NY State Senate Bill 2019-S8113

Senate Bill S8113

Signed By Governor

2019-2020 Legislative Session

Relates to issuing a moratorium on utility termination of services during periods of pandemics and/or state of emergencies

download bill text pdf

Archive: Last Bill Status - Signed by Governor

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Actions

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jun 17, 2020	signed chap.108
Jun 05, 2020	delivered to governor
May 28, 2020	returned to senate passed assembly
May 27, 2020	ordered to third reading rules cal.54 substituted for a10521 referred to ways and means delivered to assembly passed senate ordered to third reading cal.641
May 26, 2020	reported and committed to rules
May 24, 2020	print number 8113a
May 24, 2020	amend and recommit to consumer protection committee discharged and committed to consumer protection
Mar 23, 2020	referred to energy and telecommunications

Votes

- May 27, 2020 - Floor Vote
  S8113
  
  58
  
  Aye
  
  4
  
  Nay
  
  0
  
  Absent
  
  0
  
  Excused
  
  0
  
  Abstained
  - - Floor Vote: May 27, 2020
      
      aye (58)
      
      Addabbo Jr.
      
      Akshar
      
      Amedore
      
      Bailey
      
      Benjamin
      
      Biaggi
      
      Borrello
      
      Boyle
      
      Breslin
      
      Brooks
      
      Carlucci
      
      Comrie
      
      Felder
      
      Flanagan
      
      Gallivan
      
      Gaughran
      
      Gianaris
      
      Gounardes
      
      Griffo
      
      Harckham
      
      Hoylman-Sigal
      
      Jackson
      
      Jacobs
      
      Jordan
      
      Kaminsky
      
      Kaplan
      
      Kavanagh
      
      Kennedy
      
      Krueger
      
      LaValle
      
      Little
      
      Liu
      
      Martinez
      
      May
      
      Mayer
      
      Metzger
      
      Montgomery
      
      Myrie
      
      O'Mara
      
      Parker
      
      Persaud
      
      Ramos
      
      Ranzenhofer
      
      Ritchie
      
      Rivera
      
      Robach
      
      Salazar
      
      Sanders Jr.
      
      Savino
      
      Sepúlveda
      
      Serino
      
      Serrano
      
      Seward
      
      Skoufis
      
      Stavisky
      
      Stewart-Cousins
      
      Tedisco
      
      Thomas
      
      nay (4)
      
      Funke
      
      Helming
      
      Lanza
      
      Ortt
  May 24, 2020 - Rules Committee Vote
  S8113
  
  18
  
  Aye
  
  0
  
  Nay
  
  1
  
  Aye with Reservations
  
  0
  
  Absent
  
  0
  
  Excused
  
  0
  
  Abstained
  - - Rules Committee Vote: May 24, 2020
      
      aye (18)
      
      Benjamin
      
      Breslin
      
      Comrie
      
      Flanagan
      
      Gianaris
      
      Griffo
      
      Hoylman-Sigal
      
      Kennedy
      
      Krueger
      
      LaValle
      
      Little
      
      Liu
      
      Martinez
      
      Parker
      
      Robach
      
      Savino
      
      Seward
      
      Stewart-Cousins
      
      aye wr (1)
      
      Lanza
  May 26, 2020 - Consumer Protection Committee Vote
  S8113
  
  6
  
  Aye
  
  0
  
  Nay
  
  1
  
  Aye with Reservations
  
  0
  
  Absent
  
  0
  
  Excused
  
  0
  
  Abstained
  - - Consumer Protection Committee Vote: May 26, 2020
      
      aye (6)
      
      Comrie
      
      Kavanagh
      
      Myrie
      
      Ramos
      
      Tedisco
      
      Thomas
      
      aye wr (1)
      
      Jacobs

Bill Amendments

Original

A (Active)

co-Sponsors

2019-S8113 - Details

Law Section:: Public Service Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §§32, 89-b, 91 & 89-l, Pub Serv L

2019-S8113 - Summary

Relates to issuing a moratorium on utility termination of services during periods of pandemics and/or state of emergencies.

