Senate Bill S1557

Signed By Governor
2021-2022 Legislative Session

Requires the release of individuals from utility, phone and television contracts in instances of domestic violence

download bill text pdf

Sponsored By

Archive: Last Bill Status Via A4496 - Signed by Governor


  • Introduced
    • In Committee Assembly
    • In Committee Senate
    • On Floor Calendar Assembly
    • On Floor Calendar Senate
    • Passed Assembly
    • Passed Senate
  • Delivered to Governor
  • Signed By Governor

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Actions
Votes

Bill Amendments

co-Sponsors

2021-S1557 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:
A4496
Law Section:
Public Service Law
Laws Affected:
Add §48-a, Pub Serv L
Versions Introduced in 2019-2020 Legislative Session:
S5322, A9585

2021-S1557 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Requires the release of individuals from utility corporation services in instances of domestic violence where such individuals request to opt-out in writing and provide certain documents to the utility corporation.

2021-S1557 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2021-S1557 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   1557
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 13, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  PARKER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on  Energy  and  Telecommuni-
   cations
 
 AN  ACT  to  amend  the public service law, in relation to requiring the
   release of individuals from utility corporation services in  instances
   of domestic violence

   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
 48-a to read as follows:
   §  48-A.  UTILITY  SERVICES;  DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS. EVERY UTILITY
 CORPORATION SHALL ALLOW A PERSON WHO IS UNDER  A  SHARED  CONTRACT  WITH
 SUCH  UTILITY  CORPORATION  AND WHO IS A VICTIM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, TO
 OPT-OUT OF SUCH CONTRACT WITHOUT CHARGE WHEN  SUCH  PERSON  REQUESTS  TO
 OPT-OUT  IN  WRITING AND PROVIDES TO SUCH UTILITY CORPORATION ANY OF THE
 FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS, WHICH SHALL RELATE TO SUCH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, WITH-
 IN SIX MONTHS OF THE DOCUMENT'S ISSUANCE: (A) A VALID DOMESTIC  VIOLENCE
 INCIDENT  REPORT FORM, AS SUCH TERM IS DEFINED IN SUBDIVISION FIFTEEN OF
 SECTION EIGHT HUNDRED THIRTY-SEVEN OF THE EXECUTIVE  LAW;  (B)  A  VALID
 POLICE  REPORT;  (C) A VALID ORDER OF PROTECTION; (D) A SIGNED AFFIDAVIT
 FROM A LICENSED MEDICAL OR MENTAL HEALTH CARE PROVIDER,  EMPLOYEE  OF  A
 COURT ACTING WITHIN THE SCOPE OF HIS OR HER EMPLOYMENT, SOCIAL WORKER, A
 RAPE  CRISIS  COUNSELOR, AS DEFINED IN SECTION FORTY-FIVE HUNDRED TEN OF
 THE CIVIL PRACTICE LAW AND RULES, OR ADVOCATE ACTING  ON  BEHALF  OF  AN
 AGENCY THAT ASSISTS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS. A CLAIM FOR OPTING-OUT OF
 SUCH  CONTRACT  WITHOUT CHARGE SHALL BE MADE IN GOOD FAITH. SUCH UTILITY
 CORPORATION SHALL WAIVE THE OTHERWISE APPLICABLE CHARGES FOR SUCH PERSON
 REQUESTING TO OPT-OUT OF SUCH CONTRACT.
   § 2. This act  shall  take  effect  immediately  and  shall  apply  to
 contracts entered into on and after such effective date.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD07336-01-1
              

co-Sponsors

2021-S1557A - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:
A4496
Law Section:
Public Service Law
Laws Affected:
Add §48-a, Pub Serv L
Versions Introduced in 2019-2020 Legislative Session:
S5322, A9585

2021-S1557A - Summary

Requires the release of individuals from utility corporation services in instances of domestic violence where such individuals request to opt-out in writing and provide certain documents to the utility corporation.

2021-S1557A - Sponsor Memo

2021-S1557A - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  1557--A
     Cal. No. 118
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 13, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by Sens. PARKER, BROUK, GAUGHRAN, HELMING, HINCHEY, KENNEDY,
   MANNION -- read twice and ordered printed,  and  when  printed  to  be
   committed  to  the  Committee  on  Energy  and  Telecommunications  --
   reported favorably from said committee, ordered to  first  and  second
   report,  ordered to a third reading, passed by Senate and delivered to
   the Assembly, recalled, vote reconsidered, restored to third  reading,
   amended  and  ordered  reprinted,  retaining its place in the order of
   third reading
 
 AN ACT to amend the public service law and the general business law,  in
   relation  to  requiring the release of individuals from utility, phone
   and television contracts in instances of domestic violence
 
   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
 48-a to read as follows:
   § 48-A. UTILITY SERVICES; DOMESTIC  VIOLENCE  VICTIMS.  EVERY  UTILITY
 CORPORATION  SHALL  ALLOW  A  PERSON WHO IS UNDER A SHARED CONTRACT WITH
 SUCH UTILITY CORPORATION AND WHO IS A VICTIM OF  DOMESTIC  VIOLENCE,  TO
 OPT-OUT  OF  SUCH  CONTRACT  WITHOUT CHARGE WHEN SUCH PERSON REQUESTS TO
 OPT-OUT IN WRITING AND PROVIDES TO SUCH UTILITY CORPORATION ANY  OF  THE
 FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS, WHICH SHALL RELATE TO SUCH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, WITH-
 IN  SIX MONTHS OF THE DOCUMENT'S ISSUANCE: (A) A VALID DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
 INCIDENT REPORT FORM, AS SUCH TERM IS DEFINED IN SUBDIVISION FIFTEEN  OF
 SECTION  EIGHT  HUNDRED  THIRTY-SEVEN  OF THE EXECUTIVE LAW; (B) A VALID
 POLICE REPORT; (C) A VALID ORDER OF PROTECTION; (D) A  SIGNED  AFFIDAVIT
 FROM  A  LICENSED  MEDICAL OR MENTAL HEALTH CARE PROVIDER, EMPLOYEE OF A
 COURT ACTING WITHIN THE SCOPE OF HIS OR HER EMPLOYMENT, SOCIAL WORKER, A
 RAPE CRISIS COUNSELOR, AS DEFINED IN SECTION FORTY-FIVE HUNDRED  TEN  OF
 THE  CIVIL  PRACTICE  LAW  AND RULES, OR ADVOCATE ACTING ON BEHALF OF AN
 AGENCY THAT ASSISTS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS. A CLAIM FOR OPTING-OUT OF
 SUCH CONTRACT WITHOUT CHARGE SHALL BE MADE IN GOOD FAITH.  SUCH  UTILITY
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
              

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