The bill amends Section 39-1.1-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 39-1.1, which pertains to the termination of utility services to persons who are disabled, seriously ill, or in arrears of payment. The amendment includes new provisions for determining which individuals are subject to nontermination due to serious illness. It specifies that a licensed physician can initially certify a serious illness via telephone, but must provide written certification within seven days. The utility company must acknowledge this certification and inform the customer of the termination date, which is now set as the last day of the period specified by the physician for the duration of the illness. If the physician does not specify the duration or if it is not readily ascertainable, the termination date is extended to not less than three months from the receipt of the written certification. The bill also allows for a review process to determine the continuation of the initial exemption.

The bill also includes deletions from the current law. It removes the provision that the termination date must be "not less than three weeks" from the certification and replaces it with the new terms mentioned above. Additionally, it clarifies that nontermination does not relieve the customer of liability for utility services incurred. The act would take effect upon passage and aims to provide extended protection for customers with serious illnesses, ensuring they have a longer period before utility services can be terminated.

Statutes affected:
7715: 39-1.1-2