What's happening
This bill makes it a class B misdemeanor to unlawfully install a gas meter without proper authorization or permits.
Why it matters
Targets both installers and property owners. The bill makes it a crime not only to install a gas meter without proper authorization, but also holds property owners accountable if they know or should reasonably know the meter was unlawfully installed, potentially increasing owner liability.
Narrows who can legally install meters. Only utility company representatives or those with official permits can lawfully install gas meters, which aims to prevent unsafe or fraudulent installations by unqualified individuals.
Focuses on safety and consumer protection. By tightening control over who can install gas meters, the bill seeks to reduce risks of gas leaks, accidents, and tampering, thereby protecting residents and public safety.
Establishes clear criminal penalties. Classifying unlawful installation as a class B misdemeanor means violators could face criminal charges, which serves as a deterrent and emphasizes the seriousness of proper gas meter installation.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Ban Illegal Gas Meter Installs
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to codes
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 60–1
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.56
- Referred to codes
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to codes
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 60–2
Show 5 earlier actions
- Amended on third reading (t) 1054a
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.210
- 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.
Make Illegal Gas Meters Crime
In Assembly Committee · Codes · Sponsor Felix Ortiz
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1054--A Cal. No. 210
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 10, 2019
Introduced by Sens. PERSAUD, GOUNARDES -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Codes -reported favorably from said committee, ordered to first and second report, ordered to a third reading, amended and ordered reprinted, retaining its place in the order of third reading
AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to unlawfully installing a gas meter
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The penal law is amended by adding a new section 270.40 to read as follows: § 270.40 Unlawfully installing a gas meter.
1. As used in this section "gas meter" means any gas meter that measures usage of any end use customer of gas services.
2. A person is guilty of unlawfully installing a gas meter when he or she installs the gas meter or is the owner of the premises where the meter is unlawfully installed and knows or reasonably should know that such gas meter was unlawfully installed. A gas meter is unlawfully installed when it is installed by any person other than a person acting on behalf of a utility corporation subject to the jurisdiction of the public service commission, unless such person has received a permit to install the gas meter from the appropriate permitting authority.
Unlawfully installing a gas meter is a class B misdemeanor.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00862-02-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the penal law, in relation to unlaw- fully installing a gas meter
Purpose or general idea of bill
This bill would make installing or having knowledge of an unlawfully installed gas meter a class B misdemeanor.
Summary of specific provisions
New York Penal Law Section 270.40 recognizes that a person is guilty of unlawfully installing a gas meter when he or she installs the gas meter or is the owner of the premises where the meter is unlawfully installed and knows or reasonably should know that the gas meter is unlawfully installed. A gas meter is unlawfully installed when it is installed by any person other than a person acting on be half of a utility corpo- ration subject to the jurisdiction of the public service commission, unless such person has received a permit to install the gas meter from the appropriate permitting authority. Unlawfully installing a gas meter is a class B misdemeanor.
Section two provides that this act shall take effect immediately.
Justification
The purpose of this bill is to not only prevent theft of services from gas companies, but also protect citizens from the potential hazards of unlawfully installed gas meters. When installed lawfully, the meters and gas lines are subject to regulations to prevent accident or injury. Unlawfully installed systems often use non-standard materials such as plastic flex piping which is less expensive, but also unsafe and has been involved in gas explosions such as the one that occurred in East Village Manhattan in 2015 that killed two people and injured nineteen.
Illegally installed meters and gas lines do not receive reliable safety inspections. They are dangerous and place the lives of the building's occupants at risk.
The bill holds accountable any person involved in this illegal action and applies a penalty of a term of imprisonment not to exceed one year.
Prior legislative history
2017/2018: Passed Senate, Died in Assembly Codes
Fiscal implications to state and local government
None.
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.