BILL NUMBER:  S4907

 TITLE OF BILL :

An act to amend the public service law, in relation to requiring
telegraph and telephone corporations to offer residential rates to
religious organizations

 PURPOSE :

To make the telephone bills of religious organizations more affordable
by requiring telephone companies to offer residential rates to such
organizations.

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :

Section 1. Amends Section 92 (3) of the Public Service law. Prohibits
telephone companies from charging religious organizations rates which
are greater than rates applicable to residential customers for
telephone services utilized exclusively in connection with religious
purposes.

Section 2. Effective Date

 EXISTING LAW :

              

Section 76 of the Public Service Law allows religious organizations to
be charged residential rates for gas and electric service. This
provision is not applicable to telephone services.

 JUSTIFICATION :

Under current law, section 76 of the Public Service Law provides that
religious organizations shall be subject to residential rates for gas
and electric service. Such law assists religious organizations by
making their gas and electric bills more affordable. This bill would
provide similar assistance to religious organizations with regard to
their telephone bills.

Religious organizations are not businesses and they do not make a
profit. They rely primarily on donations for their expenses. It is
inappropriate, therefore, that religious organizations be subject to
business telephone rates. Business telephone rates generally charge
customers by the number of calls and by the length of each call, a
practice which may be warranted when calls are being used to derive
profit or to further a business purpose. When calls are being made for
religious purposes, however, lower cost residential rates should be
applicable.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

2016: S.140 - REFERRED TO ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
2015: S.140 - REFERRED TO ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
2014: S.444 - Referred to Energy and Telecommunications/A.6004
Referred to Corporations, Authorities, and Commissions
2013: S.444 - Referred to Energy and Telecommunications/A.6004
Referred to Corporations, Authorities, and Commissions
2012: S.295 - Referred to Energy and Telecommunications/A.6115Referred
to Corporations, Authorities, and Commissions
2011: S.295 - Reported, Committed to Finance/A.6115- Referred to
Corporations, Authorities, and Commissions
2009-10: S.3105 - Referred to Energy and Telecommunications/A.5028
-Reported, Referred to Ways and Means
2008: S.7250 - Referred to Energy and Telecommunications
2007-08: A.6631 Reported Referred to Ways and Means

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

To be determined.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
This bill will take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it
shall become law.