NY State Senate Bill S1201

Current Bill Status - Passed Senate

Introduced
In Committee
On Floor Calendar
- Passed Senate
- Passed Assembly
Delivered to Governor
Signed/Vetoed by Governor

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Actions

view actions (7)

	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
May 31, 2023	referred to corporations, authorities and commissions delivered to assembly passed senate
Jan 23, 2023	advanced to third reading
Jan 18, 2023	2nd report cal.
Jan 17, 2023	1st report cal.126
Jan 10, 2023	referred to energy and telecommunications

Votes

view votes

May 31, 2023 - floor Vote

S1201

floor

Aye

Nay

Absent

Excused

Abstained

Jan 18, 2023 - Energy and Telecommunications committee Vote

S1201

committee

Aye

Nay

Aye with Reservations

Absent

Excused

Abstained

show Energy and Telecommunications committee vote details

Energy and Telecommunications Committee Vote: Jan 18, 2023

aye (7)

nay (1)

Walczyk

aye wr (1)

O'Mara

Co-Sponsors

S1201 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Assembly Corporations, Authorities And Commissions
Law Section:: Public Service Law
Laws Affected:: Add §§66-u, 89-q, 91-b & 224-d, Pub Serv L
Versions Introduced in 2021-2022 Legislative Session:: S8491

S1201 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Relates to establishing discount programs for veterans; provides that utilities, waterworks corporations, telephone corporations and cable television companies shall create discount programs that provide a 10 percent discount to veterans; defines terms.

S1201 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

 
BILL NUMBER: S1201

SPONSOR: PARKER
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the public service law, in relation to establishing
discount programs for veterans

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

To provide a discount for veterans in the state of New York for such
persons' utility bills.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 provides for the utility discount program. Authorizes and
directs the commission to require a gas corporation, electric corpo-
ration, or municipality to establish a discount program for veterans.
Delineates the eligibility requirements for veterans.

Section 2 provides the water discount program. Authorizes and directs
the commis- sion to require water-works corporations and municipal water

systems to establish a discount program for veterans. Delineates the
eligibility requirements for veterans.

Section 3 provides the telephone discount program. Authorizes and
directs the commission to require telephone corporations to provide a
discount program for veterans. Delineates the eligibility requirements
for veterans.

Section 4 provides for the cable television discount program.  Author-
izes and directs the commission to require telephone corporations and
cable television corporations to provide a discount program for veter-
ans. Delineates the eligibility requirements for veterans.

Section 5 sets the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Assistance in meeting the rising cost of utility rates is essential for
veterans who face special difficulty in meeting the financial demands.
The recent bill surges on customer utility bills due to supply side
limits left many with bills 4 times higher than expected. A 10% discount
would provide some relief to veterans.

Utility rate increases currently take up a considerable amount of low
income individuals' income, especially our veterans who are living on
fixed income. While supply costs and weather-related increases in energy
use are extracurricular elements, utility companies can use the billing
process as a tool to mitigate future supply cost volatility for our most
vulnerable customers.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2021-22: 58491 - COMMITTED TO RULES

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

None to the state.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

S1201 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   1201
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 10, 2023
                                ___________
 
 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 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-u to read as follows:
   § 66-U. 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-
 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
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD04720-01-3

 S. 1201                             2
 
 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
 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.
 S. 1201                             3
 
   (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.
   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
 S. 1201                             4
 
 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 immediately.

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The New York State Senate

senate Bill S1201

Sponsored By

Current Bill Status - Passed Senate

Your Voice

Actions

Votes

May 31, 2023 - floor Vote

Floor Vote: May 31, 2023

Jan 18, 2023 - Energy and Telecommunications committee Vote

Energy and Telecommunications Committee Vote: Jan 18, 2023

Co-Sponsors

S1201 (ACTIVE) - Details

S1201 (ACTIVE) - Summary

S1201 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

S1201 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

senate Bill S1201

Share this bill

Sponsored By

Kevin S. Parker

Current Bill Status - Passed Senate

Your Voice

Actions

Votes

May 31, 2023 - floor Vote

Floor Vote: May 31, 2023

Jan 18, 2023 - Energy and Telecommunications committee Vote

Energy and Telecommunications Committee Vote: Jan 18, 2023

Co-Sponsors

Joseph P. Addabbo Jr

Leroy Comrie

Michelle Hinchey

S1201 (ACTIVE) - Details

S1201 (ACTIVE) - Summary

S1201 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

S1201 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments