Requires telegraph and telephone corporations to charge religious organizations residential rates

1 Co-sponsor

• John L. Sampson

BILL NUMBER:S444

Title of bill

An act to amend the public service law, in relation to requiring telegraph and telephone corporations to offer residential rates to religious organizations

Purpose

To make the telephone bills of religious organizations more affordable by requiring telephone companies to offer residential rates to such organizations.

Summary of provisions

Section 1. Amends Section 92 Subdivision 3 of the Public Service law. Prohibits telephone companies from charging religious organizations rates which are greater than rates applicable to residential customers for telephone services utilized exclusively in connection with religious purposes.

Section 2. Effective Date

Existing law

Section 76 of the Public Service Law allows religious organizations to be charged residential rates for gas and electric service. This provision is not applicable to telephone services.

Justification

Under current law, section 76 of the Public Service Law provides that religious organizations shall be subject to residential rates for gas and electric service. Such law assists religious organizations by making their gas and electric bills more affordable. This bill would provide similar assistance to religious organizations with regard to their telephone bills.

Religious organizations are not businesses and they do not make a profit. They rely primarily on donations for their expenses. It is inappropriate, therefore, that religious organizations be subject to business telephone rates. Business telephone rates generally charge customers by the number of calls and by the length of each call, a practice which may be warranted when calls are being used to derive profit or to further a business purpose. When calls are being made for religious purposes, however, lower cost residential rates should be applicable.

Legislative history

2012: S.295 - Referred to Energy and Telecommunications/A.6115 - Referred to Corporations, Authorities and Commissions 2011: S.295 - Reported, Committed to Finance/A.6115 - Referred to Corporations, Authorities, and Commissions 2009-10: S.3105 - Referred to Energy and Telecommunications/A.5028 - Reported Referred to Ways and Means 2008: S.7250 - Referred to Energy and Telecommunications 2007-08: A.6631 Reported Referred to Ways and Means

Fiscal implications

To be determined.

Effective date

This bill will take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall become law.