2019-S8113 - Sponsor Memo

2019-S8113 - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8113
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              March 23, 2020
                                ___________
 
 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 issuing a morato-
   rium  on  utility  termination of services during periods of pandemics
   and/or state of emergencies

   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  Subdivision 6 of section 32 of the public service law, as
 added by chapter 686 of the laws of 2002, is amended to read as follows:
   6. NO UTILITY CORPORATION OR MUNICIPALITY SHALL TERMINATE SERVICES  TO
 ANY  RESIDENTIAL  CUSTOMER  WHO  CANNOT PAY AN OVERDUE CHARGE BECAUSE OF
 FINANCIAL HARDSHIP, WHEN SUCH FINANCIAL HARDSHIP DERIVES FROM A FEDERAL,
 STATE, COUNTY OR VILLAGE IMPOSED STATE OF EMERGENCY AND/OR PANDEMIC  AND
 SUCH  UTILITY  PROVIDES  QUALITY  OF  LIFE SERVICES SUCH AS ELECTRICITY,
 STEAM, WATER, NATURAL GAS OR TELECOMMUNICATIONS.
   7. Implementation of the provisions of this section  shall  not  limit
 the  contractual  remedies  for  damages which might be available to the
 terminating utility provided that an award of such damages is not incon-
 sistent with any of the provisions of this article.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
 
 
 
 
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD15908-01-0

co-Sponsors

View additional co-sponsors

2019-S8113A (ACTIVE) - Details

Law Section:: Public Service Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §§32, 89-b, 91 & 89-l, Pub Serv L

2019-S8113A (ACTIVE) - Summary

Relates to issuing a moratorium on utility termination of services during periods of pandemics and/or state of emergencies.

2019-S8113A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S8113A

SPONSOR: PARKER
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the public service law, in relation to issuing a morato-
rium on utility termination of services during periods of pandemics
and/or state of emergencies

 
PURPOSE:

The proposed legislation aims to prevent utility corporations or munici-
palities from terminating the services of residential customers who are
enduring financial hardship because of COVID-19.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1. Amends the public service law to prevent utility corporations
or municipalities from terminating or disconnecting the services of
residential customers for the non-payment of an overdue charge during
the state disaster emergency declared pursuant to Executive Order 202.

Utility corporations and municipalities must restore terminated or
disconnected residential accounts within forty-eight hours if the resi-
dential account is shut-off during the pendency of Executive Order 202.
After the state of emergency is lifted or expires, a utility corporation
or municipality cannot terminate or disconnect service because of
arrears owed, or a defaulted deferred payment agreement, if such arrears
or default are due to a change in financial circumstances that occurred
during the COVID-19 state of emergency. The utility corporation must
provide the customer with the opportunity to enter into, or renegotiate,
a deferred payment agreement without the requirement of a down payment,
late fees, or penalties. The utility corporation or municipality shall
also provide notice in writing, or when appropriate, electronic notice
to residential customers of the provisions of the act.

Section 2. Amends the public service law to provide that no water-works
corporation shall terminate or disconnect the services of a residential
customer during the COVID-19 state of emergency. The same provisions
outlined in Section 1 apply to water-works corporations.

Section 3. Amends the public service law to prevent a telephone corpo-
ration from terminating or disconnecting service during the COVID-19
state of emergency. The same provisions outlined in section 1 apply to
telephone corporations.

Section 4. Amends the public service law to prevent municipal water
suppliers from terminating or disconnecting service during the COVID-19
state of emergency. The same provisions outlined in section 1 apply to
municipal water suppliers.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Currently, many New Yorkers are either unable to work or not earning a
sufficient wage because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing
restrictions on public and private businesses. This bill would ensure
that no New Yorker would have to worry about maintaining the minimum
status-quo because of the statewide emergency, particularly when health
and safety are of the upmost concern. This bill would ensure that resi-
dents are able to maintain the necessities of water, phone, gas, and
electricity to ensure the health and safety of the residents in this
State.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New Bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

There is no state or local fiscal impact.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.

