January 13, 2016, Introduced by Senators ROBERTSON, O'BRIEN, KNOLLENBERG, WARREN, ZORN, GREGORY, JOHNSON, HERTEL, BIEDA, HOOD, KNEZEK, HUNE, SCHUITMAKER, SMITH, PAVLOV, BOOHER and EMMONS and referred to the Committee on Health Policy.
A bill to amend 1991 PA 179, entitled
"Michigan telecommunications act,"
by amending subheading E of article 3 and section 315 (MCL
484.2315), as amended by 2011 PA 58.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
E. SERVICES FOR THE HEARING IMPAIREDDEAF, DEAFBLIND, HARD OF
HEARING, OR SPEECH-IMPAIRED
Sec. 315. (1) The commission shall require each provider of
basic local exchange service to provide a text telephone-
telecommunications device for the deaf at cost to each individual
who
is certified as deaf, or deafblind,
hard of hearing, or
speech-
impaired by a licensed physician, licensed audiologist, or
qualified state agency, and to each public safety answering point
as defined in section 102 of the emergency 9-1-1 service enabling
act, 1986 PA 32, MCL 484.1102.
(2) The commission shall require each provider of basic local
exchange service to provide a telecommunication relay service
whereby
persons individuals using a text telephone-
telecommunications
device for the deaf can communicate with persons
individuals using a voice telephone through the use of third party
intervention or automated translation. Each provider of basic local
exchange service shall determine whether to provide a
telecommunication relay service on its own, jointly with other
basic local exchange providers, or by contract with other
telecommunication providers. The commission shall determine the
technical standards and essential features of text telephone and
telecommunication relay service to ensure their compatibility and
reliability.
(3) Rates and charges for calls placed through a
telecommunication relay service shall not exceed the rates and
charges for calls placed directly from the same originating
location to the same terminating location. Unless ordered by the
commission,
a provider of a telecommunications relay service shall
is
not be required to handle calls
from public telephones except
for calls charged collect or to cash, a credit card, or a third
party number.
(4) Notwithstanding any other provision of this act, a
provider may offer discounts on toll calls where a text telephone-
telecommunications device for the deaf is used. The commission
shall not prohibit such discounts on toll calls placed through a
telecommunication relay service.
(5) The commission shall establish a rate for each subscriber
line of a provider to allow the provider to recover costs incurred
under this section and may waive the costs assessed under this
section
to individuals who are deaf, or deafblind,
severely hearing
impaired
hard of hearing, or speech impaired. speech-impaired. The
rate established by the commission under this subsection may be
assessed as a line item on an end-user's bill.