NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A7571B
SPONSOR: Thiele TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the public authorities law,in relation
to method of collection of charges by the Suffolk county water authority
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To clarify the Suffolk county water authority to charge and collect
rates, fees and other charges for the use or availability of its water
facilities or for the services or commodities by providing that such
rates, fees and other charges shall be a lien upon the real property
upon which or in connection with which such services are provided or
made available. The act provides that unpaid rates, fees and charges in
arrears for ninety days shall be transmitted to the receiver of taxes
and assessments shall levy such sums against the properties liable for
such rates, fees and charges.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
This bill amends the public authorities law by adding a new section
1078-f. This amendment clarifies the authority's power to collect rates,
fees and other charges for the use or availability of its water facili-
ties or of the services or commodities provided by the authority. The
act also provides that all such rates, fees and other charges shall be a
lien upon the real property in a similar manner to water rates, fees and
charges of water districts. Authority rates, fees and charges that are
ninety days in arrears on the first day of November in each year, shall
be transmitted to the receiver of taxes and assessments of the county of
Suffolk, which shall levy such sums against the properties liable for
such amounts under the heading "water charge." The county shall then pay
over to the chief financial officer of the authority amounts collected
by the county.
JUSTIFICATION:
Each year the authority has to write off hundreds of thousands of
dollars in uncollected water rates, fees and charges due to nonpayment
of water bills. These amounts are primarily attributable to customers
who move out of the county of Suffolk without paying their final water
bill or giving notice to the authority that they are moving. It is
difficult and costly to collect from former customers who no longer
reside in the county. New York law currently provides that water rates
and charges for water districts automatically become liens of the real
property where water services are provided. Because of this law, unpaid
water bills in water districts are usually paid upon the sale of the
property as they become liens on the property.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2015: New Legislation
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None to the state.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.
