SENATE BILL REPORT

SSB 6290

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

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 12, 1990; January 16, 1990

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6290 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Benitz, Chairman; Bluechel, Vice Chairman; Metcalf, Nelson, Patrick, Stratton, Sutherland, Williams.

Senate Staff:David Monthie (786-7198)

                  March 2, 1990

House Committe on Energy & Utilities

Rereferred House Committee on Appropriations

AS PASSED SENATE, FEBRUARY 6, 1990

BACKGROUND:

In 1987 the Legislature created the Telecommunications Devices for the Deaf (TDD) program.  That program, housed within the Office of Deaf Services at 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 a biennial budget for operational and capital costs to the UTC no later than March 1 prior to the biennium.  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 maximum amount of the excise tax is raised from 10 cents per line to 12 cents.  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.  The report must address revenues and expenditures, major policy or operational issues, and prioritization of services within limited revenues.

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.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    yes

Fiscal Note:      available

Effective Date:The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Senate Committee - Testified: Patty Hughes, DSHS (pro); Leon Curtis, DSHS (pro); Larry Petersen, TDD Adv. Comm. (pro); Ed Pottharst, TDD Adv. Comm. (pro); Jack Doyle, WITA (pro); Michael Izak, Washington Assoc. of the Deaf (pro); Mat Burns, Washington Assoc. of the Deaf (pro); Gerald Grimm (pro); Roger Pendergraft, Washington Assoc. for the Deaf (pro); Bob Bratton, GTE (pro)

HOUSE AMENDMENT:

The maximum amount of the TDD excise tax is left at the current level of ten cents per line.  The department is required to submit an annual budget for the TDD program to the UTC.  The first biennial report by the department to the Legislature is required to contain additional detail on the operation and financing of the TDD relay system.  Other technical changes are made.