S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
3831
2009-2010 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 28, 2009
___________
Introduced by M. of A. LENTOL -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Governmental Operations
AN ACT to amend the executive law, the general city law and the public
service law, in relation to live telephone representatives
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The executive law is amended by adding a new article 20-A
to read as follows:
ARTICLE 20-A
LIVE TELEPHONE REPRESENTATIVES OF STATE AGENCIES
SECTION 560. LIVE TELEPHONE REPRESENTATIVES OF STATE AGENCIES.
S 560. LIVE TELEPHONE REPRESENTATIVES OF STATE AGENCIES. 1. EVERY
STATE AGENCY:
(A) SHALL ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN A PUBLIC TELEPHONE NUMBER WITH A LIVE
AGENCY REPRESENTATIVE TO ANSWER INCOMING CALLS DURING REGULAR BUSINESS
HOURS FOR THE PURPOSE OF RECEIVING COMPLAINTS FROM AND PROVIDING INFOR-
MATION TO MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC; OR
(B) THAT USES A MENU DRIVEN, AUTOMATED, INTERACTIVE TELEPHONE ANSWER-
ING SYSTEM TO RESPOND TO INCOMING CALLS DURING REGULAR BUSINESS HOURS,
SHALL INCLUDE THE OPTION OF TRANSFERRING TO A LIVE REPRESENTATIVE IN THE
INITIAL RECORDED MESSAGE, AND SHALL ALSO PROVIDE FOR THE AUTOMATIC
TRANSFER OF THE CALLER TO A LIVE REPRESENTATIVE IF AT ANY TIME DURING
THE CALL THE CALLER FAILS TO INTERACT WITH THE SYSTEM FOR A PERIOD OF
TEN SECONDS FOLLOWING ANY PROMPT.
2. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, "STATE AGENCY" SHALL MEAN A STATE
AGENCY AS DEFINED IN SECTION THREE HUNDRED TEN OF THIS CHAPTER.
S 2. The general city law is amended by adding a new section 18-e to
read as follows:
S 18-E. LIVE TELEPHONE REPRESENTATIVES OF CITY AGENCIES.
1. EVERY CITY AGENCY:
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05871-01-9
A. 3831 2
(A) SHALL ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN A PUBLIC TELEPHONE NUMBER WITH A LIVE
AGENCY REPRESENTATIVE TO ANSWER INCOMING CALLS DURING REGULAR BUSINESS
HOURS FOR THE PURPOSE OF RECEIVING COMPLAINTS FROM AND PROVIDING INFOR-
MATION TO MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC; OR
(B) THAT USES A MENU DRIVEN, AUTOMATED, INTERACTIVE TELEPHONE ANSWER-
ING SYSTEM TO RESPOND TO INCOMING CALLS DURING REGULAR BUSINESS HOURS,
SHALL INCLUDE THE OPTION OF TRANSFERRING TO A LIVE REPRESENTATIVE IN THE
INITIAL RECORDED MESSAGE, AND SHALL ALSO PROVIDE FOR THE AUTOMATIC
TRANSFER OF THE CALLER TO A LIVE REPRESENTATIVE IF AT ANY TIME DURING
THE CALL THE CALLER FAILS TO INTERACT WITH THE SYSTEM FOR A PERIOD OF
TEN SECONDS FOLLOWING ANY PROMPT.
2. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, "CITY AGENCY" SHALL MEAN ANY AGENCY,
DEPARTMENT, DIVISION, BOARD, COMMISSION OR BUREAU OF A CITY.
S 3. The public service law is amended by adding a new article 12 to
read as follows:
ARTICLE 12
LIVE TELEPHONE REPRESENTATIVES OF GAS CORPORATIONS, ELECTRIC
CORPORATIONS AND TELEPHONE CORPORATIONS
SECTION 250. LIVE TELEPHONE REPRESENTATIVES OF GAS CORPORATIONS, ELEC-
TRIC CORPORATIONS AND TELEPHONE CORPORATIONS.
S 250. LIVE TELEPHONE REPRESENTATIVES OF GAS CORPORATIONS, ELECTRIC
CORPORATIONS AND TELEPHONE CORPORATIONS. EVERY GAS, ELECTRIC AND TELE-
PHONE CORPORATION:
(A) SHALL ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN A PUBLIC TELEPHONE NUMBER WITH A LIVE
REPRESENTATIVE TO ANSWER INCOMING CALLS DURING REGULAR BUSINESS HOURS
FOR THE PURPOSE OF RECEIVING COMPLAINTS FROM AND PROVIDING INFORMATION
TO MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC; OR
(B) THAT USES A MENU DRIVEN, AUTOMATED, INTERACTIVE TELEPHONE ANSWER-
ING SYSTEM TO RESPOND TO INCOMING CALLS DURING REGULAR BUSINESS HOURS,
SHALL INCLUDE THE OPTION OF TRANSFERRING TO A LIVE REPRESENTATIVE IN THE
INITIAL RECORDED MESSAGE, AND SHALL ALSO PROVIDE FOR THE AUTOMATIC
TRANSFER OF THE CALLER TO A LIVE REPRESENTATIVE IF AT ANY TIME DURING
THE CALL THE CALLER FAILS TO INTERACT WITH THE SYSTEM FOR A PERIOD OF
TEN SECONDS FOLLOWING ANY PROMPT.
S 4. This act shall take effect January 1, 2011.