S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   6540
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                              April 13, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. LUCAS -- read once and referred to the Committee
   on Energy
 
 AN ACT to amend the public service  law,  in  relation  to  establishing
   discount  programs for low-income senior citizens and individuals with
   a disability
 
   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 LOW-INCOME SENIOR CITIZENS AND INDIVIDUALS  WITH  A
 DISABILITY  NO  LATER  THAN NINETY DAYS AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS
 SECTION. SUCH PROGRAM SHALL OFFER A YEARLY BENEFIT TO LOW-INCOME  SENIOR
 CITIZENS  AND INDIVIDUALS WITH A DISABILITY 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 CORPORATION 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. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION:
   (A) "INDIVIDUALS WITH A DISABILITY" SHALL MEAN A PRIMARY NAMED UTILITY
 SERVICE, WATER SERVICE, OR TELEPHONE SERVICE ACCOUNTHOLDER  (I)  WITH  A
 DISABILITY,  AS DEFINED IN SUBDIVISION TWENTY-ONE OF SECTION TWO HUNDRED
 NINETY-TWO OF THE EXECUTIVE LAW; AND (II) WHO HAS HAD A TOTAL  HOUSEHOLD
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD04729-01-3
              

 A. 6540                             2
 
 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) WHO IS
 CURRENTLY RECEIVING (A) SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY INSURANCE (SSDI), (B)
 SUPPLEMENTAL  SECURITY  INCOME  (SSI)  BENEFITS UNDER THE FEDERAL SOCIAL
 SECURITY ACT, (C) DISABILITY PENSION OR DISABILITY COMPENSATION BENEFITS
 PROVIDED BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, (D)  DISA-
 BILITY  PENSION  OR  DISABILITY  COMPENSATION  BENEFITS  PROVIDED BY THE
 UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE, OR (E) THOSE PREVIOUSLY ELIGIBLE BY VIRTUE
 OF RECEIVING DISABILITY BENEFITS UNDER THE SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY  INCOME
 PROGRAM  OR THE SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY PROGRAM AND CURRENTLY RECEIV-
 ING MEDICAL ASSISTANCE BENEFITS BASED ON DETERMINATION OF DISABILITY  AS
 PROVIDED  IN SECTION THREE HUNDRED SIXTY-SIX OF THE SOCIAL SERVICES LAW;
 AND
   (B) "LOW-INCOME SENIOR CITIZEN" SHALL MEAN  A  PRIMARY  NAMED  UTILITY
 SERVICE, WATER SERVICE, OR TELEPHONE SERVICE ACCOUNTHOLDER WHO (I) IS AT
 LEAST  SIXTY-FIVE  YEARS  OF  AGE;  AND  (II) EITHER (A) HAS HAD A TOTAL
 HOUSEHOLD INCOME OF LESS THAN FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR TWO CONSECUTIVE
 INCOME TAX YEARS BEGINNING IN TWO THOUSAND TWENTY, AS  VERIFIED  BY  THE
 DEPARTMENT  OF  TAXATION  AND  FINANCE;  OR  (B) IS ANNUALLY ELIGIBLE TO
 RECEIVE ASSISTANCE UNDER THE EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM  (ERAP)
 OR  THE  HOME  ENERGY  ASSISTANCE  PROGRAM  (HEAP) AND PROVIDES PROOF OF
 ELIGIBILITY FROM THE AGENCY ADMINISTERING ERAP OR HEAP.
   § 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 LOW-INCOME SENIOR CITIZENS AND INDIVIDUALS WITH A
 DISABILITY NO LATER THAN NINETY DAYS AFTER THE EFFECTIVE  DATE  OF  THIS
 SECTION.  SUCH PROGRAM SHALL OFFER A YEARLY BENEFIT TO LOW-INCOME SENIOR
 CITIZENS  AND INDIVIDUALS WITH A DISABILITY 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  CORPORATIONS
 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. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION:
   (A) "INDIVIDUALS WITH A DISABILITY" SHALL MEAN A PRIMARY NAMED UTILITY
 SERVICE,  WATER  SERVICE,  OR TELEPHONE SERVICE ACCOUNTHOLDER (I) WITH A
 DISABILITY, AS DEFINED IN SUBDIVISION TWENTY-ONE OF SECTION TWO  HUNDRED
 NINETY-TWO  OF THE EXECUTIVE LAW; AND (II) WHO 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)  WHO  IS
 CURRENTLY RECEIVING (A) SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY INSURANCE (SSDI), (B)
 SUPPLEMENTAL  SECURITY  INCOME  (SSI)  BENEFITS UNDER THE FEDERAL SOCIAL
 SECURITY ACT, (C) DISABILITY PENSION OR DISABILITY COMPENSATION BENEFITS
 PROVIDED BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, (D)  DISA-
 BILITY  PENSION  OR  DISABILITY  COMPENSATION  BENEFITS  PROVIDED BY THE
 UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE, OR (E) THOSE PREVIOUSLY ELIGIBLE BY VIRTUE
 OF RECEIVING DISABILITY BENEFITS UNDER THE SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY  INCOME
 A. 6540                             3
 
