What's happening
This bill makes it a crime to impersonate a public utility employee to unlawfully enter or remain on someone's property.
Why it matters
Targets a specific scam method. The bill directly addresses a common tactic used by criminals—posing as utility workers to gain access to homes—by making it a distinct crime, potentially deterring this specific type of impersonation.
Expands criminal impersonation law. By adding public utility employees to the list of protected roles, the law recognizes that these impersonations can pose unique risks to public safety and personal security, especially for vulnerable populations like seniors.
Clarifies intent and prosecution. The new language requires that the impersonator must intend to enter or remain unlawfully on the property, helping prosecutors target those who use this ruse for criminal entry rather than, for example, pranksters or non-criminal impersonators.
Empowers law enforcement and utilities. This amendment may lead to better cooperation between utility companies and police, enabling faster responses and awareness campaigns to educate the public about verifying the identity of anyone claiming to be a utility worker.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Ban Utility Worker Impersonation
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Assembly Member · Assembly District 40
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to codes
- Referred to codes
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.
Ban Fake Utility Workers
In Assembly Committee · Codes · Sponsor Diane J. Savino
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2187
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 22, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. KIM -- read once and referred to the Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to criminal impersonation of an employee of a public utility company or corporation
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 3 of section 190.26 of the penal law, as added by chapter 2 of the laws of 1998, is amended and a new subdivision 4 is added to read as follows:
3. Pretending to be a duly licensed physician or other person authorized to issue a prescription for any drug or any instrument or device used in the taking or administering of drugs for which a prescription is required by law, communicates to a pharmacist an oral prescription which is required to be reduced to writing pursuant to section thirty-three hundred thirty-two of the public health law[.]; or
4. Pretends to be an employee of a public utility company or a public utility corporation as defined in section two of the public service law for the purpose of knowingly entering or remaining unlawfully in or upon a premises.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03971-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.