SB358 Alabama 2011 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Trip Pittman

Republican

Co-Sponsor

Gerald O. Dial

Session

Regular Session 2011

Title

Public Service Commission, transfer of certain amount of funds from Dual Party Relay Fund to Education Trust Fund before certain designated dates, Sec. 37-1-80.2 am'd.

Summary

SB358 would authorize transferring seven and a half million dollars from the Dual Party Relay Fund to the Education Trust Fund on four specified dates.

What This Bill Does

The bill amends Section 37-1-80.2 to allow the Alabama Public Service Commission to transfer $7,500,000 from the Dual Party Relay Fund to the Education Trust Fund on four scheduled dates. The transfers would come from funds collected to support the Dual Party Relay System for deaf and hard-of-hearing people, which is funded by a surcharge on local exchange access lines. The Education Trust Fund would receive these transfers, potentially reducing the remaining balance available for relay system administration and related programs.

Who It Affects

• Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals who rely on the Dual Party Relay System, as the transfer could affect the fund available for system administration and services.
• Local telephone companies and state regulators (Alabama Public Service Commission and the Dual Party Relay Fund trustees) who collect, manage, and transfer the surcharge and supervise the Dual Party Relay Fund and its transactions.

Key Provisions

• Authorize and require the transfer of $7,500,000 from the Dual Party Relay Fund to the Education Trust Fund on Oct 15, 2011; Jan 15, 2012; Apr 15, 2012; and Jul 15, 2012.
• Continue to fund and administer the Dual Party Relay System through a surcharge on each access line collected by local exchange companies, with funds held in a separate Dual Party Relay Fund and used for the system and related purposes; surcharge remains the sole funding source and is not increased by other taxes.
• Governance and operational framework for the Dual Party Relay Fund and its trustees, including contracting, annual reporting, and immunities for trustees as described in the act.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Education Trust Fund