BILL NUMBER: S8534
SPONSOR: PARKER
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public service law and the state finance law, in
relation to establishing the furloughed or non-pay federal workers
revolving loan program and fund; and providing for the repeal of such
provisions upon expiration thereof
 
PURPOSE OF GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To establish the furloughed or non-pay federal workers revolving loan
program and fund.
 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of the public service law is amended by adding a new section
66-p; furloughed or non-pay federal workers loan program. The Public
Service Commission shall:
1. Create a furloughed or non-pay federal workers revolving loan program
in order to provide zero percent interest loans to residential electric
and natural gas customers who have been either furloughed or designated
non-pay federal employees due to a period of a lapse in discretionary
appropriations by the federal government in order to assist such custom-
ers in paying their electric and gas bills.
2. Make loans for the payment of electric and gas bills by eligible
customers.
3. Receive application for loans by residential electric and natural gas
customers who have been either furloughed or designated non-pay federal
employees due to a period of a lapse in discretionary appropriations by
the federal government. Every application shall be in a form acceptable
to the commission and shall require documentation demonstrating finan-
cial need and that the applicant has been furloughed or designated non-
pay as a result of a period of a lapse in discretionary appropriations
by the federal government.
Section 2 amends the state finance law by adding a new section 99-ff to
establish furloughed or non-pay federal workers revolving loan fund by
joint custody of the comptroller and the public service commission. Such
fund shall consist of moneys made available pursuant to appropriation
and any other sources in order to provide zero percent interest loans to
residential electric and natural gas customers who have been either
furloughed or designated non-pay federal employees pursuant to section
sixty-six-p of the public service law.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
With no end in sight, the Federal Government shutdown of 2019 represents
an unprecedented loss of income for the many federal government workers
in New York State. Unfortunately, during this cold winter, the demands
of expensive utility bills are very real. When the Federal Government
has failed us, New York State should do whatever we can to help families
to pay their expensive utilities on time. It is imperative utility loans
become available for the furloughed workers who will not receive compen-
sation until the Federal Government shutdown of 2019 is over. This
legislation will, assist furloughed workers in utility payment and
protect Federal Employees and their families from the economic loss of
having to borrow money at high interest rates to pay their expensive
winter utility bills. In addition, the available loans will protect
Federal employees and their families from possible damage to their cred-
it by not being able to make utility payments.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2019 - Energy & Telecommunications
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately