Weekly Legislative Wrap-Up – April 29 – May 3, 2013

May 3, 2013

This week, the State Assembly continued to work on important legislative priorities of the 2013 Legislative Session. The Legislative Session continues in Albany until the end of June. Below is a report of some of the key proposals the Assembly took action on this past week:

EARLY VOTING: In an effort to encourage greater voter participation, shorten waits and lines at polling places, and expand voting access for all New Yorkers, Assemblywoman Rhoda Jacobs co-sponsored a bill passed this week in the Assembly that institutes early voting in New York State (A.689-A). The measure would institute early voting for all General, Primary, and Special elections in New York. Specifically, the bill establishes a 15-day early voting period for general elections and an eight day early voting period for primary and special elections. There is no bill in the Senate at this time.

UTILITY CONSUMERS PROTECTED: Assemblywoman Rhoda Jacobs voted in support of a bill passed by the Assembly this week that would protect consumers that pay their utility bills to an authorized payment agent from being charged a late fee if the agent does not remit the payment to the utility in a timely manner (A.868). Under present law, if agents fail to remit utility payments promptly, consumers could be forced to pay the same bills twice or suffer disconnection, late penalties or other charges. This bill would also prohibit any person from acting as a payment agent for an electric utility without a written agreement. Each agreement would require the utility, and not the consumer, be responsible for the actions of the agent. The bill does not yet have a Senate sponsor.

CREATING REGIONAL MINORITY AND WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESS ENTERPRISE DIRECTORY: The Assembly passed legislation this week (A.1986) to address the difficulty small businesses and minority and women owned enterprises often face when starting or expanding their businesses: access to technical, managerial, financial and educational support. The bill creates a computerized directory of technical and financial programs for small businesses and minority and women-owned enterprise. The Senate bill (S.898) is pending in the Finance Committee.

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