HB 1326 -- PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION ORDERS (Mays, 50)

This bill makes municipally-owned gas plants responsible for
paying not less than $100 and no more than $2,000 per offense
for violations of certain laws and Public Service Commission
rules.  Currently, the law applies to any corporation, person,
or public utility.

The bill also adds a provision for federally required state
remedies for violations of federal gas pipeline safety
standards.  The state remedy is a fine not to exceed $10,000 per
violation up to a maximum of $500,000 for any related series of
violations.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds.

HB 1326 -- PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION ORDERS

SPONSOR:  Mays (50)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Utilities
Regulation by a vote of 17 to 1.

This bill makes municipally-owned gas plants responsible for
paying not less than $100 and no more than $2,000 per offense
for violations of certain laws and Public Service Commission
rules.  Currently, the law applies to any corporation, person,
or public utility.

The bill also adds a provision for federally required state
remedies for violations of federal gas pipeline safety
standards.  The state remedy is a fine not to exceed $10,000 per
violation up to a maximum of $500,000 for any related series of
violations.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the penalties for violating gas
safety regulations are too low and that it is sometimes more
convenient for violators to pay the fines than to fix problems
quickly.  They also say that increasing the fines to the
federally required level will get the PSC its full allocation
from the federal Department of Transportation.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Mays (50); Public
Service Commission Chairwoman Sheila Lumpe; and Public Service
Commission Gas Safety Division Manager.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Donna Schlosser, Legislative Analyst

HB 1326 -- Public Service Commission Orders

Sponsor:  Mays (50)

This bill makes municipally owned gas plants responsible to pay
not less than $100 and no more than $2,000 per offense for
violations of certain laws and Public Service Commission rules.
Currently, the law applies to any corporation, person, or public
utility.

The bill also adds a provision for federally required state
remedies for violations of federal gas pipeline safety
standards.  The state remedy is a fine not to exceed $10,000 per
violation up to a maximum of $500,000 for any related series of
violations.