HB16-1376 Summary

• Expands Office of Consumer Counsel (OCC) authority to advocate on behalf of consumers beyond electric and gas utilities to include telecommunications, water, taxi and bus services, and all public utilities defined under Colorado's Public Utilities Law.

• Redefines "public utility" in OCC statute to mean any public utility as defined in section 40-1-103 or a transportation network company as defined in section 40-10.1-602.

• Requires appropriations for OCC operations to come from the Telecommunications Utility Fund, Public Utilities Commission Fixed Utility Fund, and Motor Carrier Fund based on resource allocation, eliminating General Fund appropriations.

• Appropriates $131,800 from the Motor Carrier Fund for fiscal year 2016-17, including $63,143 for OCC personal services (0.8 FTE), $30,653 for operating expenses, and $38,004 for legal services through the Department of Law.

• Takes effect August 10, 2016, unless a referendum petition is filed, in which case it requires voter approval at the November 2016 general election.