2019-S8113A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  8113--A
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              March 23, 2020
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sens. PARKER, HOYLMAN, METZGER -- read twice and ordered
   printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee  on  Energy
   and Telecommunications -- committee discharged and said bill committed
   to  the Committee on Consumer Protection -- committee discharged, bill
   amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said  commit-
   tee

 AN ACT to amend the public service law, in relation to issuing a morato-
   rium  on  utility  termination of services during periods of pandemics
   and/or state of emergencies
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  Subdivision 6 of section 32 of the public service law, as
 added by chapter 686 of the laws of 2002, is amended to read as follows:
   6. NO UTILITY CORPORATION OR MUNICIPALITY SHALL TERMINATE  OR  DISCON-
 NECT  SERVICES  TO  ANY  RESIDENTIAL  CUSTOMER FOR THE NON-PAYMENT OF AN
 OVERDUE CHARGE FOR THE DURATION OF THE STATE DISASTER EMERGENCY DECLARED
 PURSUANT TO EXECUTIVE ORDER TWO  HUNDRED  TWO  OF  TWO  THOUSAND  TWENTY
 (HEREIN AFTER "THE COVID-19 STATE OF EMERGENCY").
   UTILITY  CORPORATIONS  AND MUNICIPALITIES SHALL HAVE A DUTY TO RESTORE
 SERVICE, TO THE EXTENT NOT ALREADY REQUIRED UNDER THIS CHAPTER,  TO  ANY
 RESIDENTIAL  CUSTOMER  WITHIN FORTY-EIGHT HOURS IF SUCH SERVICE HAS BEEN
 TERMINATED DURING THE PENDENCY OF THE COVID-19 STATE OF EMERGENCY.
   7. FOR A PERIOD OF ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY DAYS AFTER THE COVID-19 STATE OF
 EMERGENCY IS LIFTED OR EXPIRES, NO UTILITY CORPORATION  OR  MUNICIPALITY
 SHALL  TERMINATE  OR  DISCONNECT  THE  SERVICE OF A RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER
 BECAUSE OF DEFAULTED DEFERRED PAYMENT AGREEMENTS OR ARREARS OWED TO  THE
 UTILITY CORPORATION OR MUNICIPALITY WHEN SUCH CUSTOMER HAS EXPERIENCED A
 CHANGE  IN FINANCIAL CIRCUMSTANCES DUE TO THE COVID-19 STATE OF EMERGEN-
 CY, AS DEFINED BY THE DEPARTMENT.   THE UTILITY CORPORATION  OR  MUNICI-
 PALITY  SHALL  PROVIDE SUCH RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER WITH THE RIGHT TO ENTER
 INTO, OR RESTRUCTURE, A DEFERRED PAYMENT AGREEMENT WITHOUT THE  REQUIRE-
 MENT OF A DOWN PAYMENT, LATE FEES, OR PENALTIES, AS SUCH IS PROVIDED FOR
 IN THIS ARTICLE.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.

