What's happening
This bill prohibits the NYC Water Board from making rules less favorable to consumers and requires refunds for backbilling errors up to six years.
Why it matters
Strengthens consumer protections. by preventing the NYC Water Board from shortening appeal or refund periods, ensuring residents retain robust rights when disputing or correcting water bills.
Mandates long-term accountability. by requiring refunds for billing errors going back as far as six years, which could lead to substantial recoveries for consumers facing longstanding overcharges.
Limits abrupt rule changes. that might disadvantage consumers, promoting stability and predictability for those managing household or business water costs.
Creates stronger oversight pressure. on the Water Board to maintain fair practices and accurate billing, potentially reducing the frequency of errors and disputes in the first place.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Protect Water Bill Consumers
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Multi-sponsors
History
- Referred to cities
- Referred to cities
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.
Protect Water Consumers' Rights
In Senate Committee · Corporations, Authorities And Commissions · Sponsor Kevin S. Parker
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
93
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled)
January 9, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. PERRY -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. COLTON, WEPRIN -- read once and referred to the Committee on Cities
AN ACT relating to prohibiting the New York city water board from adopting any rules and regulations less favorable to the consumer
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Notwithstanding any rule or regulation by any local government, the New York city water board is hereby prohibited from adopting any rules or regulations that reduce the timeframe for consumers to appeal bills or receive refunds or are otherwise less favorable to the consumer and where backbilling errors are discovered in favor of the consumer, the New York city water board shall provide for and order refunds up to six years.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02519-01-9
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.