What's happening
This bill pauses water bill charges, liens, and late fees for New York City residents while water meter disputes are being appealed.
Why it matters
Prevents financial penalties and pressure on residents. By pausing late fees and liens during the appeals process, the bill shields households from accumulating debt or facing potential foreclosure while their water bill disputes are unresolved.
Levels the playing field for residents disputing charges. The measure ensures that individuals can challenge potentially inaccurate water bills without the threat of immediate financial consequences, making the appeals process more accessible and less intimidating.
Strengthens due process and accountability. By requiring a final adjudication and exhaustion of administrative appeals before disputed charges can result in liens or late fees, the bill encourages the city to resolve disputes thoroughly and fairly, increasing transparency and trust in the system.
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Who cares
New York City residential water customers
Disputed metered water charges would be held in abeyance until a final decision on the merits, including exhaustion of administrative appeals.
Homeowners disputing water bills
Disputed charges could not become liens against their residences before final adjudication, including exhaustion of administrative appeals.
New York City water billing administrators
They would have to suspend disputed charges and withhold late payment charges until 30 days after final adjudication.
Headline styles
Pause Water Bill Disputes
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
3 Co-sponsors
2 Multi-sponsors
History
- Referred to cities
- Referred to cities
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3950
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 31, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. WEPRIN, ZEBROWSKI, COLTON, COOK -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. BRAUNSTEIN, PERRY -- read once and referred to the Committee on Cities
AN ACT to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the tolling of charges imposed by meter for residential use of the water supply when such charges are disputed
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 24-340 to read as follows:
§ 24-340 Charges tolled during appeals. Whenever a person shall dispute the charge imposed by the metering of such individual's residential use of the water supply, or whenever such person disputes the actual amount of water used as measured by meter, the disputed charges imposed by such meter shall be held in abeyance pending final adjudication on the merits, including the exhaustion of administrative appeals, by the department. Such charges shall not be attached as a lien against such individual's residence unless and until the dispute has reached a final adjudication on the merits, including the exhaustion of administrative appeals, by the department. Such charges, if disputed, shall not accrue late payment charges until thirty days after such final adjudication.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07504-01-9
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.