S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
6836
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
March 14, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. ROSENTHAL -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
AN ACT to amend the public service law and the general business law, in
relation to releasing victims of domestic violence from certain
contracts
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 48-a of the public service law, as
amended by chapter 42 of the laws of 2023, is amended to read as
follows:
1. Every utility corporation shall allow a person who is under a
shared contract with such utility corporation to opt-out of such
contract without fee, penalty or charge when such person is a victim of
domestic violence and provides an attestation in writing that they no
longer wish to be a party to such contract due to their status as a
victim of domestic violence. SUCH UTILITY CORPORATION SHALL PERMIT A
VICTIM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TO SUBMIT SUCH WRITTEN ATTESTATION THROUGH
SECURE REMOTE MEANS THAT ARE EASILY NAVIGABLE, PROVIDED THAT REMOTE
OPTIONS ARE COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE AND TECHNICALLY FEASIBLE. SUCH UTIL-
ITY CORPORATION SHALL PERMIT ONE OR MORE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE UNDER A
SHARED CONTRACT TO OPT-OUT OF SUCH CONTRACT WITHOUT A FEE, PENALTY OR
CHARGE, REGARDLESS OF HOW MANY PERSONS PREVIOUSLY MADE SUCH OPT-OUT
REQUESTS OR WHEN, DURING THE TERM OF SUCH SHARED CONTRACT, SUCH REQUEST
WAS MADE TO SUCH UTILITY CORPORATION. Such utility corporation may not
require such person to disclose confidential information or details
relating to such person's status as a victim of domestic violence, as a
condition of permitting such person to opt-out of such contract. IF THE
PERSON MAKING SUCH REQUEST IS THE PRIMARY ACCOUNT HOLDER ON SUCH SHARED
CONTRACT, SUCH UTILITY CORPORATION SHALL BE PROHIBITED FROM TRANSFERRING
ANY CONTRACTUAL OR BILLING RESPONSIBILITY OF SUCH SHARED CONTRACT TO ANY
OTHER ACCOUNT HOLDERS ON SUCH SHARED CONTRACT. Further, such utility
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10839-01-5
A. 6836 2
corporation may not make release from such contract contingent on: (a)
maintaining contractual or billing responsibility of a separated account
with the provider; (b) approval of separation by the primary account
holder, if the primary account holder is not the person making such
request; or (c) a prohibition or limitation on the separation as a
result of arrears accrued by the account. NOR SHALL SUCH UTILITY CORPO-
RATION PROHIBIT A PERSON WHO HAD MADE AN OPT-OUT REQUEST FROM ENTERING
INTO A NEW CONTRACT WITH SUCH UTILITY CORPORATION. Such utility corpo-
ration shall release such person from such contract no later than
[seven] TWO BUSINESS days after receiving such opt-out request. IF A
PERSON MAKING SUCH REQUEST IS NOT THE PRIMARY ACCOUNT HOLDER, SUCH UTIL-
ITY CORPORATION SHALL NOTIFY THE PERSON MAKING SUCH REQUEST OF THE DATE
ON WHICH SUCH UTILITY CORPORATION INTENDS TO GIVE FORMAL NOTICE TO THE
PRIMARY ACCOUNT HOLDER. Such utility corporation shall dispose of infor-
mation submitted by such person no later than thirty days after receiv-
ing such information in a manner as to maintain confidentiality of such
information. SUCH UTILITY CORPORATION SHALL MAKE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS
OPTION AND PROCESS READILY AVAILABLE TO CONSUMERS ON SUCH UTILITY CORPO-
RATION'S WEBSITE AND MOBILE APPLICATION, IN PHYSICAL STORES, AND IN
OTHER FORMS OF PUBLIC-FACING CONSUMER COMMUNICATION.
