What's happening
This bill requires telephone companies to provide free directory assistance to blind and certain physically handicapped individuals in New York.
Why it matters
Ensures essential phone access for people with significant visual and physical disabilities. , removing cost barriers that can impede their ability to independently reach services, family, and emergency contacts.
Establishes a clear, inclusive definition of eligible disabilities. not just blindness, but also other severe visual impairments, physical limitations, and certain reading disabilities—thereby broadening who can benefit from free directory assistance.
Standardizes the process for verifying eligibility. , specifying which medical and professional authorities can certify a person’s disability, which helps prevent unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles and streamlines access to the exemption.
Requires the Public Service Commission to create procedures for automatic exemption from charges. , minimizing paperwork and administrative delays for eligible individuals, and ensuring consistent application across all telephone companies in the state.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Free Directory Help for Disabled
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
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
3573
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 11, 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, in relation to mandating directory information or assistance for certain eligible persons at no cost to such persons
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 92-i to read as follows:
§ 92-i. Directory assistance for eligible persons. 1. The commission shall require all telephone corporations to provide directory information or assistance to eligible persons, as provided in subdivision two of this section, at no cost to such persons. The commission shall establish procedures by which free access to such information or assistance for such persons is automatically registered as exempt from all charges.
2. The following persons are eligible for service pursuant to this section:
(a) Blind persons whose visual acuity, as determined by competent authority, is 20/200 or less in the better eye with correcting lenses, or whose widest diameter of visual field subtends angular distance no greater than twenty degrees.
(b) Other physically handicapped persons are eligible as follows:
(i) Persons whose visual disability, with correction and regardless of optical measurement, is certified by competent authority as preventing the reading of standard printed material.
(ii) Persons certified by competent authority as unable to read or unable to use standard printed material as a result of physical limitations.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09606-01-9
S. 3573 2
(iii) Persons certified by competent authority as having a reading disability resulting from organic dysfunction and of sufficient severity to prevent their reading of printed material in a normal manner.
(c) Certifying authority:
(i) In cases of blindness, visual impairment, or physical limitations, "competent authority" is defined to include doctors of medicine; doctors of osteopathy; ophthalmologists; optometrists; registered nurses; therapists; and professional staff of hospitals, institutions, and public or private welfare agencies (e.g., social workers, caseworkers, counselors, rehabilitation teachers, and superintendents).
(ii) In the case of reading disability from organic dysfunction, competent authority is defined as doctors of medicine and doctors of osteopathy who may consult with colleagues in associated disciplines.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law. Effective immediately the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
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 mandating directory information or assistance for certain eligible persons at no cost to such persons
Purpose
Requires that all telephone corporations provide directory information or assistance to eligible persons at no cost to such persons. The eligi- bility criteria used is that which the Library of Congress has approved for federal services relating to visually impaired individuals. This legislation also requires that the Public Service Commission establish procedures by which free access to this information and assistance is automatically registered, so those who qualify as being exempt from all charges do not have these charges listed on their bill.
Summary of provisions
Section 1: Adds a new § 92-h to the Public Service Law that requires telephone corporations to provide information and assistance to eligible persons at no cost. The following persons are eligible to receive this service: (1) Blind persons whose visual acuity, as determined by compe- tent authority, is 20/200 or less in the better eye with correcting lenses, or whose widest diameter of visual field subtends angular distance no greater than 20 degrees; (2) Other physically handicapped persons are eligible as follows: (A) persons whose visual disability, with correction and regardless of optical measurement, is certified by competent authority as preventing the reading of standard printed mate- rial; (B) persons certified by'competent authority as unable to read or unable to use standard printed material as a result of physical limita- tions; (C) persons certified by competent authority as having a reading disability resulting from organic dysfunction and of sufficient severity to prevent their reading printed material in a normal manner. Also ensures that this service be automatically registered in order to keep these charges from appearing on such person's bill.
Section 2: This act shall take effect on the 120th day after it shall have become law.
Justification
Those who are legally blind or substantially visually impaired must use directory assistance to locate phone numbers. This legislation mandates that qualified persons receive this service at no cost. New York Tele- phone currently allows for legally blind persons to receive directory assistance and information free of charge. However, there have been instances where those persons entitled to securing free services have received their monthly phone bills only to discover that they have been billed for such services. This can create problems, especially for those who are currently eligible, as they must call the phone company each month to have these charges removed from their bill. This legislation mandates that these persons be automatically registered, so the charges for directory information and assistance will not appear on each month's bill.
Legislative history
2017/18: S2868 - - Referred to Energy and Telecommunications 2015-16: 5.2568 - Referred to Energy and Telecommunications 2013-14: S.850A - Referred to Energy and Telecommunications 2011-12: S.3529(Oppenheimer) - Referred to Energy and Telecommunications 2009-10: S.3938(Oppenheimer) - Referred to Energy and Telecommunications 2007-08: S.3461(Oppenheimer) - Referred to Energy and Telecommunications 2005-06: S.3884(Oppenheimer) - Referred to Energy and Telecommunications 2003-04: S.3698(Oppenheimer) - Referred to Energy and Telecommunications 2001-02: S.4810(Oppenheimer) - Referred to Energy and Telecommuni- cations 1999-00: S.929(Oppenheimer) - Referred to Energy and Telecommunications 1997-98: S.1675(Abate)/A.3032 - Referred to Energy and Telecommuni- cations 1995-96: S.7284/A.4236 - Referred to Energy and Telecommunications
Fiscal implications
EFFECTIVE DATE: This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law except that any rules and regulations necessary for the timely implementation of this act on its effective date shall be promulgated on or before such date.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.