What's happening
This bill extends the time limit to challenge New York City water board fees from four to six years from the date of the bill.
Why it matters
Extending the challenge period from four to six years gives property owners and tenants more time to discover billing errors or overcharges. , which can be especially important for those who may not regularly review their water bills or who uncover issues during property sales or audits.
The change could result in increased legal and administrative actions against the New York City water board. , as more people may be eligible to contest fees and charges that they previously would have been barred from challenging.
By allowing challenges over a longer period, the amendment may incentivize the water board to improve accuracy and transparency in billing practices,. since the risk of having to address older mistakes or disputes is heightened.
This adjustment aligns the challenge window with other statutes of limitations in New York law,. potentially leading to fairer treatment of consumers compared to other types of municipal billing disputes.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Extend Water Charge Challenge Time
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 14
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
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.
Extend Water Bill Challenge Window
In Assembly Committee · Corporations, Authorities And Commissions · Sponsor William Colton
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5916
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
May 16, 2019
Introduced by Sen. COMRIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
AN ACT to amend the public authorities law, in relation to establishing a time limit to challenge the New York City water board fees, rates, rents and other service charges
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 4 of section 1045-g of the public authorities law, as amended by chapter 467 of the laws of 2001, is amended to read as follows:
4. To establish, fix, revise, charge and collect and enforce the payment of all fees, rates, rents and other service charges for the use of, or services furnished by the sewerage system, water system, or both, as the case may be, so as to receive revenues which, together with other revenues available to the board, if any, shall be at least sufficient at all times so that such system or systems shall be placed on a self-sustaining basis in accordance with section one thousand forty-five-j of this title; provided, however that the water board shall not establish a limit of less than [four] six years commencing from the date of the bill for services to challenge any fee, rate, rent or other service charges for the use of or services furnished by the water and/or sewerage systems; any such challenge shall specifically set forth the basis for such claim;
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04638-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the public authorities law, in relation to establishing a time limit to challenge the New York City water board fees, rates, rents and other service charges
Purpose or general idea of bill
Provides that the NYC Water Board shall not establish a limit of less than six years to challenge any service charges for the use of or services furnished by the board.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 amends Public Authorities Law section 1045-g to establish a six year statute of limitations commencing from the date of the bill to challenge water and sewer bills from New York City Water Board.
Justification
Four years is not adequate time for a customer to file a complaint with respect to a water or sewer bill. The six-year time limit has been applicable since the inception of the New York City Water Board's authority and should be continued. Six years is the normal statute of limitations to utility customers throughout the state. There continues to be substantial confusion concerning the application of metered or frontage rates, caps on metered bills and leak forgiveness. The water and sewerage bills are complicated by the transition to meters and the changing rates and regulations. The New York City Water Board has placed no similar limitation of its ability to collect unpaid charges and to place a limitation on the customer is unfair. The Water Board not the customer has control of the meter.
Prior legislative history
A.3081 of 2019.
Fiscal implications
None to the State.
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.