§ 2. Subdivision 1 of section 399-cccc of the general business law, as
amended by chapter 42 of the laws of 2023, is amended to read as
follows:
1. Every provider of wireless telephone service, as defined in para-
graph (b) of subdivision one of section twelve hundred twenty-five-c of
the vehicle and traffic law, shall allow a person who is under a shared
phone plan contract with such provider to opt-out of such contract with-
out fee, penalty or charge when such person is a victim of domestic
violence and provides an attestation in writing that they no longer wish
to be a party to such contract due to their status as a victim of domes-
tic violence. SUCH PROVIDER OF WIRELESS TELEPHONE SERVICE SHALL PERMIT A
VICTIM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TO SUBMIT SUCH WRITTEN ATTESTATION THROUGH
SECURE REMOTE MEANS THAT ARE EASILY NAVIGABLE, PROVIDED THAT REMOTE
OPTIONS ARE COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE AND TECHNICALLY FEASIBLE. SUCH
PROVIDER OF WIRELESS TELEPHONE SERVICE SHALL PERMIT ONE OR MORE INDIVID-
UALS WHO ARE UNDER A SHARED CONTRACT TO OPT-OUT OF SUCH CONTRACT WITHOUT
FEE, PENALTY OR CHARGE, REGARDLESS OF HOW MANY PERSONS PREVIOUSLY MADE
SUCH OPT-OUT REQUESTS OR WHEN, DURING THE TERM OF SUCH SHARED CONTRACT,
SUCH REQUEST WAS MADE TO SUCH PROVIDER OF WIRELESS TELEPHONE SERVICE.
Such provider of wireless telephone service may not require such person
to disclose confidential information or details relating to such
person's status as a victim of domestic violence, as a condition of
permitting such person to opt-out of such contract. IF THE PERSON MAKING
SUCH REQUEST IS THE PRIMARY ACCOUNT HOLDER ON SUCH SHARED CONTRACT, SUCH
PROVIDER OF WIRELESS TELEPHONE SERVICE SHALL BE PROHIBITED FROM TRANS-
FERRING ANY CONTRACTUAL OR BILLING RESPONSIBILITY OF SUCH SHARED
CONTRACT TO ANY OTHER ACCOUNT HOLDERS ON SUCH SHARED CONTRACT. Further,
such provider of wireless telephone service may not make release from
such contract contingent on: (a) maintaining contractual or billing
responsibility of a separated account with the provider; (b) approval of
separation by the primary account holder, if the primary account holder
is not the person making such request; (c) a prohibition or limitation
on number portability or a request to change phone numbers; [or] (d) a
prohibition or limitation on the separation as a result of arrears
accrued by the account; OR (E) AN INCREASE IN THE RATE CHARGED FOR THE
MOBILE SERVICE PLAN OF THE PRIMARY ACCOUNT HOLDER WITH RESPECT TO
A. 6836 3
SERVICE ON ANY REMAINING LINE OR LINES. NOR SHALL SUCH PROVIDER OF
WIRELESS TELEPHONE SERVICE PROHIBIT A PERSON WHO HAS MADE AN OPT-OUT
REQUEST FROM ENTERING INTO A NEW CONTRACT WITH SUCH WIRELESS TELEPHONE
SERVICE. BEGINNING ON THE DATE ON WHICH A PROVIDER OF WIRELESS TELE-
PHONE SERVICE RELEASES A PERSON MAKING SUCH REQUEST FROM A SHARED PHONE
PLAN CONTRACT, THE PERSON MAKING SUCH REQUEST WILL HAVE NO FURTHER
FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES FOR ANY MOBILE DEVICE ASSOCIATED WITH SUCH
SHARED PHONE PLAN CONTRACT, UNLESS THE PERSON MAKING SUCH REQUEST
PURCHASED THE MOBILE DEVICE, OR AFFIRMATIVELY ELECTS TO MAINTAIN
POSSESSION OF THE MOBILE DEVICE. Such provider of wireless telephone
service shall release such person from such contract no later than
[seven] TWO BUSINESS days after receiving such opt-out request. IF A
PERSON MAKING SUCH REQUEST IS NOT THE PRIMARY ACCOUNT HOLDER, SUCH
PROVIDER OF WIRELESS TELEPHONE SERVICE SHALL NOTIFY THE PERSON MAKING
SUCH REQUEST OF THE DATE ON WHICH SUCH PROVIDER OF WIRELESS TELEPHONE
SERVICE INTENDS TO GIVE FORMAL NOTICE TO THE PRIMARY ACCOUNT HOLDER.
