Chapter 29
AN ACT
SB 41
Relating to assistance for low income telephone customers; amending
section 6, chapter 290, Oregon Laws 1987.
Be It Enacted by the People of
the State of
SECTION 1. Section 6, chapter 290, Oregon Laws 1987, as
amended by section 1, chapter 622, Oregon Laws 1991, is amended to read:
Sec.
6. (1) In carrying out the provisions of section 2, chapter 290,
Oregon Laws 1987, the Public Utility Commission shall establish a plan to
provide assistance to low income customers through differential rates or
otherwise. The plan of assistance shall be designed to use, to the maximum
extent possible, the available funding offered by the Federal Communications
Commission, and may provide different levels of assistance to low income
customers based upon differences in local exchange rates. The plan established
by the commission shall prescribe the amount of assistance to be provided and
the time and manner of payment.
(2) For the purpose of
establishing a plan to provide assistance to low income customers under this
section, the commission shall require all public utilities, cooperative
corporations[,] and unincorporated
associations providing local exchange telecommunication service to participate
in the plan, except as provided in subsection (3) of this section.
(3) In lieu of
participation in the commission’s plan to assist low income customers, a public
utility, cooperative corporation[,]
or unincorporated association providing local exchange telecommunication
service may apply to the commission to establish an alternative plan for the
purpose of carrying out the provisions of section 2, chapter 290, Oregon Laws
1987, for its own customers. The commission shall adopt standards for
determining the adequacy of alternative plans.
(4) The commission may
contract with any governmental agency to assist the commission in the
administration of any assistance plan adopted pursuant to this section.
(5)(a) As used in
sections 2 to 6, chapter 290, Oregon Laws 1987, “low income customer” means an
individual determined by the commission:
(A) To be receiving benefits from the federal
food stamp program or from another low income public assistance program for
which eligibility requirements limit participation to individuals with income
that does [do] not exceed 135
percent of [the poverty level. The
commission must be able to verify the individual’s continuing participation in
the qualifying program.] federal poverty
guidelines; or
(B) To be a resident of
a long term care facility, as defined in ORS 442.015, or a residential care
facility, as defined in ORS 443.400:
(i) Who receives medical
assistance under ORS chapter 414; and
(ii) Who has income that
does not exceed 135 percent of federal poverty guidelines.
(b) The commission must
be able to verify the continuing participation of a low income customer in a
program described in paragraph (a) of this subsection.
Approved by the Governor April 10, 2007
Filed in the office of Secretary of State April 11, 2007
Effective date January 1, 2008
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