Senate Sponsors: SULLIVAN. Short description: GAS UTILITY RATES ENVIRN COSTS Synopsis of Bill as introduced: Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that, before hiring an employee or independent contractor for work involving facilities used for the distribution of natural gas, a public utility must conduct a background check to determine the employee's or contractor's reliability and safety record. Provides that when a utility performs work on equipment that contains or may contain mercury or other hazardous material and is located on a customer's property the utility must provide notice to the customer and test for contamination. Provides that expenditures by a natural gas utility for fines and remediation and related activities in connection with an environmental violation shall not be included in determining the rates for that utility. Effective immediately. Last action on Bill: SESSION SINE DIE Last action date: 01-01-09 Location: Senate Amendments to Bill: AMENDMENTS ADOPTED: HOUSE - 0 SENATE - 0 END OF INQUIRY Full Text Bill Status