What's happening
This bill allows the New York City water board to give a 10% water bill discount to senior citizens and veterans.
Why it matters
Direct financial relief. By allowing a 10% discount for seniors and veterans on water bills, the bill aims to ease the cost of living for groups often on fixed or limited incomes, potentially making it easier for them to afford essential utilities.
Clear eligibility standards. The bill specifically defines who qualifies as a “senior citizen” (age 65+) and as a “veteran,” ensuring clarity and reducing confusion for applicants and administrators.
Local flexibility and oversight. The legislation gives the New York City water board the authority to set rules and regulations for implementing the discount, allowing local adaptation and oversight rather than imposing a one-size-fits-all mandate.
Recognition of service and age. By targeting these populations, the bill seeks to acknowledge both the service of veterans and the vulnerabilities of aging residents, reinforcing policy priorities around support for these groups.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Discount Water Bills for Seniors
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Committed to rules
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.1240
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to cities
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 60–3
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
Show 4 earlier actions
- 1st report cal.1291
- Print number 3543a
- Amend (t) and recommit to corporations, authorities and commissions
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Water Bill Discount for Seniors
In Assembly Committee · Cities · Sponsor Matthew Titone
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3543--A
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 24, 2017
Introduced by Sens. LANZA, ADDABBO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the public authorities law, in relation to providing a discount for senior citizens and veterans in the city of New York for such persons' water bills
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 1045-j of the public authorities law is amended by adding a new subdivision 3-a to read as follows:
3-a. Notwithstanding any other law, the water board may provide a ten percent discount for all senior citizens and veterans from the fee, rate, rent or other charge established pursuant to this section. For purposes of this subdivision, "senior citizen" shall mean a resident of the city who is age sixty-five or older; and "veteran" shall mean a resident of the city who served in and who received an honorable or general discharge from the United States army, navy, air force, marine corps, coast guard and/or reserves thereof, and/or the army national guard, air national guard, New York guard or New York naval militia. The water board may promulgate rules and regulations necessary to carry out the purposes of this subdivision.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02453-02-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the public authorities law, in relation to providing a discount for senior citizens and veterans in the city of New York for such persons' water bills
Purpose
To provide a 10% discount for every New York City senior citizens and veterans water bill.
Summary of provisions
Section one amends section 1045-j of the public authorities law by adding a new subdivision 3-a to establish a 10% discount for all senior citizens and veterans water bill.
Justification
Double digit water rate increases are hurting people's budgets, espe- cially our veterans and senior citizens and who are living on fixed incomes and struggling to make ends meet in these tough economic times. In the last two years alone the New York City's Water Board raised water rates by 14.5% in 2008. In 2009 the Water Board met again and raised water rates another 14%. Senior citizens cannot afford these double digit increases and honorably discharged veterans should not be expected to struggle especially when the cost of living is on the rise. This bill, by providing a 10% discount would give some relief to seniors and veterans who should be enjoying their lives instead of worrying about how they are going to pay their next City water bill.
Legislative history
2017:S.3543-A- Passed Senate / A.6638-A- Referred to Cities 2016:S.4506-Passed Senate / A.2886 -Referred to Cities 2015:S.4506-Passed Senate / A.2886 -Referred to Cities 2014:S.2140-Referred to Corporations,Authorities and Commissions/ A.3871 - Referred to Cities 2012:S.4688-Referred to Corporations/ A.5267 - Referred to Cities 2011:S.4688-Referred to Corporations/ A.5267 - Referred to Cities 2010:S.4575-Reported to Finance / A.8369 - Referred to Cities 2009:S.4575-Reported to Finance / A.8369 - Referred to Cities
Fiscal implications
None to the State.
Effective date
180 days after enactment.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.