S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
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                                  1201--A
     Cal. No. 126
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 10, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sens. PARKER, ADDABBO, COMRIE, HINCHEY -- read twice and
   ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee  on
   Energy  and Telecommunications -- reported favorably from said commit-
   tee, ordered to first and second report, ordered to a  third  reading,
   passed  by Senate and delivered to the Assembly, recalled, vote recon-
   sidered, 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, 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-w to read as follows:
   § 66-W. 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. (A) FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, "VETERAN" SHALL MEAN A  RESI-
 DENT  OF THE STATE WHO (I) IS THE PRIMARY NAMED UTILITY SERVICE ACCOUNT-
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD04720-05-3
 S. 1201--A                          2
 
 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 TWENTY, AS VERIFIED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF TAXA-
 TION  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 UTILITY SERVICE ACCOUNTHOLDER SHALL PROVIDE THE
 GAS CORPORATION,  ELECTRIC  CORPORATION  OR MUNICIPALITY AN AUTHENTICAT-
 ED COPY  OF  HIS  OR   HER   DISCHARGE PAPERS TO BE  ELIGIBLE  FOR  SUCH
 DISCOUNT TO DEMONSTRATE ELIGIBILITY UNDER PARAGRAPH (A) OF THIS SUBDIVI-
 SION.
   § 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. (A) FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, "VETERAN" SHALL MEAN A  RESI-
 DENT  OF  THE STATE WHO (I) IS THE PRIMARY NAMED WATERWORKS OR MUNICIPAL
 WATER SYSTEM SERVICE 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 TWENTY, AS  VERI-
 FIED  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  WATERWORKS OR MUNICIPAL WATER SYSTEM SERVICE
 ACCOUNTHOLDER SHALL PROVIDE THE WATERWORKS  CORPORATION   OR   MUNICIPAL
 WATER  SYSTEM  AN AUTHENTICATED COPY  OF  HIS  OR  HER  DISCHARGE PAPERS
 TO  BE ELIGIBLE FOR SUCH DISCOUNT TO DEMONSTRATE ELIGIBILITY UNDER PARA-
 GRAPH (A) OF THIS SUBDIVISION.
   § 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
 S. 1201--A                          3

 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, UNLESS THE COMMISSION DEEMS  IT  INSUFFI-
 CIENT 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
 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 TWENTY, AS VERIFIED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF TAXA-
 TION 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 TO DEMONSTRATE ELIGIBILITY UNDER
 PARAGRAPH (A) OF THIS SUBDIVISION.
   § 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, UNLESS THE COMMISSION DEEMS IT INSUFFI-
 CIENT 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.
 S. 1201--A                          4
 
   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 TWENTY, AS VERIFIED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF TAXA-
 TION  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  TO
 DEMONSTRATE ELIGIBILITY UNDER PARAGRAPH (A) OF THIS SUBDIVISION.
   § 5. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
 it shall have become a law.