Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications Program.

The California Assembly Committee on Budget proposes extending the Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications Program's funding mechanism through 2034, maintaining the Public Utilities Commission's authority to collect up to $100 million annually through customer surcharges. The program provides specialized telecommunications devices and services to deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals at no additional cost beyond basic exchange rates.

The legislation modifies the commission's oversight role by eliminating its requirement to conduct annual surcharge reviews and adjustments. Instead, the commission would make recommendations to the Legislature regarding program appropriations, with collected surcharges transferred directly to the State Controller for deposit into the program's administrative fund. The program continues to require annual legislative appropriations to authorize surcharge collection and fund disbursement.

The bill preserves existing criminal penalties for violations of commission orders while specifying that local agencies need not be reimbursed for associated costs. Designated as urgency legislation, the measure would take effect immediately upon enactment to prevent any interruption in telecommunications services for deaf and hard-of-hearing residents.