S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   10313
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                               May 13, 2022
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  COMMITTEE ON RULES -- (at request of M. of A. Cusick) --
   read once and referred to the Committee on  Corporations,  Authorities
   and Commissions
 
 AN  ACT  to  amend  the  public service law, in relation to establishing
   discount programs for veterans
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section  1.  The public service law is amended by adding a new section
 66-s to read as follows:
   § 66-S. UTILITY DISCOUNT PROGRAM.   1. (A) NOTWITHSTANDING  ANY  OTHER
 PROVISION OF LAW, THE COMMISSION IS AUTHORIZED AND DIRECTED TO REQUIRE A
 GAS  CORPORATION,  ELECTRIC  CORPORATION  OR MUNICIPALITY TO ESTABLISH A
 DISCOUNT PROGRAM FOR VETERANS NO LATER THAN NINETY DAYS AFTER THE EFFEC-
 TIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION. SUCH PROGRAM SHALL OFFER A YEARLY BENEFIT  TO
 VETERANS  IN  THE  FORM  OF A TEN PERCENT DISCOUNT ON UTILITY BILLS. THE
 FISCAL IMPACT OF SUCH PROGRAM SHALL NOT BE BORNE BY CUSTOMERS AND  SHALL
 NOT  BE  ADDED  TO  BILLS RENDERED BY A GAS CORPORATION, ELECTRIC CORPO-
 RATION OR MUNICIPALITY TO CUSTOMERS.
   (B) A GAS CORPORATION,  ELECTRIC  CORPORATION  OR  MUNICIPALITY  WHICH
 OFFERS  SUCH  DISCOUNT  PROGRAM SHALL CONSPICUOUSLY ADVERTISE THE AVAIL-
 ABILITY AND AMOUNT OF SUCH DISCOUNT ON THE WEBSITE OF  SUCH  GAS  CORPO-
 RATION,  ELECTRIC  CORPORATION  OR  MUNICIPALITY.  THE  AVAILABILITY AND
 AMOUNT OF SUCH DISCOUNT SHALL ALSO BE CONSPICUOUSLY  ADVERTISED  ON  THE
 ACCESSIBILITY  PAGE  OF  THE  WEBSITE  OF SUCH GAS CORPORATION, ELECTRIC
 CORPORATION OR MUNICIPALITY.
   2. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, "VETERAN" SHALL MEAN  A  RESIDENT
 OF  THE  STATE  WHO  SERVED IN AND WHO RECEIVED ANY HONORABLE OR GENERAL
 DISCHARGE FROM THE UNITED STATES ARMY, NAVY, AIR  FORCE,  MARINE  CORPS,
 COAST GUARD AND/OR THE RESERVES THEREOF, AND/OR THE ARMY NATIONAL GUARD,
 AIR NATIONAL GUARD, NEW YORK GUARD OR NEW YORK NAVAL MILITIA.
   § 2. The public service law is amended by adding a new section 89-q to
 read as follows:
   §  89-Q.  WATER  DISCOUNT  PROGRAM.  1.  (A) NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER
 PROVISION OF LAW, THE COMMISSION IS AUTHORIZED AND DIRECTED  TO  REQUIRE
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD14947-01-2
 A. 10313                            2
 
 WATERWORKS  CORPORATIONS  AND  MUNICIPAL  WATER  SYSTEMS  TO ESTABLISH A
 DISCOUNT PROGRAM FOR VETERANS NO LATER THAN NINETY DAYS AFTER THE EFFEC-
 TIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION.  SUCH PROGRAM SHALL OFFER A YEARLY BENEFIT TO
 VETERANS  IN  THE FORM OF A TEN PERCENT DISCOUNT ON WATER UTILITY BILLS.
 THE FISCAL IMPACT OF SUCH PROGRAM SHALL NOT BE BORNE  BY  CUSTOMERS  AND
 SHALL  NOT  BE  ADDED  TO  BILLS RENDERED BY A WATERWORKS CORPORATION OR
 MUNICIPAL WATER SYSTEM TO CUSTOMERS.
