Minnesota Session Laws - 1997, Regular Session

                            CHAPTER 234-S.F.No. 740 
                  An act relating to utilities; requiring a review of 
                  the state telephone assistance program; establishing 
                  pilot programs for voice messaging assistance. 
        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
           Section 1.  [TELEPHONE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM; REVIEW AND 
        RECOMMENDATIONS.] 
           The commissioner of human services, in consultation with 
        the public utilities commission and the commissioner of public 
        service, shall convene a working group to review the state 
        telephone assistance program, Minnesota Statutes, sections 
        237.69 to 237.711.  The working group shall develop and submit 
        recommendations to the legislature by January 15, 1998, which 
        conform the state program to the federal report and order on 
        universal service issued May 8, 1997, by the federal 
        communications commission, and which provide the best package of 
        assistance to needy telecommunications consumers.  Members of 
        the working group shall include representatives of the office of 
        the attorney general, telecommunications providers, and consumer 
        organizations representing the interests of seniors, children, 
        the disabled, and low-income utility consumers.  The public 
        utilities commission and the commissioner of public service 
        shall take all steps necessary to preserve the eligibility of 
        current telephone assistance program participants. 
           Sec. 2.  [COMMUNITY VOICE MESSAGING; PILOT PROGRAMS.] 
           (a) The commissioner of the department of human services 
        shall develop and implement, by July 1, 1997, two pilot programs 
        to provide voice messaging services for individuals who do not 
        have a telephone and who meet the income criteria in Minnesota 
        Statutes 1996, section 237.70, subdivision 4a.  One pilot 
        program should be in the metropolitan area and one in greater 
        Minnesota.  The commissioner shall contract with a nonprofit, 
        community-based voice messaging provider for the provision of 
        these services, and shall report to the legislature by December 
        31, 1998, regarding the demand for these services, the impact of 
        the availability of voice messaging on the individuals receiving 
        voice messaging services, and legislative recommendations 
        regarding the continued provision of such services. 
           (b) The public utilities commission shall provide up to $2 
        per month per active voice messaging account from the telephone 
        assistance fund established in Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 
        237.701, up to a total of $50,000 for these pilot programs, and 
        shall consider this additional use of the fund in establishing 
        the uniform statewide surcharge for the telephone assistance 
        plan. 
           Sec. 3.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
           Sections 1 and 2 are effective the day following final 
        enactment. 
           Presented to the governor May 29, 1997 
           Signed by the governor June 2, 1997, 2:20 p.m.