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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T





SPONSOR: Jennings, T. DATE TYPED: 3/4/99 HB
SHORT TITLE: Telecommunication Regulation SB 372/aSCORC
ANALYST: Esquibel

APPROPRIATION



Appropriation Contained
Estimated Additional Impact
Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY99 FY2000 FY99 FY2000
400.0* Recurring GF
100.0* Recurring GF

*These funds would be available in FY2000 and FY2001.



(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)



Relates to HB394



SOURCES OF INFORMATION



Public Regulation Commission (PRC)



SUMMARY



Synopsis of SCORC Amendments



The Senate Corporations and Transportation Committee amendments to SB372 appropriate $400.0 to the PRC to conduct a comprehensive rate case of operations and rates of any telecommunications corporation in New Mexico with more than 100,000 local exchange access lines in the state (i.e., US West). The bill, as amended, also appropriates $100.0 to the Attorney General's Office (AG) to prepare and present the interests of residential and small business consumers in the state in the comprehensive rate case of operations and rates in the state of any telecommunications corporation that has more than 100,00 local exchange access lines in this state.



Synopsis of Bill



The bill appropriates $500.0 in general fund in FY2000 and FY2001 to PRC to conduct an investigation and rate case of US West's operations and rates in New Mexico. The appropriation could be utilized to employ or retain experts to assist PRC staff in the investigation and case presentation.



FISCAL IMPLICATIONS



The bill, as amended, appropriates $400.0 to the PRC and $100.0 to the AG in general fund in FY2000 and FY2001 to employ or retain experts.



The PRC currently has a request before the House Appropriations and Finance Committee and Senate Finance Committee for a FY99 supplemental appropriation of $200.0 in general fund for the same purpose as this legislation.



CONFLICT/DUPLICATION/COMPANIONSHIP/RELATIONSHIP



SB372 relates to HB394 which would appropriate $300.0 to PRC for investigations into the earnings for telecommunication corporations with local exchange access lines in excess of 100,000 consumers in New Mexico.



TECHNICAL ISSUES



The PRC indicates it would like the appropriation to begin in FY99.



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