   (B) A WATERWORKS CORPORATION OR MUNICIPAL WATER  SYSTEM  WHICH  OFFERS
 SUCH DISCOUNT PROGRAM SHALL CONSPICUOUSLY ADVERTISE THE AVAILABILITY AND
 AMOUNT OF SUCH DISCOUNT ON THE WEBSITE OF SUCH WATERWORKS CORPORATION OR
 MUNICIPAL  WATER  SYSTEM.  THE  AVAILABILITY AND AMOUNT OF SUCH DISCOUNT
 SHALL ALSO BE CONSPICUOUSLY ADVERTISED ON THE ACCESSIBILITY PAGE OF  THE
 WEBSITE OF SUCH WATERWORKS CORPORATION OR MUNICIPAL WATER SYSTEM.
   2.  FOR  THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, "VETERAN" SHALL MEAN A RESIDENT
 OF THE STATE WHO SERVED IN AND WHO RECEIVED  ANY  HONORABLE  OR  GENERAL
 DISCHARGE  FROM  THE  UNITED STATES ARMY, NAVY, AIR FORCE, MARINE CORPS,
 COAST GUARD AND/OR THE RESERVES THEREOF, AND/OR THE ARMY NATIONAL GUARD,
 AIR NATIONAL GUARD, NEW YORK GUARD OR NEW YORK NAVAL MILITIA.
   § 3. The public service law is amended by adding a new section 91-b to
 read as follows:
   § 91-B. TELEPHONE DISCOUNT PROGRAM. 1. (A) NOTWITHSTANDING  ANY  OTHER
 PROVISION OF LAW, THE COMMISSION IS AUTHORIZED AND DIRECTED TO REQUIRE A
 TELEPHONE  CORPORATION  TO  ESTABLISH A DISCOUNT PROGRAM FOR VETERANS NO
 LATER THAN NINETY DAYS AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF  THIS  SECTION.  SUCH
 PROGRAM  SHALL  OFFER  A YEARLY BENEFIT TO VETERANS IN THE FORM OF A TEN
 PERCENT DISCOUNT ON TELEPHONE BILLS. THE FISCAL IMPACT OF  SUCH  PROGRAM
 SHALL NOT BE BORNE BY CUSTOMERS AND SHALL NOT BE ADDED TO BILLS RENDERED
 BY A TELEPHONE CORPORATION TO CUSTOMERS.
   (B)  A  TELEPHONE CORPORATION WHICH OFFERS SUCH DISCOUNT PROGRAM SHALL
 CONSPICUOUSLY ADVERTISE THE AVAILABILITY AND AMOUNT OF SUCH DISCOUNT  ON
 THE  WEBSITE  OF SUCH TELEPHONE CORPORATION. THE AVAILABILITY AND AMOUNT
 OF SUCH DISCOUNT SHALL ALSO BE CONSPICUOUSLY ADVERTISED ON THE  ACCESSI-
 BILITY PAGE OF THE WEBSITE OF SUCH TELEPHONE CORPORATION.
   2.  FOR  THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, "VETERAN" SHALL MEAN A RESIDENT
 OF THE STATE WHO SERVED IN AND WHO RECEIVED  ANY  HONORABLE  OR  GENERAL
 DISCHARGE  FROM  THE  UNITED STATES ARMY, NAVY, AIR FORCE, MARINE CORPS,
 COAST GUARD AND/OR THE RESERVES THEREOF, AND/OR THE ARMY NATIONAL GUARD,
 AIR NATIONAL GUARD, NEW YORK GUARD OR NEW YORK NAVAL MILITIA.
   § 4. The public service law is amended by adding a new  section  224-d
 to read as follows:
   §  224-D.  CABLE  DISCOUNT  PROGRAM.  1. (A) NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER
 PROVISION OF LAW, THE COMMISSION IS AUTHORIZED AND DIRECTED TO REQUIRE A
 TELEPHONE CORPORATION, AS DEFINED IN SUBDIVISION  SEVENTEEN  OF  SECTION
 TWO  OF  THIS  CHAPTER,  AND  A  CABLE TELEVISION COMPANY, AS DEFINED IN
 SECTION TWO HUNDRED TWELVE OF THIS ARTICLE, THAT PROVIDES CABLE  SERVICE
 TO  CUSTOMERS  IN NEW YORK, TO ESTABLISH A DISCOUNT PROGRAM FOR VETERANS
 NO LATER THAN NINETY DAYS AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION. SUCH
 PROGRAM SHALL OFFER A YEARLY BENEFIT TO VETERANS IN THE FORM  OF  A  TEN
 PERCENT DISCOUNT ON CABLE BILLS. THE FISCAL IMPACT OF SUCH PROGRAM SHALL
 NOT  BE BORNE BY CUSTOMERS AND SHALL NOT BE ADDED TO BILLS RENDERED BY A
 TELEPHONE CORPORATION OR CABLE TELEVISION COMPANY TO CUSTOMERS.
