Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications Program.

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and digest do not provide details on penalties for non-compliance with the requirements imposed on phone companies, so this claim was removed.

Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications Program Extension

AB-142 extends funding for a program that helps deaf and disabled people get the telecommunications equipment they need until December 31, 2034.

What This Bill Does

• Extends the requirement for the Public Utilities Commission to collect money from phone companies to fund the Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications Program until December 31, 2034.
• Requires the collected funds to be sent to a special account called the Administrative Committee Fund.
• Removes the commission's ability to adjust the surcharge amount but allows them to suggest changes to how money is spent in the program.

Who It Names or Affects

• People who are deaf or have disabilities and need special telecommunications equipment.
• Phone companies that must pay a surcharge to fund the program.
• The Public Utilities Commission, which collects money from phone companies and manages the program.

Terms To Know

Surcharge

An extra fee added to phone bills to help fund special programs for people who need it.

Administrative Committee Fund

A special account where money collected from the surcharge is kept and used to support the Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications Program.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify how much money will be collected each year after 2025.
• It's unclear what specific changes might be suggested by the commission regarding appropriations under the program.

Official Summary Text

AB 142, as amended, Committee on Budget.
Budget Act of 2025.
Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications Program.
Existing law establishes the Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications Program and required the Public Utilities Commission to administer a surcharge to collect revenues of up to $100,000,000 per year until January 1, 2025, subject to an annual appropriation of moneys by the Legislature, to allow providers of equipment and service pursuant to the Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications Program to recover their costs as they are incurred. Existing law establishes the Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications Program Administrative Committee Fund for the program described above.
This bill would extend the requirement on the commission to collect the surcharge described above until December 31, 2034, subject to annual appropriation of moneys by the Legislature, and would
require the commission to transfer moneys it collects from the surcharge to the Controller for deposit into the Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications Program Administrative Committee Fund.
Existing law requires the commission to annually review the surcharge level and the balances in the fund identified above. Existing law authorized, until January 1, 2025, the commission to make necessary adjustments to the surcharge to ensure that the programs supported by the surcharge are adequately funded and that the fund balances are not excessive, as defined.
This bill would repeal that requirement and, instead, would authorize the commission to make recommendations to the Legislature regarding appropriations under the Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications Program.
Under existing law, a violation of an order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the commission is a crime.
Because a violation of a commission action implementing this bill’s requirements would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.
This bill would express the intent of the Legislature to enact statutory changes relating to the Budget Act of 2025.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF