Assembly Bill A11090

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   11090
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                              April 24, 2026
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. HOOKS -- read once and referred to the Committee
   on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
 
 AN ACT to amend the public service law,  in  relation  to  enacting  the
   "automatic utility deferment act"
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may  be  cited  as
 the "automatic utility deferment act".
   §  2.  The public service law is amended by adding a new section 119-f
 to read as follows:
   § 119-F. AUTOMATIC UTILITY  DEFERMENT  FOR  STATE  EMPLOYEES.  1.  FOR
 PURPOSES  OF  THIS SECTION, THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING
 MEANINGS:
   (A) "PAYROLL FREEZE" SHALL MEAN ANY PERIOD IN  WHICH  NEW  YORK  STATE
 EMPLOYEES  DO NOT RECEIVE SCHEDULED COMPENSATION DUE TO A LAPSE OR DELAY
 IN ENACTED APPROPRIATIONS.
   (B) "COVERED EMPLOYEE" SHALL MEAN ANY INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYED ON  THE  NEW
 YORK STATE PAYROLL, INCLUDING STATE AGENCY EMPLOYEES, LEGISLATIVE STAFF,
 AND ELECTED OFFICIALS.
   (C) "REGULATED UTILITY PROVIDER" SHALL MEAN ANY GAS CORPORATION, ELEC-
 TRIC CORPORATION, GAS AND ELECTRIC CORPORATION, WATER CORPORATION, STEAM
 CORPORATION,  MUNICIPALITY  RENDERING  EQUIVALENT  UTILITY  SERVICES  OR
 INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER SUBJECT TO REGULATION BY THE COMMISSION.
   (D) "DEFERMENT PERIOD" SHALL MEAN THE DURATION BEGINNING ON THE DATE A
 PAYROLL FREEZE TAKES EFFECT AND ENDING  ON  THE  DATE  FULL  PAYROLL  IS
 RESTORED.
   (E)  "INTERNET  SERVICE  PROVIDER"  MEANS ANY TELEPHONE CORPORATION OR
 CABLE TELEVISION COMPANY THAT  PROVIDES  INDIVIDUALS,  CORPORATIONS,  OR
 OTHER ENTITIES WITH THE ABILITY TO CONNECT TO THE INTERNET.
   2.  UPON THE COMMENCEMENT OF A PAYROLL FREEZE RESULTING FROM A FAILURE
 TO ENACT THE STATE BUDGET BY THE FIRST OF APRIL IN  A  GIVEN  YEAR,  ALL
 REGULATED  UTILITY  PROVIDERS SHALL AUTOMATICALLY SUSPEND TERMINATION OF
 SERVICE AND WAIVE LATE PAYMENT PENALTIES FOR COVERED EMPLOYEES  FOR  THE
 DURATION OF THE DEFERMENT PERIOD.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD15541-01-6
 A. 11090                            2
 
   3.  SUCH DEFERMENT PERIOD SHALL APPLY AUTOMATICALLY TO COVERED EMPLOY-
 EES FOLLOWING THE DECLARATION OF A PAYROLL FREEZE. NO APPLICATION  SHALL
 BE NECESSARY FOR COVERED EMPLOYEES TO BE GRANTED SUCH DEFERMENT PERIOD.
   4.  DEFERRED  UTILITY BALANCES SHALL BE REPAID BY THE COVERED EMPLOYEE
 ON A STRUCTURED PAYMENT PLAN, COMMENCING NO SOONER THAN SIXTY DAYS AFTER
 FULL PAYROLL RESTORATION, DIVIDED OVER A PERIOD  NOT  TO  EXCEED  TWELVE
 MONTHS.
   5.  THE  COMMISSION SHALL HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO ENFORCE THE PROVISIONS
 OF THIS SECTION, AND A REGULATED UTILITY CORPORATION WHICH VIOLATES  ANY
 PROVISION  OF  THIS SECTION SHALL BE SUBJECT TO PENALTIES AS PROVIDED IN
 SECTION TWENTY-FIVE OF THIS CHAPTER OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE PROVISION OF
 THIS CHAPTER.
   6. REGULATED UTILITY PROVIDERS SHALL NOT REPORT DEFERRED  BALANCES  TO
 CREDIT  REPORTING  AGENCIES  DURING  ANY  DEFERMENT PERIOD OR DURING ANY
 STRUCTURE REPAYMENT PERIOD.
   7. NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL BE CONSTRUED TO  PERMANENTLY  FORGIVE
 OR ELIMINATE ANY UTILITY DEBT OWED BY A COVERED EMPLOYEE.
   §  3.  Section 32 of the public service law is amended by adding a new
 subdivision 3-a to read as follows:
   3-A. A UTILITY CORPORATION OR MUNICIPALITY SHALL  BE  PROHIBITED  FROM
 TERMINATING ANY RESIDENTIAL UTILITY SERVICE OF A CUSTOMER WHO IS A STATE
 EMPLOYEE PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION ONE HUNDRED NINETEEN-F OF
 THIS CHAPTER.
   § 4. This act shall take effect immediately.