 PROGRAM  OR THE SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY PROGRAM AND CURRENTLY RECEIV-
 ING MEDICAL ASSISTANCE BENEFITS BASED ON DETERMINATION OF DISABILITY  AS
 PROVIDED  IN SECTION THREE HUNDRED SIXTY-SIX OF THE SOCIAL SERVICES LAW;
 AND
   (B)  "LOW-INCOME  SENIOR  CITIZEN"  SHALL MEAN A PRIMARY NAMED UTILITY
 SERVICE, WATER SERVICE, OR TELEPHONE SERVICE ACCOUNTHOLDER WHO (I) IS AT
 LEAST SIXTY-FIVE YEARS OF AGE; AND (II)  EITHER  (A)  HAS  HAD  A  TOTAL
 HOUSEHOLD INCOME OF LESS THAN FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR TWO CONSECUTIVE
 INCOME  TAX  YEARS  BEGINNING IN TWO THOUSAND TWENTY, AS VERIFIED BY THE
 DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE;  OR  (B)  IS  ANNUALLY  ELIGIBLE  TO
 RECEIVE  ASSISTANCE UNDER THE EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (ERAP)
 OR THE HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE  PROGRAM  (HEAP)  AND  PROVIDES  PROOF  OF
 ELIGIBILITY FROM THE AGENCY ADMINISTERING ERAP OR HEAP.
   § 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  LOW-INCOME
 SENIOR  CITIZENS  AND INDIVIDUALS WITH A DISABILITY NO LATER THAN NINETY
 DAYS AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION. SUCH PROGRAM SHALL  OFFER
 A  YEARLY  BENEFIT  TO LOW-INCOME SENIOR CITIZENS AND INDIVIDUALS WITH A
 DISABILITY 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.
   (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  OBLIGATION  TO
 ESTABLISH  A  DISCOUNT  PROGRAM UNDER PARAGRAPH (A) OF THIS SUBDIVISION,
 UNLESS THE COMMISSION  DEEMS  IT INSUFFICIENT TO SATISFY  SUCH  REQUIRE-
 MENTS.
   (D)  BEFORE  APPLYING  A DISCOUNT UNDER PARAGRAPH (A) OF THIS SUBDIVI-
 SION, A TELEPHONE CORPORATION MAY REQUIRE PROOF OF ELIGIBILITY FROM  THE
 PRIMARY  NAMED ACCOUNTHOLDER FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR IN WHICH THE DISCOUNT
 IS SOUGHT.
   2. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION:
   (A) "INDIVIDUALS WITH A DISABILITY" SHALL MEAN A PRIMARY NAMED UTILITY
 SERVICE, WATER SERVICE, OR TELEPHONE SERVICE ACCOUNTHOLDER  (I)  WITH  A
 DISABILITY,  AS DEFINED IN SUBDIVISION TWENTY-ONE OF SECTION TWO HUNDRED
 NINETY-TWO OF THE EXECUTIVE LAW; AND (II) WHO 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) WHO IS
 CURRENTLY RECEIVING (A) SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY INSURANCE (SSDI), (B)
 SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME (SSI) BENEFITS  UNDER  THE  FEDERAL  SOCIAL
 SECURITY ACT, (C) DISABILITY PENSION OR DISABILITY COMPENSATION BENEFITS
 PROVIDED  BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, (D) DISA-
 BILITY PENSION OR  DISABILITY  COMPENSATION  BENEFITS  PROVIDED  BY  THE
 UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE, OR (E) THOSE PREVIOUSLY ELIGIBLE BY VIRTUE
 OF  RECEIVING DISABILITY BENEFITS UNDER THE SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME
 PROGRAM OR THE SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY PROGRAM AND CURRENTLY  RECEIV-
 ING  MEDICAL ASSISTANCE BENEFITS BASED ON DETERMINATION OF DISABILITY AS
 A. 6540                             4
 
