S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   1334
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              January 9, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by Sens. PARKER, COMRIE, FERNANDEZ, HINCHEY, JACKSON, WEBB --
   read  twice  and  ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to
   the Committee on Energy and Telecommunications
 
 AN ACT to amend the public service  law,  in  relation  to  establishing
   discount programs for veterans

   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-x to read as follows:
   §  66-X.  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 VETERANS NO LATER THAN NINETY DAYS AFTER THE EFFEC-
 TIVE  DATE OF THIS SECTION. SUCH PROGRAM SHALL OFFER A YEARLY BENEFIT TO
 VETERANS 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  CORPO-
 RATION 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.  (A) FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, "VETERAN" SHALL MEAN A RESI-
 DENT OF THE STATE WHO (I) IS THE PRIMARY NAMED UTILITY SERVICE  ACCOUNT-
 HOLDER;  (II)  HAS HAD A TOTAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME OF LESS THAN FIFTY THOU-
 SAND DOLLARS FOR THE  MOST  RECENT  TWO  CONSECUTIVE  INCOME  TAX  YEARS
 BEGINNING IN TWO THOUSAND TWENTY, AS VERIFIED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF TAXA-
 TION  AND FINANCE; AND (III) SERVED IN AND WHO RECEIVED ANY HONORABLE OR
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD03278-01-5
              

 S. 1334                             2
 
 GENERAL DISCHARGE FROM THE UNITED STATES ARMY, NAVY, AIR  FORCE,  MARINE
 CORPS, COAST GUARD AND/OR THE RESERVES THEREOF, AND/OR THE ARMY NATIONAL
 GUARD, AIR NATIONAL GUARD, NEW YORK GUARD OR NEW YORK NAVAL MILITIA.
   (B)    A PRIMARY NAMED UTILITY SERVICE ACCOUNTHOLDER SHALL PROVIDE THE
 GAS CORPORATION,  ELECTRIC  CORPORATION  OR MUNICIPALITY AN AUTHENTICAT-
 ED COPY OF SUCH ACCOUNTHOLDER'S DISCHARGE PAPERS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR SUCH
 DISCOUNT TO DEMONSTRATE ELIGIBILITY UNDER PARAGRAPH (A) OF THIS SUBDIVI-
 SION.
   § 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 VETERANS NO LATER THAN NINETY DAYS AFTER THE EFFEC-
 TIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION.  SUCH PROGRAM SHALL OFFER A YEARLY BENEFIT TO
 VETERANS  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 CORPORATION 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.  (A) FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, "VETERAN" SHALL MEAN A RESI-
 DENT OF THE STATE WHO (I) IS THE PRIMARY NAMED WATERWORKS  OR  MUNICIPAL
 WATER  SYSTEM  SERVICE  ACCOUNTHOLDER;  (II)  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) SERVED IN  AND
 WHO  RECEIVED  ANY HONORABLE OR GENERAL DISCHARGE FROM THE UNITED STATES
 ARMY, NAVY, AIR FORCE, MARINE CORPS, COAST  GUARD  AND/OR  THE  RESERVES
 THEREOF,  AND/OR  THE  ARMY NATIONAL GUARD, AIR NATIONAL GUARD, NEW YORK
 GUARD OR NEW YORK NAVAL MILITIA.
   (B)   A PRIMARY NAMED WATERWORKS OR  MUNICIPAL  WATER  SYSTEM  SERVICE
 ACCOUNTHOLDER  SHALL  PROVIDE THE WATERWORKS  CORPORATION  OR  MUNICIPAL
 WATER  SYSTEM  AN AUTHENTICATED COPY OF SUCH  ACCOUNTHOLDER'S  DISCHARGE
 PAPERS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR SUCH DISCOUNT TO DEMONSTRATE ELIGIBILITY UNDER
 PARAGRAPH (A) OF THIS SUBDIVISION.
   § 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  VETERANS  NO
 LATER  THAN  NINETY  DAYS AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION. SUCH
 PROGRAM SHALL OFFER A YEARLY BENEFIT TO VETERANS 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.
 S. 1334                             3
 
