February 15, 2000

Mr. Speaker:

Your JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, to whom has been referred

SENATE BILL 196, as amended

has had it under consideration and reports same with recommendation that it DO PASS, amended as follows:

1. On page 1, line 13, after the semicolon insert "AMENDING, REPEALING AND ENACTING SECTIONS OF THE NMSA 1978;".

2. On page 2, between lines 13 and 14, insert the following new sections:

"Section 2. Section 62-8-10 NMSA (being Laws 1977, Chapter 175, Section 1, as amended) is repealed and a new Section 62-8-10 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read:

"62-8-10. [NEW MATERIAL] UTILITY SERVICE--SERIOUSLY ILL INDIVIDUALS.--Utility service shall not be discontinued to any residence where a seriously or chronically ill person is residing if the person responsible for the utility service charges does not have the financial resources to pay the charges and if a licensed physician, physician assistant, osteopathic physician, osteopathic physician's assistant or certified nurse practitioner certifies that discontinuance of service might endanger that person's health or life and the certificate is delivered to a manager or officer of the provider of the utility service at least two days prior to the due date of a billing for service. The commission shall provide by rule the procedure necessary to carry out this section."

"Section 3. Laws 1998, Chapter 108, Section 82 is amended to read:

"Section 82. DELAYED REPEAL.--The following are repealed effective July 1, 2003:

A. the Public Utility Act, except for Section 62-8-10 NMSA 1978;

B. Chapter 63, Article 7 NMSA 1978;

C. the Telephone and Telegraph Company Certification Act;

D. the New Mexico Telecommunications Act; and

E. the Cellular Telephone Services Act."".

3. Renumber the succeeding section accordingly.

Respectfully submitted,

R. David Pederson, Chairman

Adopted Not Adopted

(Chief Clerk) (Chief Clerk)

The roll call vote was 11 For 0 Against

Yes: 11

Excused: Luna

Absent: None

.132661.2

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