FINAL BILL REPORT

SSB 6290

                              C 89 L 90

BYSenate Committee on Energy & Utilities (originally sponsored by Senators Benitz, Stratton, Williams, Nelson, Bluechel, Metcalf and Owen)

Revising provisions for telecommunications devices for the hearing impaired and speech impaired and repealing the expiration date.

Senate Committee on Energy & Utilities

House Committe on Energy & Utilities

Rereferred House Committee on Appropriations

SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

BACKGROUND:

In 1987 the Legislature created the Telecommunications Devices for the Deaf (TDD) program.  That program, housed within the Office of Deaf Services at the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), provides TDD's and other devices for telecommunications services to those persons of school age or older that are certified as hearing impaired.  The legislation also created a TDD Advisory Committee that was directed to study the feasibility of implementing a cost-effective statewide relay service that would allow telecommunications between the hearing impaired and hearing persons.  The Office of Deaf Services was directed to implement a statewide relay service pursuant to the advisory committee's recommendations.  The relay service began operation in November 1989.  The program is funded by an excise tax on each local switched access phone line, not to exceed 10 cents per line, as determined by the Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC).  Authorization for these programs expires June 30, 1990.

Pending federal legislation would require all states to implement statewide relay service systems that would meet specified minimum requirements.  This legislation may contain a funding provision different from the one established by the Legislature for this state in 1987.

SUMMARY:

Persons certified as speech-impaired are eligible to receive TDD and related devices.  The TDD Advisory Committee's size is limited to no more than 13 members, and guidelines are provided for appointments to it.  The department is required to submit an annual budget for operational and capital costs to the UTC no later than March 1 each year.  The UTC is to determine the amount of TDD excise tax for each local line and notify local exchange companies no later than May 15 of the amount, which is to be imposed by the local exchange companies as of July 1.  The Office of Deaf Services is to establish and implement a policy for the return and ultimate ownership of TDD and other devices that are no longer being used.

The department is required to submit a biennial report on the operation of the program to the Legislature, with the first one due no later than December 1, 1990.  Each report must address income and expenditures, major policy or operational issues, and prioritization of services within limited revenues.  The first such report must contain additional detail on the operation and financing of the relay system.

The UTC and the department are responsible for insuring that the program complies with federal requirements and for informing the Legislature of any state legislation that may be necessary to comply.

The June 30, 1990 expiration date for the program is repealed.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

     Senate   47    0

     House 97  0 (House amended)

     Senate   45    0 (Senate concurred)

EFFECTIVE:March 19, 1990