   (B) A TELEPHONE CORPORATION OR CABLE TELEVISION COMPANY  WHICH  OFFERS
 SUCH DISCOUNT PROGRAM SHALL CONSPICUOUSLY ADVERTISE THE AVAILABILITY AND
 AMOUNT  OF SUCH DISCOUNT ON THE WEBSITE OF SUCH TELEPHONE CORPORATION OR
 CABLE TELEVISION COMPANY. THE AVAILABILITY AND AMOUNT OF  SUCH  DISCOUNT
 A. 10313                            3
 
 SHALL  ALSO BE CONSPICUOUSLY ADVERTISED ON THE ACCESSIBILITY PAGE OF THE
 WEBSITE OF SUCH TELEPHONE CORPORATION OR CABLE TELEVISION COMPANY.
   2.  FOR  THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, "VETERAN" SHALL MEAN A RESIDENT
 OF THE STATE WHO SERVED IN AND WHO RECEIVED  ANY  HONORABLE  OR  GENERAL
 DISCHARGE  FROM  THE  UNITED STATES ARMY, NAVY, AIR FORCE, MARINE CORPS,
 COAST GUARD AND/OR THE RESERVES THEREOF, AND/OR THE ARMY NATIONAL GUARD,
 AIR NATIONAL GUARD, NEW YORK GUARD OR NEW YORK NAVAL MILITIA.
   § 5. This act shall take effect immediately.

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                 10313--A
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                               May 13, 2022
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  COMMITTEE ON RULES -- (at request of M. of A. Cusick) --
   read once and referred to the Committee on  Corporations,  Authorities
   and   Commissions  --  committee  discharged,  bill  amended,  ordered
   reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
 
 AN ACT to amend the public service  law,  in  relation  to  establishing
   discount programs for veterans

   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. The public service law is amended by adding a  new  section
 66-t to read as follows:
   §  66-T.  UTILITY DISCOUNT PROGRAM.   1. (A) NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER
 PROVISION OF LAW, THE COMMISSION IS AUTHORIZED AND DIRECTED TO REQUIRE A
 GAS CORPORATION, ELECTRIC CORPORATION OR  MUNICIPALITY  TO  ESTABLISH  A
 DISCOUNT PROGRAM FOR VETERANS NO LATER THAN NINETY DAYS AFTER THE EFFEC-
 TIVE  DATE OF THIS SECTION. SUCH PROGRAM SHALL OFFER A YEARLY BENEFIT TO
 VETERANS IN THE FORM OF A TEN PERCENT DISCOUNT  ON  UTILITY  BILLS.  THE
 FISCAL  IMPACT OF SUCH PROGRAM SHALL NOT BE BORNE BY CUSTOMERS AND SHALL
 NOT BE ADDED TO BILLS RENDERED BY A  GAS  CORPORATION,  ELECTRIC  CORPO-
 RATION OR MUNICIPALITY TO CUSTOMERS.
   (B)  A  GAS  CORPORATION,  ELECTRIC  CORPORATION OR MUNICIPALITY WHICH
 OFFERS SUCH DISCOUNT PROGRAM SHALL CONSPICUOUSLY  ADVERTISE  THE  AVAIL-
 ABILITY  AND  AMOUNT  OF SUCH DISCOUNT ON THE WEBSITE OF SUCH GAS CORPO-
 RATION, ELECTRIC  CORPORATION  OR  MUNICIPALITY.  THE  AVAILABILITY  AND
 AMOUNT  OF  SUCH  DISCOUNT SHALL ALSO BE CONSPICUOUSLY ADVERTISED ON THE
 ACCESSIBILITY PAGE OF THE WEBSITE  OF  SUCH  GAS  CORPORATION,  ELECTRIC
 CORPORATION OR MUNICIPALITY.
