Add Art 14 SS14-101 - 14-109, Energy L; add S391-aa, Gen Bus L
Implements the New York propane education and safety act; authorizes the creation of certain propane education programs; requires the creation of a New York propane education and safety council; enumerates the duties and purposes of the New York propane education and safety council.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
54
2015-2016 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY(Prefiled)
January 7, 2015
___________
Introduced by M. of A. PAULIN, GALEF, LUPARDO, OTIS, SCHIMMINGER,
CROUCH, SKOUFIS -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. CERETTO, LUPINACCI,
McDONOUGH, RIVERA, SKARTADOS, THIELE -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Energy
AN ACT to amend the energy law, in relation to implementing the New York
propane education and safety act; and to amend the general business
law, in relation to consumer protections for liquefied petroleum gas
systems
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The energy law is amended by adding a new article 14 to
2 read as follows:
3 ARTICLE 14
4 NEW YORK PROPANE EDUCATION AND SAFETY ACT
5 Section 14-101. Short title.
6 14-102. Definitions.
7 14-103. Referendum; creation and termination of a program.
8 14-104. New York propane education and safety council.
9 14-105. Assessments.
10 14-106. Compliance.
11 14-107. Lobbying restrictions.
12 14-108. Pricing.
13 14-109. Relation to other programs.
14 § 14-101. Short title. This article shall be known and may be cited as
15 the New York propane education and safety act.
16 § 14-102. Definitions. For purposes of this article, unless the
17 context otherwise requires:
18 1. "Council" means a New York propane education and safety council
19 created pursuant to section 14-104 of this article;
20 2. "President" means the chairman of NYSERDA or his or her designee;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00545-01-5
A. 54 2
1 3. "Education" means any action to provide information regarding
2 propane, propane equipment, mechanical and technical practices, and
3 propane uses to consumers, and members of the propane industry;
4 4. "Industry" means those persons involved in the production, trans-
5 portation, and sale of propane, and the manufacture and distribution of
6 propane utilization equipment;
7 5. "Industry trade association" means an organization exempt from tax,
8 under Section 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code of
9 1986, representing the propane industry;
10 6. "NYSERDA" means the New York state energy and research development
11 authority;
12 7. "Odorized propane" means propane which has an odorant added to it;
13 8. "Producer" means the owner of propane at the time it is recovered
14 at a gas processing plant or refinery; irrespective of the state where
15 production occurs;
16 9. "Propane" means a hydrocarbon whose chemical composition is predo-
17 minately C3H8, whether recovered from natural gas or crude oil, and
18 includes liquified petroleum gases and mixtures thereof;
19 10. "Public member" means a designee of the president of the New York
20 state energy research and development authority;
21 11. "Qualified industry organization" means the New York propane gas
22 association, the national propane gas association, a successor associ-
23 ation of these associations, or any other propane industry organization;
24 12. "Research" means any type of study, investigation or other activ-
25 ities designed to advance the image, desirability, usage, marketability,
26 efficiency, and safety of propane and to further the development of such
27 information;
28 13. "Retail marketer" means a person engaged primarily in the sale of
29 odorized propane to the ultimate consumer or to retail propane dispen-
30 sers; and
31 14. "Retail propane dispenser" means a person who sells odorized
32 propane to the ultimate consumer but is not engaged primarily in the
33 business of such sales.
34 § 14-103. Referendum; creation and termination of a program. 1. Qual-
35 ified industry organizations shall conduct at their own expense, a
36 referendum among producers and retail marketers for the creation of a
37 New York propane education and safety council. The council, if estab-
38 lished, shall reimburse the qualified industry organizations for the
39 cost of the referendum accounting and documentation. The referendum
40 shall be conducted by an independent auditing firm agreed to by the
41 qualified industry organizations. The results, as certified by an inde-
42 pendent auditing firm, shall be submitted to the president within thirty
43 days of certification. Voting rights in the referendum shall be based on
44 the volume of propane produced or odorized propane sold in the previous
45 calendar year. Upon approval of those persons representing two-thirds of
46 the total value of propane voted in the retail marketer class and two-
47 thirds of all propane voted in the producer class, the council shall be
48 established, and shall be authorized to levy an assessment on odorized
49 propane in accordance with section 14-105 of this article. All persons
50 voting in the referendum shall certify to the independent auditing firm
51 the volume of propane represented by their vote.
52 2. On the council's own initiative, or on petition to the council by
53 producers and retail marketers representing thirty-five percent of the
54 volume of propane in each class, the council shall, at its own expense,
55 hold a referendum to be conducted by an independent auditing firm
56 selected by the council, to determine whether the industry favors termi-
A. 54 3
1 nation or suspension of the council. Termination or suspension shall not
2 take effect unless it is approved by persons representing more than
3 one-half of the total volume of odorized propane in the retail marketer
4 class and more than one-half the total volume of propane in the producer
5 class.
6 § 14-104. New York propane education and safety council. 1. The quali-
7 fied industry organizations shall select all retail marketers members
8 and producer members of the council. The president shall designate one
9 public member. Vacancies in the unfinished terms of council members
10 shall be filled in the same manner as were the original appointments.
