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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR Jennings

DATE TYPED 2/23/05

HB

SHORT TITLE Cramming and Slamming Attorney Fee

SB 901

ANALYST Wilson

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

FY05

FY06

Minimal

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Administrative Office the Courts (AOC)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 901 amends Section 63-9G-5 NMSA 1978 to provide for the awarding of reasonable

attorney fees to a customer, upon a finding by the Public Regulation Commission that a provider

engaged in cramming or slamming , disconnected or threatened to disconnect a customer’s local

exchange service.

Significant Issues

This will allow a consumer to recover legitimate expenses in defending mistreatment by a tele-

phone company.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

There will be a minimal administrative cost for statewide update, distribution, and documenta-

tion of statutory changes. Any additional fiscal impact on the judiciary would be proportional to

the enforcement of this law and commenced proceedings. New laws, amendments to existing

laws, and new hearings have the potential to increase caseloads in the courts, thus requiring addi-

tional resources to handle the increase.

DW/yr