   (C) PARTICIPATION IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S LIFELINE  OR  AFFORDABLE
 CONNECTIVITY  PROGRAM,  ANY  SUCCESSOR  FEDERAL PROGRAM OR ANY SUCCESSOR
 STATE PROGRAM ESTABLISHED BY THE COMMISSION THAT IS SUBSTANTIALLY  SIMI-
 LAR  IN  ELIGIBILITY  AND  PARTICIPATION CRITERIA TO THE FEDERAL GOVERN-
 MENT'S  AFFORDABLE  CONNECTIVITY  PROGRAM  SHALL  SATISFY  THE TELEPHONE
 CORPORATION'S OR CABLE TELEVISION COMPANY'S OBLIGATION  TO  ESTABLISH  A
 DISCOUNT  PROGRAM  UNDER  PARAGRAPH  (A) OF THIS SUBDIVISION, UNLESS THE
 COMMISSION DEEMS IT INSUFFICIENT TO  SATISFY  SUCH  REQUIREMENTS.    THE
 TELEPHONE CORPORATION OR CABLE TELEVISION COMPANY SHALL NOT BE OBLIGATED
 TO  ESTABLISH A DISCOUNT PROGRAM UNDER PARAGRAPH (A) OF THIS SUBDIVISION
 IF THE COMMISSION DOES NOT ESTABLISH A SUCCESSOR STATE PROGRAM.
   (D) A TELEPHONE CORPORATION OR CABLE TELEVISION COMPANY SHALL  NOT  BE
 OBLIGATED  TO  ESTABLISH  A DISCOUNT PROGRAM UNDER PARAGRAPH (A) OF THIS
 SUBDIVISION IF THE COMMISSION DEEMS A CURRENT PROGRAM ALREADY  IN  PLACE
 THROUGH SUCH TELEPHONE CORPORATION OR CABLE TELEVISION COMPANY SATISFIES
 THE CRITERIA ESTABLISHED UNDER THIS SUBDIVISION.
   (E)  BEFORE  APPLYING  A DISCOUNT UNDER PARAGRAPH (A) OF THIS SUBDIVI-
 SION, A TELEPHONE CORPORATION MAY REQUIRE PROOF OF ELIGIBILITY FROM  THE
 PRIMARY  NAMED  TELEPHONE SERVICE ACCOUNTHOLDER FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR IN
 WHICH THE DISCOUNT IS SOUGHT.
   2. (A) FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, "VETERAN" SHALL MEAN A  RESI-
 DENT  OF  THE  STATE  WHO  (I)  IS  THE  PRIMARY NAMED TELEPHONE SERVICE
 ACCOUNTHOLDER; (II) 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 VERIFIED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF TAXA-
 TION AND FINANCE; AND (III) SERVED IN AND WHO RECEIVED ANY HONORABLE  OR
 GENERAL  DISCHARGE  FROM THE UNITED STATES ARMY, NAVY, AIR FORCE, MARINE
 CORPS, COAST GUARD AND/OR THE RESERVES THEREOF, AND/OR THE ARMY NATIONAL
 GUARD, AIR NATIONAL GUARD, NEW YORK GUARD OR NEW YORK NAVAL MILITIA.
   (B) A PRIMARY NAMED TELEPHONE SERVICE ACCOUNTHOLDER SHALL PROVIDE  THE
 TELEPHONE  CORPORATION  AN  AUTHENTICATED  COPY  OF SUCH ACCOUNTHOLDER'S
 DISCHARGE PAPERS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR SUCH DISCOUNT TO DEMONSTRATE  ELIGI-
 BILITY UNDER PARAGRAPH (A) OF THIS SUBDIVISION.
   §  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  VETERANS
 NO LATER THAN NINETY DAYS AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION. SUCH
 PROGRAM  SHALL  OFFER  A YEARLY BENEFIT TO VETERANS 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 TELEVISION 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-
 S. 1334                             4
 
 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 CABLE SERVICE ACCOUNTHOLDER
 FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR IN WHICH THE DISCOUNT IS SOUGHT.
   2. (A) FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, "VETERAN" SHALL MEAN A  RESI-
 DENT  OF  THE  STATE WHO (I) IS THE PRIMARY NAMED CABLE SERVICE ACCOUNT-
 HOLDER; (II) HAS HAD A TOTAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME OF LESS THAN  FIFTY  THOU-
 SAND  DOLLARS  FOR  THE  MOST  RECENT  TWO  CONSECUTIVE INCOME TAX YEARS
 BEGINNING IN TWO THOUSAND TWENTY, AS VERIFIED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF TAXA-
 TION AND FINANCE; AND (III) RECEIVED ANY HONORABLE OR GENERAL  DISCHARGE
 FROM  THE UNITED STATES ARMY, NAVY, AIR FORCE, MARINE CORPS, COAST GUARD
 AND/OR THE  RESERVES  THEREOF,  AND/OR  THE  ARMY  NATIONAL  GUARD,  AIR
 NATIONAL GUARD, NEW YORK GUARD OR NEW YORK NAVAL MILITIA.
   (B)  A  PRIMARY  NAMED  CABLE  SERVICE ACCOUNTHOLDER SHALL PROVIDE THE
 TELEPHONE CORPORATION OR THE CABLE TELEVISION COMPANY  AN  AUTHENTICATED
 COPY  OF  SUCH  ACCOUNTHOLDER'S DISCHARGE PAPERS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR SUCH
 DISCOUNT TO DEMONSTRATE ELIGIBILITY UNDER PARAGRAPH (A) OF THIS SUBDIVI-
 SION.
   § 5. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
 it shall have become a law.