   2.  FOR  THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, "VETERAN" SHALL MEAN A RESIDENT
 OF THE STATE WHO (A) IS THE PRIMARY NAMED UTILITY SERVICE ACCOUNTHOLDER;
 (B) HAS HAD A TOTAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME OF LESS THAN FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS
 FOR THE MOST RECENT TWO CONSECUTIVE INCOME TAX YEARS  BEGINNING  IN  TWO
 THOUSAND  NINETEEN,  AS  VERIFIED  BY  THE  DEPARTMENT  OF  TAXATION AND
 FINANCE; AND (C) SERVED IN AND WHO RECEIVED  ANY  HONORABLE  OR  GENERAL
 DISCHARGE  FROM  THE  UNITED STATES ARMY, NAVY, AIR FORCE, MARINE CORPS,
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD14947-05-2
              

 A. 10313--A                         2
 
 COAST GUARD AND/OR THE RESERVES THEREOF, AND/OR THE ARMY NATIONAL GUARD,
 AIR NATIONAL GUARD, NEW YORK GUARD OR NEW YORK NAVAL MILITIA.
   § 2. The public service law is amended by adding a new section 89-q to
 read as follows:
   §  89-Q.  WATER  DISCOUNT  PROGRAM.  1.  (A) NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER
 PROVISION OF LAW, THE COMMISSION IS AUTHORIZED AND DIRECTED  TO  REQUIRE
 WATERWORKS  CORPORATIONS  AND  MUNICIPAL  WATER  SYSTEMS  TO ESTABLISH A
 DISCOUNT PROGRAM FOR VETERANS NO LATER THAN NINETY DAYS AFTER THE EFFEC-
 TIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION.  SUCH PROGRAM SHALL OFFER A YEARLY BENEFIT TO
 VETERANS IN THE FORM OF A TEN PERCENT DISCOUNT ON WATER  UTILITY  BILLS.
 THE  FISCAL  IMPACT  OF SUCH PROGRAM SHALL NOT BE BORNE BY CUSTOMERS AND
 SHALL NOT BE ADDED TO BILLS RENDERED  BY  A  WATERWORKS  CORPORATION  OR
 MUNICIPAL WATER SYSTEM TO CUSTOMERS.
   (B)  A  WATERWORKS  CORPORATION OR MUNICIPAL WATER SYSTEM WHICH OFFERS
 SUCH DISCOUNT PROGRAM SHALL CONSPICUOUSLY ADVERTISE THE AVAILABILITY AND
 AMOUNT OF SUCH DISCOUNT ON THE WEBSITE OF SUCH WATERWORKS CORPORATION OR
 MUNICIPAL WATER SYSTEM. THE AVAILABILITY AND  AMOUNT  OF  SUCH  DISCOUNT
 SHALL  ALSO BE CONSPICUOUSLY ADVERTISED ON THE ACCESSIBILITY PAGE OF THE
 WEBSITE OF SUCH WATERWORKS CORPORATION OR MUNICIPAL WATER SYSTEM.
   2. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, "VETERAN" SHALL MEAN  A  RESIDENT
 OF  THE STATE WHO (A) IS THE PRIMARY NAMED WATERWORKS OR MUNICIPAL WATER
 SYSTEM SERVICE ACCOUNTHOLDER; (B) HAS HAD A TOTAL  HOUSEHOLD  INCOME  OF
 LESS  THAN  FIFTY  THOUSAND  DOLLARS FOR THE MOST RECENT TWO CONSECUTIVE
 INCOME TAX YEARS BEGINNING IN TWO THOUSAND NINETEEN, AS VERIFIED BY  THE
 DEPARTMENT  OF  TAXATION AND FINANCE; AND (C) SERVED IN AND WHO RECEIVED
 ANY HONORABLE OR GENERAL DISCHARGE FROM THE UNITED  STATES  ARMY,  NAVY,
 AIR FORCE, MARINE CORPS, COAST GUARD AND/OR THE RESERVES THEREOF, AND/OR
 THE  ARMY NATIONAL GUARD, AIR NATIONAL GUARD, NEW YORK GUARD OR NEW YORK
 NAVAL MILITIA.
