BILL NUMBER: S9080
SPONSOR: PARKER
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public service law, in relation to enacting the
"protect our most vulnerable act"
 
SUBJECT AND PURPOSE:
The purpose of this bill is to amend by rider a new section thirty-four
a and eighty-nine q.
 
SUMMARY AND DESCRIPTION OF PROVISIONS: Section 1. Protect our most
vulnerable act
Section 2. subdivision 3 of section 32 of the public service law, added
by 713 of the law of 1981
Section 3. The public service law is amended by adding a new section 34
a, which states that no utility corporation or municipality shall
discontinue gas or electric service to elderly customers located
anywhere in the state provided that customer is making good faith
payments. The utility corporation or municipality shall not discontinue
gas or electricity to elderly for nonpayment rendered services unless
that such corporation or municipality gives clear documentation evidence
in a process showing customer failed to make payment. The utility or
municipality shall not interfere with elderly customers' ability to make
payments. If the utility corporation or municipality found engaging in
misconduct shall be subjected to additional oversight and give compli-
ance plans and heightened reports must be provided to the committee.
Misconduct shall include failure to process the payment, the misrepre-
sentation of customer history, and the attempt to discontinue services.
The commission shall require each utility corporation or municipality to
submit annual reports, and the commission shall conduct audits, an issue
corrective action orders and impose fine or penalties.
Section 4. The public service is amended by adding a new section 89-q,
which states that discontinuation of water service to elderly customers.
No water works corporations or municipal water systems shall discontinue
residential water service to an elderly customer located anywhere in
this state provided that elderly customer is making good faith payments.
The water-work corporation shall not discontinue service to elderly
customers for nonpayment unless customer fails to make payment. Water
works corporations and municipal water systems shall not prevent or
interfere elderly customers form making payments and if misconduct
engage in misconduct under this section have additional oversight by the
commission by submitting compliance plan and heightened reporting and
the commission shall conduct audits and issue corrective action orders
an impose fines and penalties.
Section 5. This bill shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it
shall become a law.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New Bill
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect effective immediately, the addition, amend-
ment and/or repeal any rule regulation necessary for the implementation
of this on its effective date are authorized to be completed on or
before such date

Statutes affected:
S9080: 32 public service law, 32(3) public service law