                                                            LBD15908-07-0

 S. 8113--A                          2
 
   8.  EVERY  UTILITY CORPORATION OR MUNICIPALITY SHALL PROVIDE NOTICE TO
 RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS, IN A WRITING TO BE INCLUDED WITH A BILL STATEMENT
 OR, WHEN APPROPRIATE, VIA ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION THE PROVISIONS OF THIS
 SECTION AND SHALL FURTHER MAKE REASONABLE EFFORTS TO  CONTACT  CUSTOMERS
 WHO  HAVE  DEMONSTRATED  A  CHANGE IN FINANCIAL CIRCUMSTANCES DUE TO THE
 COVID-19 STATE OF EMERGENCY FOR THE PURPOSE OF OFFERING SUCH CUSTOMERS A
 DEFERRED PAYMENT AGREEMENT CONSISTENT WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS  ARTI-
 CLE.
   9. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION SHALL NOT PROHIBIT
 A  UTILITY  OR  MUNICIPALITY  FROM  RECOVERING LOST OR DEFERRED REVENUES
 AFTER THE LIFTING OR EXPIRATION OF  THE  COVID-19  STATE  OF  EMERGENCY,
 PURSUANT TO SUCH MEANS FOR RECOVERY AS ARE PROVIDED FOR IN THIS CHAPTER,
 AND  BY  MEANS NOT INCONSISTENT WITH ANY OF THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ARTI-
 CLE.  NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL PROHIBIT A  UTILITY  CORPORATION  OR
 MUNICIPALITY  FROM DISCONNECTING SERVICE NECESSARY TO PROTECT THE HEALTH
 AND SAFETY OF CUSTOMERS AND THE PUBLIC.
   10. Implementation of the provisions of this section shall  not  limit
 the  contractual  remedies  for  damages which might be available to the
 terminating utility provided that an award of such damages is not incon-
 sistent with any of the provisions of this article.
   § 2. Section 89-b of the public service law is amended by adding  four
 new subdivisions 8, 9, 10 and 11 to read as follows:
   8. NO WATER-WORKS CORPORATION SHALL TERMINATE OR DISCONNECT THE SUPPLY
 OF  WATER  TO  RESIDENTIAL  ACCOUNTS FOR THE NON-PAYMENT OF WATER RENTS,
 RATES OR CHARGES FOR  THE  DURATION  OF  THE  STATE  DISASTER  EMERGENCY
 DECLARED  PURSUANT  TO  EXECUTIVE  ORDER TWO HUNDRED TWO OF TWO THOUSAND
 TWENTY (HEREINAFTER "THE COVID-19 STATE  OF  EMERGENCY").    WATER-WORKS
 CORPORATIONS  SHALL  HAVE  A  DUTY TO RESTORE SERVICE, TO THE EXTENT NOT
 ALREADY REQUIRED UNDER THIS CHAPTER, TO ANY RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER  WITHIN
 FORTY-EIGHT HOURS IF SUCH SERVICE HAS BEEN TERMINATED DURING THE PENDEN-
 CY OF THE COVID-19 STATE OF EMERGENCY.
   9. FOR A PERIOD OF ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY DAYS AFTER THE COVID-19 STATE OF
 EMERGENCY  IS LIFTED OR EXPIRES, NO WATER-WORKS CORPORATION SHALL TERMI-
 NATE OR DISCONNECT THE SERVICE OF A RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER ACCOUNT BECAUSE
 OF DEFAULTED DEFERRED PAYMENT AGREEMENTS OR ARREARS OWED TO  THE  WATER-
 WORKS  CORPORATION WHEN SUCH CUSTOMER HAS EXPERIENCED A CHANGE IN FINAN-
 CIAL CIRCUMSTANCES DUE TO THE COVID-19 STATE OF EMERGENCY, AS DEFINED BY
 THE DEPARTMENT. THE WATER-WORKS CORPORATION SHALL PROVIDE SUCH  RESIDEN-
 TIAL  CUSTOMER  WITH THE RIGHT TO ENTER INTO, OR RESTRUCTURE, A DEFERRED
 PAYMENT AGREEMENT WITHOUT THE REQUIREMENT OF A DOWN PAYMENT, LATE  FEES,
 OR PENALTIES, AS SUCH IS PROVIDED FOR IN ARTICLE TWO OF THIS CHAPTER.
   10.  EVERY WATER-WORKS CORPORATION SHALL PROVIDE NOTICE TO RESIDENTIAL
 CUSTOMERS, IN A WRITING TO BE INCLUDED WITH A BILL  STATEMENT  OR,  WHEN
 APPROPRIATE, VIA ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION, THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION
 AND  SHALL FURTHER MAKE REASONABLE EFFORTS TO CONTACT CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE
 DEMONSTRATED A CHANGE IN FINANCIAL CIRCUMSTANCES  DUE  TO  THE  COVID-19
 STATE OF EMERGENCY FOR THE PURPOSE OF OFFERING SUCH CUSTOMERS A DEFERRED
 PAYMENT AGREEMENT CONSISTENT WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ARTICLE.
   11. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION SHALL NOT PROHIB-
 IT  A  WATER-WORKS CORPORATION FROM RECOVERING LOST OR DEFERRED REVENUES
 AFTER THE LIFTING OR EXPIRATION OF  THE  COVID-19  STATE  OF  EMERGENCY,
 PURSUANT TO SUCH MEANS FOR RECOVERY AS ARE PROVIDED FOR IN THIS CHAPTER,
 AND  BY  MEANS NOT INCONSISTENT WITH ANY OF THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ARTI-
 CLE.  NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL PROHIBIT A  WATER-WORKS  CORPORATION
 FROM  DISCONNECTING  SERVICE  WHEN IT IS NECESSARY TO PROTECT THE HEALTH
 AND SAFETY OF CUSTOMERS AND THE PUBLIC.