   § 3. The public service law is amended by adding a new section 91-b to
 read as follows:
   § 91-B. TELEPHONE DISCOUNT PROGRAM. 1. (A) NOTWITHSTANDING  ANY  OTHER
 PROVISION OF LAW, THE COMMISSION IS AUTHORIZED AND DIRECTED TO REQUIRE A
 TELEPHONE  CORPORATION  TO  ESTABLISH A DISCOUNT PROGRAM FOR VETERANS NO
 LATER THAN NINETY DAYS AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF  THIS  SECTION.  SUCH
 PROGRAM  SHALL  OFFER  A YEARLY BENEFIT TO VETERANS IN THE FORM OF A TEN
 PERCENT DISCOUNT ON TELEPHONE BILLS. THE FISCAL IMPACT OF  SUCH  PROGRAM
 SHALL NOT BE BORNE BY CUSTOMERS AND SHALL NOT BE ADDED TO BILLS RENDERED
 BY A TELEPHONE CORPORATION TO CUSTOMERS.
   (B)  A  TELEPHONE CORPORATION WHICH OFFERS SUCH DISCOUNT PROGRAM SHALL
 CONSPICUOUSLY ADVERTISE THE AVAILABILITY AND AMOUNT OF SUCH DISCOUNT  ON
 THE  WEBSITE  OF SUCH TELEPHONE CORPORATION. THE AVAILABILITY AND AMOUNT
 OF SUCH DISCOUNT SHALL ALSO BE CONSPICUOUSLY ADVERTISED ON THE  ACCESSI-
 BILITY PAGE OF THE WEBSITE OF SUCH TELEPHONE CORPORATION.
   (C)  PARTICIPATION  IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S LIFELINE OR AFFORDABLE
 CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM, OR ANY SUCCESSOR PROGRAM THE COMMISSION SHALL DEEM
 SUFFICIENT, SHALL SATISFY THE TELEPHONE  CORPORATION'S  OR  CABLE  TELE-
 VISION  COMPANY'S OBLIGATION TO ESTABLISH A DISCOUNT PROGRAM UNDER PARA-
 GRAPH (A) OF THIS SUBDIVISION, PROVIDED THAT  THE  COMMISSION  DEEMS  IT
 SUFFICIENT TO SATISFY SUCH REQUIREMENTS.
   (D)  BEFORE  APPLYING  A DISCOUNT UNDER PARAGRAPH (A) OF THIS SUBDIVI-
 SION, A TELEPHONE CORPORATION MAY REQUIRE PROOF OF ELIGIBILITY FROM  THE
 PRIMARY  NAMED  TELEPHONE SERVICE ACCOUNTHOLDER FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR IN
 WHICH THE DISCOUNT IS SOUGHT.
   2. (A) FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, "VETERAN" SHALL MEAN A  RESI-
 DENT  OF  THE  STATE  WHO  (I)  IS  THE  PRIMARY NAMED TELEPHONE SERVICE
 A. 10313--A                         3
 
 ACCOUNTHOLDER; (II) HAS HAD A TOTAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME OF LESS THAN  FIFTY
 THOUSAND  DOLLARS  FOR  THE MOST RECENT TWO CONSECUTIVE INCOME TAX YEARS
 BEGINNING IN TWO THOUSAND NINETEEN, AS VERIFIED  BY  THE  DEPARTMENT  OF
 TAXATION AND FINANCE; AND (III) SERVED IN AND WHO RECEIVED ANY HONORABLE
 OR  GENERAL  DISCHARGE  FROM  THE  UNITED  STATES ARMY, NAVY, AIR FORCE,
 MARINE CORPS, COAST GUARD AND/OR THE RESERVES THEREOF, AND/OR  THE  ARMY
 NATIONAL  GUARD,  AIR  NATIONAL  GUARD, NEW YORK GUARD OR NEW YORK NAVAL
 MILITIA.
   (B) A PRIMARY NAMED TELEPHONE SERVICE ACCOUNTHOLDER SHALL PROVIDE  THE
 TELEPHONE  CORPORATION  AN  AUTHENTICATED  COPY  OF HIS OR HER DISCHARGE
 PAPERS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR SUCH DISCOUNT.