Such provider of wireless telephone service shall dispose of information
submitted by such person no later than thirty days after receiving such
information in a manner as to maintain confidentiality of such informa-
tion. SUCH PROVIDER OF WIRELESS TELEPHONE SERVICE SHALL MAKE INFORMA-
TION ABOUT THIS OPTION AND PROCESS READILY AVAILABLE TO CONSUMERS ON
SUCH WIRELESS TELEPHONE SERVICE PROVIDER'S WEBSITE AND MOBILE APPLICA-
TION, IN PHYSICAL STORES, AND IN OTHER FORMS OF PUBLIC-FACING CONSUMER
COMMUNICATION.
§ 3. Subdivision 8 of section 91 of the public service law, as amended
by chapter 42 of the laws of 2023, is amended to read as follows:
8. Every telephone corporation, as defined in this chapter, shall
allow a person who is under contract including, but not limited to, a
multi-year contract or bundle contract with such telephone corporation,
to opt-out of such contract without fee, penalty or charge when such
person is a victim of domestic violence and provides an attestation in
writing that they no longer wish to be a party to such contract due to
their status as a victim of domestic violence. SUCH TELEPHONE CORPO-
RATION SHALL PERMIT A VICTIM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TO SUBMIT SUCH WRITTEN
ATTESTATION THROUGH SECURE REMOTE MEANS THAT ARE EASILY NAVIGABLE,
PROVIDED THAT REMOTE OPTIONS ARE COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE AND TECHNICALLY
FEASIBLE. SUCH TELEPHONE CORPORATION SHALL PERMIT ONE OR MORE INDIVID-
UALS WHO ARE UNDER A SHARED CONTRACT TO OPT-OUT OF SUCH CONTRACT WITHOUT
FEE, PENALTY OR CHARGE, REGARDLESS OF HOW MANY PERSONS PREVIOUSLY MADE
SUCH OPT-OUT REQUESTS OR WHEN, DURING THE TERM OF SUCH SHARED CONTRACT,
SUCH REQUEST WAS MADE TO SUCH TELEPHONE CORPORATION. Such telephone
corporation may not require such person to disclose confidential infor-
mation or details relating to such person's status as a victim of domes-
tic violence, as a condition of permitting such person to opt-out of
such contract. IF THE PERSON MAKING SUCH REQUEST IS THE PRIMARY ACCOUNT
HOLDER ON SUCH SHARED CONTRACT, SUCH TELEPHONE CORPORATION SHALL BE
PROHIBITED FROM TRANSFERRING ANY CONTRACTUAL OR BILLING RESPONSIBILITY
OF SUCH SHARED CONTRACT TO ANY OTHER ACCOUNT HOLDERS ON SUCH SHARED
CONTRACT. Further, such telephone corporation may not make release from
such contract contingent on: (a) maintaining contractual or billing
responsibility of a separated line with the provider; (b) approval of
separation by the primary account holder, if the primary account holder
is not the person making such request; (c) a prohibition or limitation
on number portability or a request to change phone numbers; [or] (d) a
prohibition or limitation on the separation of lines as a result of
arrears accrued by the account; OR (E) AN INCREASE IN THE RATE CHARGED
A. 6836 4
FOR THE MOBILE SERVICE PLAN OF THE PRIMARY ACCOUNT HOLDER WITH RESPECT
TO SERVICE ON ANY REMAINING LINE OR LINES. NOR SHALL SUCH TELEPHONE
CORPORATION PROHIBIT A PERSON WHO HAS MADE AN OPT-OUT REQUEST FROM
ENTERING INTO A NEW CONTRACT WITH SUCH TELEPHONE CORPORATION. Such tele-
phone corporation shall release such person from such contract no later
than [seven] TWO BUSINESS days after receiving such opt-out request. IF
A PERSON MAKING SUCH REQUEST IS NOT THE PRIMARY ACCOUNT HOLDER, SUCH
TELEPHONE CORPORATION SHALL NOTIFY THE PERSON MAKING SUCH REQUEST OF THE
DATE ON WHICH SUCH TELEPHONE CORPORATION INTENDS TO GIVE FORMAL NOTICE
TO THE PRIMARY ACCOUNT HOLDER. Such telephone corporation shall dispose
of information submitted by such person no later than thirty days after
receiving such information in a manner as to maintain confidentiality of
such information. A claim for opting-out of such contract without charge
shall be made in good faith. Such telephone corporation shall waive the
otherwise applicable fee, penalty or charge for such person requesting
to opt-out of such contract. SUCH TELEPHONE CORPORATION SHALL MAKE
INFORMATION ABOUT THIS OPTION AND PROCESS READILY AVAILABLE TO CONSUMERS
ON SUCH TELEPHONE CORPORATION'S WEBSITE AND MOBILE APPLICATION, IN PHYS-
ICAL STORES, AND IN OTHER FORMS OF PUBLIC-FACING CONSUMER COMMUNICATION.