 S. 8113--A                          3
 
   § 3. Section 91 of the public service law is amended  by  adding  four
 new subdivisions 9, 10, 11 and 12 to read as follows:
   9.  NO  TELEPHONE CORPORATION SHALL TERMINATE OR DISCONNECT A RESIDEN-
 TIAL SERVICE CUSTOMER FOR THE NON-PAYMENT OF AN OVERDUE CHARGE  FOR  THE
 DURATION  OF THE STATE DISASTER EMERGENCY DECLARED PURSUANT TO EXECUTIVE
 ORDER TWO HUNDRED TWO OF TWO THOUSAND TWENTY (HEREINAFTER "THE  COVID-19
 STATE  OF  EMERGENCY").  TELEPHONE  CORPORATIONS  SHALL  HAVE  A DUTY TO
 RESTORE SERVICE, TO THE EXTENT NOT ALREADY REQUIRED UNDER THIS  CHAPTER,
 TO ANY RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER WITHIN FORTY-EIGHT HOURS IF SUCH SERVICE HAS
 BEEN TERMINATED DURING THE PENDENCY OF THE COVID-19 STATE OF EMERGENCY.
   10.  AFTER  THE  COVID-19  STATE OF EMERGENCY IS LIFTED OR EXPIRES, NO
 TELEPHONE CORPORATION SHALL TERMINATE OR DISCONNECT  THE  SERVICE  OF  A
 RESIDENTIAL  CUSTOMER  ACCOUNT  BECAUSE  OF  DEFAULTED  DEFERRED PAYMENT
 AGREEMENTS OR ARREARS  OWED  TO  THE  TELEPHONE  CORPORATION  WHEN  SUCH
 CUSTOMER  HAS EXPERIENCED A CHANGE IN FINANCIAL CIRCUMSTANCES DUE TO THE
 COVID-19 STATE OF EMERGENCY, AS DEFINED BY THE DEPARTMENT.    THE  TELE-
 PHONE CORPORATION SHALL PROVIDE SUCH RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER WITH THE RIGHT
 TO  ENTER INTO, OR RESTRUCTURE, A DEFERRED PAYMENT AGREEMENT WITHOUT THE
 REQUIREMENT OF A DOWN PAYMENT, LATE  FEES,  OR  PENALTIES,  AS  SUCH  IS
 PROVIDED FOR IN ARTICLE TWO OF THIS CHAPTER.
   11.  EVERY  TELEPHONE  CORPORATION SHALL PROVIDE NOTICE TO RESIDENTIAL
 CUSTOMERS IN A WRITING TO BE INCLUDED WITH A  BILL  STATEMENT  OR,  WHEN
 APPROPRIATE,  VIA ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION
 AND SHALL FURTHER MAKE REASONABLE EFFORTS TO CONTACT CUSTOMERS WHO  HAVE
 DEMONSTRATED  A  CHANGE  IN  FINANCIAL CIRCUMSTANCES DUE TO THE COVID-19
 STATE OF EMERGENCY FOR THE PURPOSE OF OFFERING SUCH CUSTOMERS A DEFERRED
 PAYMENT AGREEMENT CONSISTENT WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ARTICLE.
   12. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION SHALL NOT PROHIB-
 IT A TELEPHONE CORPORATION FROM RECOVERING  LOST  OR  DEFERRED  REVENUES
 AFTER  THE  LIFTING  OR  EXPIRATION  OF THE COVID-19 STATE OF EMERGENCY,
 PURSUANT TO SUCH MEANS FOR RECOVERY AS ARE PROVIDED FOR IN THIS CHAPTER,
 AND BY MEANS NOT INCONSISTENT WITH ANY OF THE PROVISIONS OF  THIS  ARTI-
 CLE. NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL PROHIBIT A TELEPHONE CORPORATION FROM
 DISCONNECTING  SERVICE  WHEN  IT  IS NECESSARY TO PROTECT THE HEALTH AND
 SAFETY OF CUSTOMERS AND THE PUBLIC.
   § 4. Section 89-l of the public service law is amended by adding  four
 new subdivisions 3, 4, 5 and 6 to read as follows:
   3.  NO MUNICIPALITY SHALL TERMINATE OR DISCONTINUE RESIDENTIAL SERVICE
 FOR THE NONPAYMENT OF BILLS, TAXES, OR FEES  FOR  THE  DURATION  OF  THE
 STATE  DISASTER  EMERGENCY  DECLARED  PURSUANT  TO  EXECUTIVE  ORDER TWO
 HUNDRED TWO OF TWO THOUSAND TWENTY (HEREINAFTER THE "COVID-19  STATE  OF
 EMERGENCY").  EVERY MUNICIPALITY SHALL HAVE A DUTY TO RESTORE SERVICE TO
 ANY RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER WITHIN FORTY-EIGHT HOURS OF THE EFFECTIVE  DATE
 OF  THIS  SUBDIVISION  IF  SUCH  SERVICE  HAS BEEN TERMINATED DURING THE
 PENDENCY OF THE COVID-19 STATE OF EMERGENCY.
   4. FOR A PERIOD OF ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY DAYS AFTER THE COVID-19 STATE OF
 EMERGENCY IS LIFTED OR  EXPIRES,  NO  MUNICIPALITY  SHALL  TERMINATE  OR
 DISCONTINUE  THE  SERVICE  OF  A  RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER   BECAUSE OF BILL
 ARREARS, TAXES, OR FEES OWED TO THE MUNICIPALITY WHEN SUCH CUSTOMER  HAS
 EXPERIENCED  A  CHANGE  IN  FINANCIAL  CIRCUMSTANCES DUE TO THE COVID-19
 STATE OF EMERGENCY, AS DEFINED BY THE DEPARTMENT. THE MUNICIPALITY SHALL
 PROVIDE A RESIDENTIAL SERVICE CUSTOMER THAT HAS EXPERIENCED A CHANGE  IN
 FINANCIAL  CIRCUMSTANCES DUE TO THE COVID-19 STATE OF EMERGENCY WITH THE
 RIGHT TO ENTER INTO, OR RESTRUCTURE, A DEFERRED PAYMENT AGREEMENT  WITH-
 OUT  THE REQUIREMENT OF A DOWN PAYMENT, LATE FEES, OR PENALTIES, AS SUCH
 IS PROVIDED FOR IN ARTICLE TWO OF THIS CHAPTER.

