg State Affairs 3/14/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Under current law, automatic enrollment databases are required for telecommunications discounts and for electric discounts to low-income customers. Merging these databases would make the administration of both programs more efficient. House Bill 2156 provides for an integrated eligibility process for telecommunications and electric discounts for low-income customers. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking authority is expressly delegated to the Public Utility Commission in SECTION 1 (Section 17.007, Utilities Code) of this bill. ANALYSIS House Bill 2156 amends the Utilities Code to require the Public Utility Commission, by rule, to provide for an integrated eligibility process for customer service discounts, including discounts for customers under the system benefit fund, lifeline service, or the tel-assistance service program. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.