 PROVIDED IN SECTION THREE HUNDRED SIXTY-SIX OF THE SOCIAL SERVICES  LAW;
 AND
   (B)  "LOW-INCOME  SENIOR CITIZEN" SHALL MEAN A PRIMARY NAMED TELEPHONE
 SERVICE ACCOUNTHOLDER WHO (I) IS AT LEAST SIXTY-FIVE YEARS OF  AGE;  AND
 (II)  EITHER  (A)  HAS  HAD  A TOTAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME OF LESS THAN FIFTY
 THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR TWO CONSECUTIVE INCOME TAX YEARS BEGINNING  IN  TWO
 THOUSAND  TWENTY, AS VERIFIED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE;
 OR (B) IS ANNUALLY ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE ASSISTANCE  UNDER  THE  EMERGENCY
 RENTAL  ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (ERAP) OR THE  HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
 (HEAP) AND PROVIDES PROOF OF ELIGIBILITY FROM THE  AGENCY  ADMINISTERING
 ERAP OR HEAP.
   §  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 LOW-INCOME
 SENIOR CITIZENS AND INDIVIDUALS WITH A DISABILITY NO LATER  THAN  NINETY
 DAYS  AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION. SUCH PROGRAM SHALL OFFER
 A YEARLY BENEFIT TO LOW-INCOME SENIOR CITIZENS AND  INDIVIDUALS  WITH  A
 DISABILITY  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 TELE-
 VISION 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 ACCOUNTHOLDER FOR THE CALEN-
 DAR YEAR IN WHICH THE DISCOUNT IS SOUGHT.
   2. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION:
   (A) "INDIVIDUALS WITH A DISABILITY" SHALL MEAN A PRIMARY NAMED UTILITY
 SERVICE,  WATER  SERVICE,  OR TELEPHONE SERVICE ACCOUNTHOLDER (I) WITH A
 DISABILITY, AS DEFINED IN SUBDIVISION TWENTY-ONE OF SECTION TWO  HUNDRED
 NINETY-TWO  OF THE EXECUTIVE LAW; AND (II) WHO 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)  WHO  IS
 CURRENTLY RECEIVING (A) SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY INSURANCE (SSDI), (B)
 SUPPLEMENTAL  SECURITY  INCOME  (SSI)  BENEFITS UNDER THE FEDERAL SOCIAL
 SECURITY ACT, (C) DISABILITY PENSION OR DISABILITY COMPENSATION BENEFITS
 PROVIDED BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, (D)  DISA-
 BILITY  PENSION  OR  DISABILITY  COMPENSATION  BENEFITS  PROVIDED BY THE
 UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE, OR (E) THOSE PREVIOUSLY ELIGIBLE BY VIRTUE
 A. 6540                             5
 
 OF RECEIVING DISABILITY BENEFITS UNDER THE SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY  INCOME
 PROGRAM  OR THE SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY PROGRAM AND CURRENTLY RECEIV-
 ING MEDICAL ASSISTANCE BENEFITS BASED ON DETERMINATION OF DISABILITY  AS
 PROVIDED  IN SECTION THREE HUNDRED SIXTY-SIX OF THE SOCIAL SERVICES LAW;
 AND
   (B) "LOW-INCOME SENIOR CITIZEN" SHALL MEAN  A  PRIMARY  NAMED  UTILITY
 SERVICE, WATER SERVICE, OR TELEPHONE SERVICE ACCOUNTHOLDER WHO (I) IS AT
 LEAST  SIXTY-FIVE  YEARS  OF  AGE;  AND  (II) EITHER (A) HAS HAD A TOTAL
 HOUSEHOLD INCOME OF LESS THAN FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR TWO CONSECUTIVE
 INCOME TAX YEARS BEGINNING IN TWO THOUSAND TWENTY, AS  VERIFIED  BY  THE
 DEPARTMENT  OF  TAXATION  AND  FINANCE;  OR  (B) IS ANNUALLY ELIGIBLE TO
 RECEIVE ASSISTANCE UNDER THE EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM  (ERAP)
 OR  THE  HOME  ENERGY  ASSISTANCE  PROGRAM  (HEAP) AND PROVIDES PROOF OF
 ELIGIBILITY FROM THE AGENCY ADMINISTERING ERAP OR HEAP.
   § 5. This act shall take effect immediately.