11 2. In selecting members of the council, the qualified industry organ-
12 izations shall give due regard to selecting a council that is represen-
13 tative of the industry, including representation of:
14 (a) gas processors and oil refiners among producers;
15 (b) interstate and intrastate operators among retail marketers;
16 (c) large and small companies among producers and retail marketers,
17 including agricultural cooperatives; and
18 (d) diverse geographic regions of the state.
19 3. The council shall consist of no less than five and up to seven
20 members, with no less than four and up to six members representing
21 retail marketers and producers, and one public member. Other than the
22 public member, council members shall be full-time employees or owners of
23 businesses in the industry or representatives of agricultural cooper-
24 atives. No employee of a qualified industry organization shall serve as
25 a member of the council, and no member of the council may serve concur-
26 rently as an officer of the board of directors of a qualified industry
27 organization or other trade association. Only one person at a time from
28 any company or its affiliate may serve on the council. The president may
29 serve as an ex-officio non-voting member of the council.
30 4. Council members shall receive no compensation for their services,
31 nor shall council members be reimbursed for expenses relating to their
32 service, except that public members, upon request, may be reimbursed for
33 reasonable expenses directly related to their participation in council
34 meetings.
35 5. Council members shall serve terms of three years and may not serve
36 more than two full consecutive terms. Members filling unexpired terms
37 may serve not more than a total of seven consecutive years. Former
38 members of the council may be returned to the council if they have not
39 been members for a period of two years. Initial appointments to the
40 council shall be for terms of one, two, and three years staggered to
41 provide for the selection of four members each year. The council shall
42 notify the president of the name, address, and propane-related affil-
43 iation, if any, of a council member within thirty days after the
44 appointment of the member to the council.
45 6. The council shall develop programs and projects and enter into
46 contracts or agreements for implementing this article, including
47 programs to enhance consumer and employee safety and training, which may
48 include the training required by section three hundred ninety-one-aa of
49 the general business law, to provide for research and development of
50 clean and efficient propane utilization equipment, to inform and educate
51 the public about safety and other issues associated with the use of
52 propane, and to provide for the payment of the costs thereof with funds
53 collected pursuant to this article. The council shall coordinate its
54 activities with industry trade associations, Hudson Valley community
55 college, other community colleges and others as appropriate to provide
A. 54 4
1 efficient delivery of services and to avoid unnecessary duplication of
2 activities.
3 7. Issues related to research and development, safety, education, and
4 training shall be given priority by the council in the development of
5 its programs and projects.
6 8. The council shall select from among its members a chairperson and
7 other officers as necessary, may establish committees and subcommittees
8 of the council, and shall adopt rules and bylaws for the conduct of
9 business and the implementation of this article. The council shall
10 establish procedures for the solicitation of industry comment and recom-
11 mendations on any significant plans, programs, and projects to be funded
12 by the council. The council may establish advisory committees of persons
13 other than council members.
14 9. At the beginning of each fiscal period, the council shall prepare a
15 budget plan for the next fiscal period, including the probable cost of
16 all programs, projects, and contracts and a recommended rate of assess-
17 ment sufficient to cover such costs. The council shall submit the
18 proposed budget to the president for review and comment. The president
19 may recommend programs and activities considered appropriate.
20 10. The council shall keep minutes, books, and records that clearly
21 reflect all of the acts and transactions of the council and make public
22 such information. The books of the council shall be audited by a certi-
23 fied public accountant at least once each fiscal year and at such other
24 times as the council may designate. The expense of the audit shall be
25 the responsibility of the council. Copies of such audit shall be
26 provided to all members of the council, all qualified industry organiza-
27 tions, and to other members of the industry upon request.
28 § 14-105. Assessments. 1. The council shall set the assessment at no
29 greater than one-tenth of one cent per gallon of odorized propane.
30 2. The owner of odorized propane at the time of odorization, or the
31 time of import of odorized propane shall make the assessment based on
32 the volume of odorized propane sold. The assessment, when made, shall be
33 listed as a separate line item on the bill labeled "New York Propane
34 Education and Safety Assessment". Assessments collected from purchasers
35 of propane are payable to the council on a monthly basis by the twenty-
36 fifth of the month following the month of collection.
37 If payment is not made to the council by the due date under this
38 subdivision, an interest penalty of one percent of any amount unpaid
39 shall be added for each month or fraction of a month after the due date,
40 until final payment is made.
41 3. The council may establish an alternative means of collecting the
42 assessment if another means is found to be more efficient and effective.
43 The council may establish a late payment charge and rate of interest to
44 be imposed on any person who fails to remit or pay to the council any
45 amount due under this article.
