AB 2424: Public Utilities Commission: communications: low-income customers.
<p>The bill establishes the Low-Income Telecommunications Advisory Board with specific membership requirements. The board will advise the Public Utilities Commission on issues affecting low-income telecommunications customers, serve as a liaison between the commission and these customers, and monitor program implementation to reduce cost burdens. It also requires the commission to increase participation in programs for low-income customers and administer the Lifeline Program inclusively without discriminating against providers.</p>
| May. 14, 2026 | In committee: Held under submission. |
| May. 06, 2026 | In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file. |
| Apr. 20, 2026 | Re-referred to Com. on APPR. |
| Apr. 16, 2026 | Read second time and amended. |
| Apr. 15, 2026 | From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 2.) (April 15). |
| Amended IN Assembly April 16, 2026 |
| Amended IN Assembly April 07, 2026 |
| Introduced by Assembly Member Carrillo |
February 20, 2026 |
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
It is the intent of the Legislature that, if a successor agency to the Public Utilities Commission is created, the successor agency include low-income telecommunications oversight within its scope and purview.(a)There is hereby established a Low-Income Oversight Board that shall advise the commission on low-income electricity, gas, telecommunications, and water customer issues and shall serve as a liaison for the commission to low-income ratepayers and representatives. The Low-Income Oversight Board shall replace the Low-Income Advisory Board in existence on January 1, 2000. The Low-Income Oversight Board shall do all of the following to advise the commission regarding the commission’s duties:
(1)Monitor and evaluate implementation of all programs provided to low-income electricity, gas, telecommunications, and water customers.
(2)Assist in the development and analysis of any assessments of low-income customer need.
(3)Encourage collaboration between state and utility programs for low-income electricity and gas customers to maximize the leverage of state and federal energy efficiency funds to both lower the bills and increase the comfort of low-income customers.
(4)Provide reports to the Legislature, as requested, summarizing the assessment of need, audits, and analysis of program implementation.
(5)Assist in streamlining the application and enrollment process of programs for low-income electricity and gas customers with general low-income programs, including, but not limited to, the Universal Lifeline Telephone Service (ULTS) program and compliance with Section 739.1.
(6)Encourage the usage of the network of community service providers in accordance with Section 381.5.
(b)The Low-Income Oversight Board shall comprise 13 members to be selected as follows:
(1)Six members selected by the commission who have expertise in the low-income community and who are not affiliated with any state agency or utility group. These members shall be selected in a manner to ensure an equitable geographic distribution.
(2)One member selected by the Governor.
(3)One member selected by the commission who is a commissioner or commissioner designee.
(4)One member selected by the Department of Community Services and Development.
(5)One member selected by the commission who is a representative of private weatherization contractors.
(6)One member selected by the commission who is a representative of an electrical or gas corporation.
(7)One member selected by the commission who is a representative of a water corporation.
(8)One member selected by the commission who is a representative of wireless lifeline providers and is affiliated with a provider with headquarters in the state.
(c)The Low-Income Oversight Board shall alternate meeting locations between northern, central, and southern California.
(d)The Low-Income Oversight Board may establish a technical advisory committee consisting of low-income service providers, utility representatives, consumer organizations, and commission staff, to assist the board and may request utility representatives and commission staff to assist the technical advisory committee.
(e)The commission shall do all of the following in conjunction with the board:
(1)Work with the board, interested parties, and community-based organizations to increase participation in programs for low-income customers.
(2)Provide technical support to the board.
(3)Ensure that the energy burden of low-income electricity and gas customers is reduced.
(4)Provide formal notice of board meetings in the commission’s daily calendar.
(f)(1)Members of the board and members of the technical advisory committee shall be eligible for compensation in accordance with state guidelines for necessary travel.
(2)Members of the board and members of the technical advisory committee who are not salaried state service employees shall be eligible for reasonable compensation for attendance at board meetings.
(3)All reasonable costs incurred by the board in carrying out its duties pursuant to subdivision (a), including staffing, travel, and administrative costs, shall be reimbursed through the public utilities reimbursement account and shall be part of the budget of the commission and the commission shall consult with the board in the preparation of that portion of the commission’s annual proposed budget.
SEC. 3.SEC. 2.
871.6.
SEC. 3.
Section 872 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to read:872.
(a) There is hereby established a Low-Income Telecommunications Advisory Board, which shall advise the commission on low-income telecommunications customer issues and shall serve as a liaison for the commission to low-income customers and stakeholders. The Low-Income Telecommunications Advisory Board shall do all of the following to advise the commission regarding the commission’s duties:SEC. 4.
No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B 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 XIII B of the California Constitution.