What's happening
This bill requires gas corporations in New York to file annual gas safety reports detailing pipeline projects, safety activities, and employee vs. contractor usage.
Why it matters
Increases oversight and transparency of gas pipeline safety. by requiring detailed annual reporting on how gas corporations plan, prioritize, and execute replacement projects and safety activities—potentially leading to higher safety standards and public accountability.
Enables tracking of public funds and project effectiveness. by mandating disclosure of how money allocated for pipeline replacement and safety is actually spent, allowing regulators and the public to evaluate whether investments are improving safety and reliability.
Sheds light on workforce practices. by requiring companies to specify whether pipeline projects were carried out by their own employees or by contractors, and allowing the commission to demand independent cost-benefit analyses, which could inform future regulations on labor practices and safety outcomes.
Empowers state regulators to address deficiencies. by creating a process for the Department of Public Service and the Public Service Commission to identify and mandate corrective actions if gas corporations are found to be mismanaging safety or maintenance—potentially reducing risks to public health and safety.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Require Gas Safety Reports
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 8
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Print number 1683a
- Amend and recommit to energy and telecommunications
- Referred to energy and telecommunications
- Referred to energy and telecommunications
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.
Require Gas Safety Reports
In Senate Committee · Energy And Telecommunications · Sponsor Amy Paulin
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1683--A
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 15, 2019
Introduced by Sen. BROOKS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Energy and Telecommunications -- recommitted to the Committee on Energy and Telecommunications in accordance with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8 -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the public service law, in relation to filing gas safety reports
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The public service law is amended by adding a new section 66-q to read as follows:
§ 66-q. Gas safety reports. 1. On or before March fifteenth of each year, each gas corporation shall file with the department a gas safety report. The department shall review the reports to monitor each gas corporation's pipeline replacement projects and all other activities related to providing safe and reliable gas service in order to determine whether the projects or activities are being carried out in a manner consistent with this chapter, the commission's rules, regulations and orders, and any practice the department has deemed necessary for the provision of safe and reliable service, and to track how each gas corporation is spending any funds allocated for pipeline replacement projects and all other activities related to providing safe and reliable gas service.
2. The gas safety report provided for in subdivision one of this section shall include a thorough description and explanation of the strategic planning and decision-making methodology used to determine and prioritize pipeline replacement projects, a description of the corporation's operation and maintenance activities related to gas safety, a description of the corporation's inspections of its intrastate transmission and distribution lines, and any other information the department
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00764-03-0
S. 1683--A 2
may require. If there has been no substantial change in a gas corporation's safety report since the gas safety report most recently filed with the department, the corporation, with consent of the department, may file an updated version of such report.
2-a. A gas corporation shall also include with its gas safety report a list of pipeline replacement projects completed by a gas corporation within the last year; such list shall indicate which projects were completed with a gas corporation's own employees and which were completed by contractors. The commission may also order a gas corporation to submit an independent cost benefit analysis which examines the gas corporation's use of its own employees and its use of contractors to complete pipeline replacement projects.
3. If the department determines that there is a deficiency in a gas corporation's prioritization or administration of its pipeline replacement projects or operation and maintenance activities related to gas safety, the department shall notify the commission at the next scheduled public session and shall provide a brief description of the facts and nature of the deficiency. The commission may order reasonable improvements that will best promote the public interest, preserve the public health and protect those using gas pursuant to those powers provided to the commission as provided in this chapter, including but not limited to those in section sixty-six of this article.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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 service law, in relation to filing gas safety reports
Purpose
To increase gas safety and promote the public interest.
Summary of provisions
Section 1. amends the public service law by adding a new section 66-q. Paragraph one of this new section creates the requirement that each gas corporation must file an annual gas safety report with Department of Public Service. The Department would review to ensure that each gas corporation is complying with Public Service Law, the Commission's rules, regulations, and orders, and any practice the Department has deemed necessary for providing safe and reliable service.
Paragraph two sets the requirements for the gas safety report which shall include a thorough description and explanation of the strategic planning and decision-making methodology used to determine and prior- itize pipeline replacement projects, a description of the corporation's operations and maintenance activities related to gas safety, and a description of its inspection policies relating to its pipeline infras- tructure. It also requires a gas corporation to submit a list of pipe- line replacement projects completed by a gas corporation within the last year and to indicate which were completed by employees of the gas corpo- ration and which were completed by contractors. The Commission is also authorized to order a cost benefit analysis to further examine this practice.
Paragraph three requires the Department to notify the Commission of any deficiencies in a gas corporation's prioritization of projects or admin- istration of its pipeline infrastructure. The Commission may then order reasonable improvements under existing law to protect public safety.
Section 2. is the enacting clause.
Justification
This bill would require gas corporations to produce an annual gas safety report for the purposes of increasing transparency, accountability, and public safety. Natural gas must be used and delivered in the safest manner possible. An annual gas safety report by each gas corporation will be an additional tool for the public, the Public Service Commis- sion, and the Legislature to ensure that every possible effort is being made to ensure the safe delivery and use of natural gas.
Fiscal implications
No fiscal impact
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.