BILL NUMBER: S2416
SPONSOR: PARKER
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public service law and the general business law, in
relation to releasing victims of domestic violence from certain
contracts
 
PURPOSE:
This legislation would modify existing protections for domestic violence
survivors leaving shared contracts.
 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section one amends subdivision I of section 48-a of the public service
law.
Section two amends subdivision 1 of section 399-cccc of the general
business law. Section three amends subdivision 8 of section 91 of the
public service law. Section four amends subdivision 2 of section 299-yy
of the general business law. Section five amends subdivision I of
section 399-yyy of the general business law. Section six establishes the
effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Chapter 578 of 2022 permitted individuals experiencing domestic violence
to leave shared phone, cable and utility contracts without penalty.
Concerns have been raised, however, that abusers may attempt to seek
such accommodations in an effort to maintain power and control over
their victims.
This legislation would modify these protections by requiring companies
to permit one or more individuals under a shared contract to opt out of
such contract as well as prohibit such companies from transferring any
contractual or billing responsibility of shared contracts from the
primary account holder to any other account holders on the contract.
Additionally, this legislation would protect survivors by ensuring such
companies cannot refuse a new contract with anyone due to their status
as a domestic violence survivor.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-24:S7198A- referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Undetermined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately

Statutes affected:
S2416: 48-a public service law, 48-a(1) public service law, 399-cccc general business law, 399-cccc(1) general business law, 91 public service law, 91(8) public service law, 399-yy general business law, 399-yy(2) general business law, 399-yyy general business law, 399-yyy(1) general business law