S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
10001
I N A S S E M B L Y
March 7, 2018
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Introduced by M. of A. PAULIN, ABINANTI, GALEF, SEAWRIGHT, COLTON,
D'URSO, ORTIZ -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. COOK, GLICK -- read
once and referred to the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and
Commissions
AN ACT to amend the public service law and the general business law, in
relation to requiring the notification of the department of public
service of an incident involving damage to any underground facilities
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 119-b of the public service law is amended by
adding a new subdivision 9 to read as follows:
9. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY GENERAL OR SPECIAL LAW TO THE CONTRARY, EACH
OPERATOR SHALL GIVE NOTICE TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EACH INCIDENT INVOLVING
DAMAGES TO UNDERGROUND FACILITIES AT THE EARLIEST PRACTICABLE MOMENT
FOLLOWING DISCOVERY OF SAID INCIDENT, IN SUCH FORM AS THE DEPARTMENT MAY
REQUIRE. WITHIN SIXTY DAYS OF NOTICE OF AN INCIDENT UNDER THIS SECTION
AND AFTER A PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL POST A
NOTICE ON ITS WEBSITE DESCRIBING WHETHER IT WILL INVESTIGATE THE INCI-
DENT TO DETERMINE ITS CAUSE OR CAUSES AND ANY CONTRIBUTING FACTORS. IN
THE EVENT THE DEPARTMENT DETERMINES NOT TO INVESTIGATE THE INCIDENT, IT
SHALL SET FORTH THE REASONS FOR ITS DECISION. NOTHING IN THIS SECTION
SHALL BE CONSTRUED TO AFFECT OR MODIFY THE AUTHORITY OF THE COMMISSIONER
UNDER STATE OR FEDERAL LAW.
§ 2. Section 763 of the general business law is amended by adding a
new subdivision 4 to read as follows:
4. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY GENERAL OR SPECIAL LAW TO THE CONTRARY, EACH
OPERATOR SHALL GIVE NOTICE TO THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SERVICE OF EACH
INCIDENT INVOLVING DAMAGES TO UNDERGROUND FACILITIES AT THE EARLIEST
PRACTICABLE MOMENT FOLLOWING DISCOVERY OF SAID INCIDENT, IN SUCH FORM AS
SUCH DEPARTMENT MAY REQUIRE. WITHIN SIXTY DAYS OF NOTICE OF AN INCIDENT
UNDER THIS SECTION AND AFTER A PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION, THE DEPARTMENT
OF PUBLIC SERVICE SHALL POST A NOTICE ON ITS WEBSITE DESCRIBING WHETHER
IT WILL INVESTIGATE THE INCIDENT TO DETERMINE ITS CAUSE OR CAUSES AND
ANY CONTRIBUTING FACTORS. IN THE EVENT THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SERVICE
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07596-01-7
A. 10001 2
DETERMINES NOT TO INVESTIGATE THE INCIDENT, IT SHALL SET FORTH THE
REASONS FOR ITS DECISION. NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL BE CONSTRUED TO
AFFECT OR MODIFY THE AUTHORITY OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION UNDER
STATE OR FEDERAL LAW.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.