What's happening
This bill establishes a zero-interest loan program and fund to help furloughed or unpaid federal workers pay their utility bills during federal government shutdowns.
Why it matters
Helps prevent loss of essential services. By providing zero-interest loans specifically for paying electric and natural gas bills, the program aims to ensure that furloughed or unpaid federal workers can maintain access to heat and power during shutdowns, reducing the risk of service shutoffs.
Targets real, documented financial need. The application process requires proof of both federal employment status (furloughed or unpaid due to a shutdown) and financial need, ensuring that aid is directed to those most affected by government funding lapses.
Creates a dedicated, sustainable funding mechanism. The revolving loan fund is structured to be self-sustaining—loan repayments and any interest earned on the fund’s holdings will help replenish its resources for future shutdowns, potentially reducing the need for repeated appropriations.
Sets a clear, temporary policy response. The bill is designed as a time-limited measure, automatically expiring one year after enactment, which allows lawmakers to assess its effectiveness and necessity before making it permanent or revisiting the approach.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Loans for Unpaid Federal Workers
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
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History
- Referred to energy and telecommunications
- Referred to energy and telecommunications
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2353
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 24, 2019
Introduced by Sen. PARKER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Energy and Telecommunications
AN ACT to amend the public service law and the state finance law, in relation to establishing the furloughed or non-pay federal workers revolving loan program and fund; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
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-p to read as follows:
§ 66-p. Furloughed or non-pay federal workers loan program. 1. The commission shall create a furloughed or non-pay federal workers revolving loan program in order to provide zero percent interest loans to residential electric and natural gas customers who have been either furloughed or designated non-pay federal employees due to a period of a lapse in discretionary appropriations by the federal government in order to assist such customers in paying their electric and gas bills.
2. (a) The commission may make, upon application duly made, up to the amounts available by appropriation, loans for the payment of electric and gas bills by eligible customers.
(b) The commission shall have the power to make such rules and regulations as may be necessary and proper to effectuate the purposes of this section.
3. (a) Application for loans may be made by residential electric and natural gas customers who have been either furloughed or designated non-pay federal employees due to a period of a lapse in discretionary appropriations by the federal government.
(b) Every application shall be in a form acceptable to the commission and shall require documentation demonstrating financial need and that the applicant has been furloughed or designated non-pay as a result of a
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08660-01-9
S. 2353 2
period of a lapse in discretionary appropriations by the federal government.
§ 2. The state finance law is amended by adding a new section 99-ff to read as follows:
§ 99-ff. Furloughed or non-pay federal workers revolving loan fund. 1. There is hereby established in the joint custody of the comptroller and the public service commission a fund to be known as the "furloughed or non-pay federal worker revolving loan fund". Such fund shall consist of moneys made available pursuant to appropriation and any other sources in order to provide zero percent interest loans to residential electric and natural gas customers who have been either furloughed or designated non-pay federal employees pursuant to section sixty-six-p of the public service law.
2. The fund shall consist of all moneys appropriated for its purpose, all moneys transferred to such fund pursuant to law, and all moneys required by this section or any other law to be paid into or credited to this fund, including all moneys received by the fund or donated to it, payments of principal on loans made from the fund, and any interest earnings which may accrue from the investment or reinvestment of moneys from the fund.
3. Moneys of the fund, when allocated, shall be available to the public service commission to make loans as provided in section sixtysix-p of the public service law. Up to five percent of the moneys of the fund may be used to pay the expenses, including personal service and maintenance and operation, in connection with the administration of such loans.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be deemed repealed one year after it shall have become a law.
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 and the state finance law, in relation to establishing the furloughed or non-pay federal workers revolving loan program and fund; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
Purpose of general idea of bill
To establish the furloughed or non-pay federal workers revolving loan program and fund.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 of the public service law is amended by adding a new section 66-p; furloughed or non-pay federal workers loan program.
The Public Service Commission shall:
1. Create a furloughed or non-pay federal workers revolving loan program in order to provide zero percent interest loans to residential electric and natural gas customers who have been either furloughed or designated non-pay federal employees due to a period of a lapse in discretionary appropriations by the federal government in order to assist such custom- ers in paying their electric and gas bills.
2. Make loans for the payment of electric and gas bills by eligible customers.
3. Receive application for loans by residential electric and natural gas customers who have been either furloughed or designated non-pay federal employees due to a period of a lapse in discretionary appropriations by the federal government. Every application shall be in a form acceptable to the commission and shall require documentation demonstrating finan- cial need and that the applicant has been furloughed or designated non- pay as a result of a period of a lapse in discretionary appropriations by the federal government.
Section 2 amends the state finance law by adding a new section 99-ff to establish furloughed or non-pay federal workers revolving loan fund by joint custody of the comptroller and the public service commission. Such fund shall consist of moneys made available pursuant to appropriation and any other sources in order to provide zero percent interest loans to residential electric and natural gas customers who have been either furloughed or designated non-pay federal employees pursuant to section sixty-six-p of the public service law.
Justification
With no end in sight, the Federal Government shutdown of 2019 represents an unprecedented loss of income for the many federal government workers in New York State. Unfortunately, during this cold winter, the demands of expensive utility bills are very real. When the Federal Government has failed us, New York State should do whatever we can to help families to pay their expensive utilities on time. It is imperative utility loans
become available for the furloughed workers who will not receive compen- sation until the Federal Government shutdown of 2019 is over.
This legislation will assist furloughed workers in utility payment and protect Federal Employees and their families from the economic loss of having to borrow money at high interest rates to pay their expensive winter utility bills. In addition, the available loans will protect Federal employees and their families from possible damage to their cred- it by not being able to make utility payments.
Prior legislative history
New
Fiscal implications
To be determined
Effective date
Immediately
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.