§ 4. Subdivision 2 of section 399-yy of the general business law, as
amended by chapter 42 of the laws of 2023, is amended to read as
follows:
2. Every cable television company, as defined in section two hundred
twelve of the public service law, that provides television and/or tele-
phone service to customers in New York under contract including, but not
limited to a multi-year contract or bundled contract with such cable
television company, shall allow a person to opt-out of such contract
without fee, penalty or charge when such person is a victim of domestic
violence and provides an attestation in writing that they no longer wish
to be a party to such contract due to their status as a victim of domes-
tic violence. SUCH CABLE TELEVISION COMPANY SHALL PERMIT A VICTIM OF
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TO SUBMIT SUCH WRITTEN ATTESTATION THROUGH SECURE
REMOTE MEANS THAT ARE EASILY NAVIGABLE, PROVIDED THAT REMOTE OPTIONS ARE
COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE AND TECHNICALLY FEASIBLE. SUCH CABLE TELEVISION
COMPANY SHALL PERMIT ONE OR MORE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE UNDER A SHARED
CONTRACT TO OPT-OUT OF SUCH CONTRACT WITHOUT FEE, PENALTY OR CHARGE,
REGARDLESS OF HOW MANY PERSONS PREVIOUSLY MADE SUCH OPT-OUT REQUESTS OR
WHEN, DURING THE TERM OF SUCH SHARED CONTRACT, SUCH REQUEST WAS MADE TO
SUCH CABLE TELEVISION COMPANY. Such cable television company may not
require such person to disclose confidential information or details
relating to such person's status as a victim of domestic violence, as a
condition of permitting such person to opt-out of such contract. IF THE
PERSON MAKING SUCH REQUEST IS THE PRIMARY ACCOUNT HOLDER ON SUCH SHARED
CONTRACT, SUCH CABLE TELEVISION COMPANY SHALL BE PROHIBITED FROM TRANS-
FERRING ANY CONTRACTUAL OR BILLING RESPONSIBILITY OF SUCH SHARED
CONTRACT TO ANY OTHER ACCOUNT HOLDERS ON SUCH SHARED CONTRACT. Further,
such cable television company may not make release from such contract
contingent on: (a) maintaining contractual or billing responsibility of
a separated account with the provider; (b) approval of separation by the
primary account holder, if the primary account holder is not the person
making such request; or (c) a prohibition or limitation on the sepa-
ration as a result of arrears accrued by the account. NOR SHALL SUCH
CABLE TELEVISION COMPANY PROHIBIT A PERSON WHO HAS MADE AN OPT-OUT
REQUEST FROM ENTERING INTO A NEW CONTRACT WITH SUCH CABLE TELEVISION
COMPANY. Such cable television company shall release such person from
such contract no later than [seven] TWO BUSINESS days after receiving
A. 6836 5
such opt-out request. IF A PERSON MAKING SUCH REQUEST IS NOT THE PRIMA-
RY ACCOUNT HOLDER, SUCH CABLE TELEVISION COMPANY SHALL NOTIFY THE PERSON
MAKING SUCH REQUEST OF THE DATE ON WHICH SUCH UTILITY CORPORATION
INTENDS TO GIVE FORMAL NOTICE TO THE PRIMARY ACCOUNT HOLDER. Such cable
television company shall dispose of information submitted by such person
no later than thirty days after receiving such information in a manner
as to maintain confidentiality of such information. A claim for opting-
out of such contract without charge shall be made in good faith. Such
cable television company shall waive the otherwise applicable fee,
penalty or charge for such person requesting to opt-out of such
contract. Every cable television company shall make information about
the options and process described in this section readily available to
consumers on the website and any mobile application of the provider, in
physical stores, and in other forms of public-facing consumer communi-
cation.
§ 5. Subdivision 1 of section 399-yyy of the general business law, as
amended by chapter 42 of the laws of 2023, is amended to read as
follows:
1. Every direct broadcast satellite service provider, as defined in
this section, that provides television and/or telephone services to
customers in New York shall allow a person who is under contract includ-
ing, but not limited to a multi-year contract or bundled contract with
such satellite television company, to opt-out of such contract without
fee, penalty or charge when such a person is a victim of domestic
violence and provides an attestation in writing that they no longer wish
to be a party to such contract due to their status as a victim of domes-
tic violence. SUCH SATELLITE TELEVISION COMPANY SHALL PERMIT A VICTIM OF
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TO SUBMIT SUCH WRITTEN ATTESTATION THROUGH SECURE
REMOTE MEANS THAT ARE EASILY NAVIGABLE, PROVIDED THAT REMOTE OPTIONS ARE
COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE AND TECHNICALLY FEASIBLE. SUCH SATELLITE TELE-
VISION COMPANY SHALL PERMIT ONE OR MORE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE UNDER A
SHARED CONTRACT TO OPT-OUT OF SUCH CONTRACT WITHOUT FEE, PENALTY OR
CHARGE, REGARDLESS OF HOW MANY PERSONS PREVIOUSLY MADE SUCH OPT-OUT
REQUEST OR WHEN, DURING THE TERM OF SUCH SHARED CONTRACT, SUCH REQUEST
WAS MADE TO SUCH SATELLITE TELEVISION COMPANY. Such satellite television
company may not require such person to disclose confidential information
or details relating to such person's status as a victim of domestic
violence, as a condition of permitting such person to opt-out of such
contract. IF THE PERSON MAKING SUCH REQUEST IS THE PRIMARY ACCOUNT HOLD-
ER ON SUCH SHARED CONTRACT, SUCH SATELLITE TELEVISION COMPANY SHALL BE
PROHIBITED FROM TRANSFERRING ANY CONTRACTUAL OR BILLING RESPONSIBILITY
OF SUCH SHARED CONTRACT TO ANY OTHER ACCOUNT HOLDERS ON SUCH SHARED
CONTRACT. Further, such satellite television company may not make
release from such contract contingent on: (a) maintaining contractual or
billing responsibility of a separated account with the provider; (b)
approval of separation by the primary account holder, if the primary
account holder is not the person making such request; or (c) a prohibi-
tion or limitation on the separation as a result of arrears accrued by
the account. NOR SHALL SUCH SATELLITE TELEVISION COMPANY PROHIBIT A
PERSON WHO HAS MADE AN OPT-OUT REQUEST FROM ENTERING INTO A NEW CONTRACT
WITH SUCH SATELLITE TELEVISION COMPANY. Such satellite television compa-
ny shall release such person from such contract no later than [seven]
TWO BUSINESS days after receiving such opt-out request. IF A PERSON
MAKING SUCH REQUEST IS NOT THE PRIMARY ACCOUNT HOLDER, SUCH SATELLITE
TELEVISION COMPANY SHALL NOTIFY THE PERSON MAKING SUCH REQUEST OF THE
DATE ON WHICH SUCH SATELLITE TELEVISION COMPANY INTENDS TO GIVE FORMAL
A. 6836 6
NOTICE TO THE PRIMARY ACCOUNT HOLDER. Such satellite television company
shall dispose of information submitted by such person no later than
thirty days after receiving such information in a manner as to maintain
confidentiality of such information. A claim for opting-out of such
contract without charge shall be made in good faith. Such satellite
television company shall waive the otherwise applicable fee, penalty or
charge for such person requesting to opt-out of such contract. Every
satellite television company shall make information about the options
and process described in this section readily available to consumers on
the website and any mobile application of the provider, in physical
stores, and in other forms of public-facing consumer communication.
§ 6. This act shall take effect immediately.