What's happening
This bill expands automated enrollment of OTDA program participants into utility affordability programs to include water service, not just energy.
Why it matters
Expanding the definition of “utility corporation” and “affordability programs” to include water providers. means that more low-income New Yorkers could automatically receive help with water bills, not just energy, reducing financial strain for households struggling to pay for essential services.
Automated identification and enrollment for water affordability programs. will work similarly to the existing system for energy, streamlining access to discounts and eliminating the need for separate applications—important for vulnerable populations who may face barriers to paperwork or awareness.
Protects privacy and limits data use. by requiring that information shared between social services and utilities is used solely for confirming eligibility and enrollment, addressing potential concerns about data security and misuse.
Phased implementation timeline (energy first, then water). signals that while the expansion is significant, the state is allowing extra time for agencies and water utilities to set up the necessary systems, which could affect when individuals start seeing benefits.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Make Water Bills More Affordable
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Signed chap.82
- Delivered to governor
- Returned to senate
- Passed assembly
- Ordered to third reading rules cal.74
- Substituted for A918
- Referred to social services
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 61–0
- Ordered to third reading cal.40
- Referred to rules
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.
Auto-Enroll Water Bill Aid
Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor Michaelle C. Solages
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
766
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
Introduced by Sen. PARKER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to automated identification of OTDA program participants for participation in utility corporation affordability programs for water service affordability
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraphs (d) and (e) of subdivision 1 and subdivision 2 of section 131-ss of the social services law, as amended by a chapter of the laws of 2024 amending the social services law relating to automated identification of OTDA assistance program participants, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 9100 and A. 9522, are amended to read as follows:
(d) "Utility corporation" shall include utility companies, utility corporations, public utility companies, public utility corporations, gas corporations, electric corporations, municipalities as defined in section two of the public service law and regulated pursuant to the public service law, water-works corporations subject to section fifty of the public service law, a municipal corporation that provides public utility services, a rural electric cooperative, or a state public authority that provides utility services.
(e) "Utility corporation [energy] affordability programs" shall be defined by the public service commission and shall be limited to utility corporation programs which are intended to assist customers with energy or water service affordability by reducing customers' energy or water service burden, as applicable.
2. Within one year of the effective date of this section, the commissioner shall provide for automated identification of OTDA assistance program participants for participation in utility corporation [energy or water service] affordability programs for energy affordability pursuant
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02907-01-5
to subdivision four of this section. Within one year and six months of the effective date of this section, the commissioner shall provide for automated identification of OTDA program participants for participation in utility corporation affordability programs for water service affordability pursuant to subdivision four of this section.
§ 2. Paragraphs (a) and (b) of subdivision 4 of section 131-ss of the social services law, paragraph (a) as amended and paragraph (b) as added by chapter 78 of the laws of 2024, are amended to read as follows:
(a) To the extent permitted by federal law, regulations and policies, the office, upon the utility corporation agreeing to and signing the office's data terms and upon receipt of the required data elements from the utility corporation, as such data elements are defined by the office, shall conduct automated file matching to identify utility corporation customer accounts that are also OTDA assistance program participants and, if permitted by federal law, regulations and policies, such information shall be provided to utility corporations no less than semiannually. Utility corporation customer accounts identified by the office as potentially eligible for participation in available utility corporation [energy] affordability programs as a result of such file matching shall be, if confirmed as eligible for such utility corporation [energy] affordability programs by the utility corporation, enrolled in such utility corporation [energy] affordability programs by the utility corporation within sixty days of receipt by the utility corporation of the results of the automated file match. Any information provided to the utility corporations related to OTDA assistance program participants pursuant to this section shall not be redisclosed by the utility corporation and shall only be utilized for the purpose of confirming eligibility in the utility corporation [energy] affordability program and providing notifications pursuant to paragraph (b) of this subdivision.
(b) Upon automatic enrollment in the utility corporation [energy] affordability program, the utility corporation shall provide written notification to the utility corporation [energy] affordability program participant of their enrollment in such program.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the same date and in the same manner as a chapter of the laws of 2024 amending the social services law relating to automated identification of OTDA assistance program participants, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 9100 and A. 9522, takes effect.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the social services law, in relation to automated iden- tification of OTDA program participants for participation in utility corporation affordability programs for water service affordability
Purpose
This chapter amendment clarifies provisions of L.2024,c.564 regarding the automated identification of OTDA program participants for enrollment in utility affordability programs related to water service.
Summary of provisions
This legislation amends the underlying chapter regarding the automated identification of OTDA program participants for enrollment in utility affordability programs related to water service.
Subsection 1(d) amends the definition of "utility corporation" in the underlying chapter to include "water-works corporations" participating in the OTDA match program to those covered by subject to section 50 of the Public Service Law.
Subsection 1(e) changes the program name from the "Utility Corporation Energy Affordability Program" to the "Utility Corporation Affordability Program" to reflect the expansion of the program to include water utili- ty services.
Subsection 2 amends the underlying chapter to require that, within 18 months of the effective date, the Commissioner of the Office of Tempo- rary and Disability Assistance implement automated identification of OTDA program participants for enrollment in utility water service affordability programs.
Existing law
None.
Justification
This legislation is a negotiated change to the underlying chapter.
Legislative history
Chapter amendment to Chapter 564 of the Laws of 2024. S.9100 passed the Senate in June 2024 and A.9522 passed the Assem- bly in May 2024.
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the same date and in the same, manner as a chapter of the laws of 2024 amending the Social Services, Law concerning the automated identification of OTDA assistance program participants, as proposed in legislative bills 5.9100 and A.9522.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.