 S. 8113--A                          4
 
   5. EVERY MUNICIPALITY SHALL PROVIDE NOTICE TO RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS IN
 A WRITING TO BE INCLUDED WITH A BILL STATEMENT OR, WHEN APPROPRIATE, VIA
 ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION AND SHALL FURTHER
 MAKE REASONABLE EFFORTS TO CONTACT CUSTOMERS  WHO  HAVE  DEMONSTRATED  A
 CHANGE IN FINANCIAL CIRCUMSTANCES DUE TO THE COVID-19 STATE OF EMERGENCY
 FOR  THE PURPOSE OF OFFERING SUCH CUSTOMERS A DEFERRED PAYMENT AGREEMENT
 CONSISTENT WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ARTICLE.
   6. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION SHALL NOT PROHIBIT
 A MUNICIPALITY FROM RECOVERING LOST OR DEFERRED REVENUES AFTER THE LIFT-
 ING OR EXPIRY OF THE COVID-19 STATE OF  EMERGENCY,  PROVIDED  THAT  SUCH
 MEANS ARE NOT INCONSISTENT WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ARTICLE.  NOTHING
 IN THIS SECTION SHALL PROHIBIT A MUNICIPALITY FROM DISCONNECTING SERVICE
 WHEN  IT  IS NECESSARY TO PROTECT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF CUSTOMERS AND
 THE PUBLIC.
   § 5. This act shall take effect immediately.

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Senate Bill S8113

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Sponsored By

Archive: Last Bill Status - Signed by Governor

Bill Amendments

co-Sponsors

2019-S8113 - Details

2019-S8113 - Summary

2019-S8113 - Sponsor Memo

2019-S8113 - Bill Text download pdf

co-Sponsors

2019-S8113A (ACTIVE) - Details

2019-S8113A (ACTIVE) - Summary

2019-S8113A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2019-S8113A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments