Assembly Bill A10585

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   10585
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                              March 13, 2026
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of  A. SANTABARBARA -- read once and referred to the
   Committee on Energy
 
 AN ACT to amend the public service law, in relation  to  establishing  a
   propane consumer pricing advisor and propane advisory board within the
   New York state department of public service
 
   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
 28 to read as follows:
   §  28.  PROPANE  CONSUMER PRICING ADVISOR; PROPANE ADVISORY BOARD.  1.
 THERE IS HEREBY  ESTABLISHED  WITHIN  THE  DEPARTMENT  THE  POSITION  OF
 PROPANE CONSUMER PRICING ADVISOR.
   2.  (A)  THERE  IS  HEREBY ESTABLISHED WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT A PROPANE
 ADVISORY BOARD WHICH SHALL CONSIST OF TWELVE MEMBERS AS FOLLOWS:
   (I) TWO REPRESENTATIVES FROM CONSUMER ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS;
   (II) TWO REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE PROPANE INDUSTRY;
   (III) TWO REPRESENTATIVES FROM SMALL BUSINESS STAKEHOLDERS;
   (IV) THREE REPRESENTATIVES FROM  RURAL  COMMUNITIES  WITHIN  NEW  YORK
 STATE; AND
   (V)  THREE  REPRESENTATIVES  FROM SUBURBAN COMMUNITIES WITHIN NEW YORK
 STATE.
   (B) THE PURPOSE OF SUCH BOARD SHALL BE TO ADVISE THE PROPANE  CONSUMER
 PRICING ADVISOR AND THE DEPARTMENT.
   3.  THE  PROPANE  CONSUMER  PRICING  ADVISOR, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE
 PROPANE ADVISORY BOARD, SHALL BE AUTHORIZED TO:
   (A) MONITOR STATEWIDE PROPANE PRICING TRENDS AND REGIONAL DISPARITIES;
   (B) COLLECT, ANALYZE AND PUBLISH AGGREGATE MARKET DATA;
   (C) REVIEW CONTRACT PRICES AND FEE STRUCTURES;
   (D) DEVELOP BEST-PRACTICE TRANSPARENCY GUIDELINES  FOR  PROPANE  BUSI-
 NESSES;
   (E)  ISSUE  ANNUAL  REPORTS  WITH  FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE
 GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE;
   (F) SERVE AS A RESOURCE FOR CONSUMERS NAVIGATING PROPANE  PRICING  AND
 SERVICE AGREEMENTS; AND
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD15159-01-6
 A. 10585                            2
 
   (G)  COORDINATE  AND  CONSULT  WITH  THE  OFFICE OF THE NEW YORK STATE
 ATTORNEY GENERAL IN  MATTERS  INVOLVING  CONSUMER  COMPLAINTS,  INVESTI-
 GATIONS  OR  LEGAL ACTIONS CONCERNING PROPANE COMPANIES, INCLUDING CASES
 INVOLVING CONSUMERS VERSUS PROPANE BUSINESSES.
   4.  NOTHING  IN  THIS  SECTION SHALL AUTHORIZE THE IMPOSITION OF PRICE
 CONTROLS. THE PURPOSE OF THIS SECTION SHALL BE TO PROMOTE  TRANSPARENCY,
 ACCOUNTABILITY, INFORMED CONSUMER CHOICE, AND INTERAGENCY COOPERATION TO
 ADDRESS UNFAIR OR DECEPTIVE PRACTICES.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.