BILL NUMBER: S1236
SPONSOR: COMRIE
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public service law, in relation to virtual access to
public service commission proceedings
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To provide virtual participation in public service commission
proceedings SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends the public service law by adding a new section 28 to
require all public service commission proceedings have a virtual option
at the same level of engagement as the current in-person option.
Section 2 sets forth the effective date 90 days after the bill's
passage, provided any addition, amendment, and/or repeal of any rule or
regulation necessary for the implementation of this act is satisfied by
the commission.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
The public service commission (PSC) conducts evidentiary hearings,
procedural conferences, and other formal commission proceedings.
Participants are currently limited to in-person access to understand
what is being discussed at those meetings.
This bill would broaden the audience of those meetings and ensure rele-
vant public feedback is possible without individuals and groups commut-
ing to the setting in which these proceedings are conducted. More
public and stakeholder feedback would be possible should this bill
become law, and also enable those who potentially have a setting
conflict to provide the same level of engagement in proceedings as if
they were in person.
State level meetings and hearings are increasingly providing virtual
options. This legislation modernizes PSC proceedings and will ensure
that the public service commission has the greatest level of engagement
for sound decision-making.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
This is a new bill.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
Minimal to the state.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have
become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or
repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of
this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed
on or before such effective date.