   § 4. The public service law is amended by adding a new  section  224-d
 to read as follows:
   §  224-D.  CABLE  DISCOUNT  PROGRAM.  1. (A) NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER
 PROVISION OF LAW, THE COMMISSION IS AUTHORIZED AND DIRECTED TO REQUIRE A
 TELEPHONE CORPORATION, AS DEFINED IN SUBDIVISION  SEVENTEEN  OF  SECTION
 TWO  OF  THIS  CHAPTER,  AND  A  CABLE TELEVISION COMPANY, AS DEFINED IN
 SECTION TWO HUNDRED TWELVE OF THIS ARTICLE, THAT PROVIDES CABLE  SERVICE
 TO  CUSTOMERS  IN NEW YORK, TO ESTABLISH A DISCOUNT PROGRAM FOR VETERANS
 NO LATER THAN NINETY DAYS AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION. SUCH
 PROGRAM SHALL OFFER A YEARLY BENEFIT TO VETERANS IN THE FORM  OF  A  TEN
 PERCENT DISCOUNT ON CABLE BILLS. THE FISCAL IMPACT OF SUCH PROGRAM SHALL
 NOT  BE BORNE BY CUSTOMERS AND SHALL NOT BE ADDED TO BILLS RENDERED BY A
 TELEPHONE CORPORATION OR CABLE TELEVISION COMPANY TO CUSTOMERS.
   (B) A TELEPHONE CORPORATION OR CABLE TELEVISION COMPANY  WHICH  OFFERS
 SUCH DISCOUNT PROGRAM SHALL CONSPICUOUSLY ADVERTISE THE AVAILABILITY AND
 AMOUNT  OF SUCH DISCOUNT ON THE WEBSITE OF SUCH TELEPHONE CORPORATION OR
 CABLE TELEVISION COMPANY. THE AVAILABILITY AND AMOUNT OF  SUCH  DISCOUNT
 SHALL  ALSO BE CONSPICUOUSLY ADVERTISED ON THE ACCESSIBILITY PAGE OF THE
 WEBSITE OF SUCH TELEPHONE CORPORATION OR CABLE TELEVISION COMPANY.
   (C) PARTICIPATION IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S LIFELINE  OR  AFFORDABLE
 CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM, OR ANY SUCCESSOR PROGRAM THE COMMISSION SHALL DEEM
 SUFFICIENT,  SHALL  SATISFY  THE  TELEPHONE CORPORATION'S OR CABLE TELE-
 VISION COMPANY'S OBLIGATION TO ESTABLISH A DISCOUNT PROGRAM UNDER  PARA-
 GRAPH  (A)  OF  THIS  SUBDIVISION, PROVIDED THAT THE COMMISSION DEEMS IT
 SUFFICIENT TO SATISFY SUCH REQUIREMENTS.
   (D) BEFORE APPLYING A DISCOUNT UNDER PARAGRAPH (A)  OF  THIS  SUBDIVI-
 SION,  A  TELEPHONE  CORPORATION OR CABLE TELEVISION COMPANY MAY REQUIRE
 PROOF OF ELIGIBILITY FROM THE PRIMARY NAMED CABLE SERVICE  ACCOUNTHOLDER
 FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR IN WHICH THE DISCOUNT IS SOUGHT.
   2.  (A) FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, "VETERAN" SHALL MEAN A RESI-
 DENT OF THE STATE WHO (I) IS THE PRIMARY NAMED  CABLE  SERVICE  ACCOUNT-
 HOLDER;  (II)  HAS HAD A TOTAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME OF LESS THAN FIFTY THOU-
 SAND DOLLARS FOR THE  MOST  RECENT  TWO  CONSECUTIVE  INCOME  TAX  YEARS
 BEGINNING  IN  TWO  THOUSAND  NINETEEN, AS VERIFIED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF
 TAXATION AND FINANCE;  AND  (III)  RECEIVED  ANY  HONORABLE  OR  GENERAL
 DISCHARGE  FROM  THE  UNITED STATES ARMY, NAVY, AIR FORCE, MARINE CORPS,
 COAST GUARD AND/OR THE RESERVES THEREOF, AND/OR THE ARMY NATIONAL GUARD,
 AIR NATIONAL GUARD, NEW YORK GUARD OR NEW YORK NAVAL MILITIA.
   (B) A PRIMARY NAMED CABLE  SERVICE  ACCOUNTHOLDER  SHALL  PROVIDE  THE
 TELEPHONE  CORPORATION  OR THE CABLE TELEVISION COMPANY AN AUTHENTICATED
 COPY OF HIS OR HER DISCHARGE PAPERS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR SUCH DISCOUNT.
   § 5. This act shall take effect immediately.