BILL NUMBER: S5509
SPONSOR: PARKER
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public service law and the general business law, in
relation to requiring the display of a notice of responsibilities to
protect underground facilities
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This bill would require entities that lease excavation equipment to
provide notice to lessees of equipment about their responsibility to
protect underground facilities.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section one amends section 119-b of the public service law by adding a
new subdivision 9 requiring entities leasing excavation equipment to
provide lessees with notice of their responsibility to protect under-
ground facilities.
Section two amends subdivision 2 of section 761 of the general business
law by adding a new paragraph h stating that operators of underground
facilities provide entities that lease excavation equipment with the
telephone number of the system and a model notice to provide to equip-
ment lessees.
Section three is the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Underground facilities such as pipelines and wires have been damaged in
the past by users of excavation equipment. Though there are reminders
for users of such equipment to call before digging, these incidents
continue to occur. This bill would require those leasing such equipment
to provide users with notice of their responsibility to take steps to
protect underground facilities.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2024- S9260- REFERRED TO ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
None.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it
shall have become a law.

Statutes affected:
S5509: 119-b public service law, 761 general business law, 761(2) general business law