46 4. Pending disbursement pursuant to a program, plan, or project, the
47 council shall invest funds collected through assessments, and any other
48 funds received by the council, only in obligations of the United States
49 or any agency thereof, in general obligations of any state or political
50 subdivision thereof, in any interest-bearing account or certificate of
51 deposit of a bank that is a member of the Federal Reserve System, or in
52 obligations fully guaranteed as to principal and interest by the United
53 States.
54 § 14-106. Compliance. The supreme court is vested with the jurisdic-
55 tion specifically to enforce the provisions of this article, and prevent
56 or restrain any person from violating any such provision. A successful
A. 54 5
1 action for compliance under this section may also require payment by the
2 defendant of the costs incurred by the council in bringing the action.
3 § 14-107. Lobbying restrictions. No funds collected by the council
4 shall be used in any manner for influencing legislation or elections,
5 except that the council may recommend to the president changes in this
6 article or other statutes that would further the purpose of this arti-
7 cle.
8 § 14-108. Pricing. In all cases, the price of propane shall be deter-
9 mined by market forces. Consistent with the antitrust laws, the council
10 may take no action, nor may any provision of this article be interpreted
11 as establishing an agreement to pass along to consumers the cost of the
12 assessment provided for in section 14-105 of this article.
13 § 14-109. Relation to other programs. Nothing in this article may be
14 construed to preempt or supersede any other program relating to propane
15 education and safety organized and operated under the laws of the state
16 of New York.
17 § 2. The general business law is amended by adding a new section 391-
18 aa to read as follows:
19 § 391-aa. Liquefied petroleum gas systems; consumer protections. 1.
20 On or after July first, two thousand sixteen, no liquefied petroleum gas
21 marketer or any other person shall install, inspect or service liquefied
22 petroleum gas systems in New York state or hold himself, herself or
23 itself out to be qualified or adequately trained to install, inspect or
24 service liquefied petroleum gas systems in New York state without first
25 successfully completing the following portions of a propane safety and
26 training program known as the Propane Education and Research Council's
27 Certified Employee Training Program, as amended from time to time:
28 a. Basic Principles and Practices of Propane (also known as Book 1.0);
29 b. Designing and Installing Exterior Vapor Distributions Systems (also
30 known as Book 4.1);
31 c. Placing Vapor Distribution Systems and Appliances into Operation
32 (also known as Book 4.2);
33 d. Installing Appliances and Interior Vapor Distribution Systems (also
34 known as Book 4.3); and
35 e. Designing and Installing Dispenser Transfer Systems (also known as
36 Book 5.1);
37 Such training shall be provided by a qualified propane industry organ-
38 ization.
39 2. Within thirty days of the effective date of this section, every
40 liquefied petroleum gas marketer or any other person hired to install,
41 inspect, or service a liquefied petroleum gas system shall post on his,
42 her, or its website, if such a website is maintained, an indication of
43 whether the training required by this section has been completed by the
44 individuals that will be performing such work. Prior to commencing the
45 installation, inspection or service of a liquefied petroleum gas system,
46 a liquefied petroleum gas marketer or any other person hired to perform
47 such work shall provide the customer or prospective customer, upon
48 request, a written notice that the individuals that will perform such
49 work have successfully completed the training required by this section.
50 3. In the event that a liquefied petroleum gas marketer or any other
51 person hired to install, inspect or service a liquefied petroleum gas
52 system performs such work without having first successfully completed
53 the training required by this section, such liquefied petroleum gas
54 marketer or such other person shall be civilly liable for any property
55 damage, injury or death caused by such installation, inspection or
56 service.
A. 54 6
1 4. It is hereby declared to be a deceptive trade act and practice and
2 unlawful for any liquefied petroleum gas marketer or any other person to
3 hold himself, herself or itself out to be qualified or adequately
4 trained to install, inspect or service liquefied petroleum gas systems
5 in New York state without first successfully completing the training
6 required by this section.
7 5. Nothing in this section shall be construed to alter or supersede
8 any requirements pertaining to liquefied petroleum gases set forth in
9 the Fire Code of New York State or the Fuel Gas Code of New York State.
10 6. For the purposes of this section the following terms shall have the
11 following meanings:
12 a. "Person" shall mean any natural person, sole proprietorship, part-
13 nership, corporation, limited liability company, trust, incorporated or
14 unincorporated association, or any other legal entity.
15 b. "Liquefied petroleum gas" shall mean liquefied petroleum gas as
16 such term is defined in section one hundred ninety-two-e of the agricul-
17 ture and markets law.
18 c. "Liquefied petroleum gas system" shall mean any system, equipment,
19 or component, individually or collectively, that utilizes liquefied
20 petroleum gas including but not limited to a storage container, storage
21 cylinder, end point or points of combustion, appliances and all attach-
22 ments utilizing or transporting liquefied petroleum gas.
23 d. "Liquefied petroleum gas marketer" shall mean any natural person,
24 sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, limited liability compa-
25 ny, trust, incorporated or unincorporated association, or any other
26 legal entity engaged directly in the retail sale or retail transport of
27 liquefied petroleum gas.
28 e. "Qualified propane industry organization" shall mean the New York
29 propane gas association, the national propane gas association, a succes-
30 sor organization of these associations, or any other propane industry
31 organization authorized to do business in New York state that is
32 designed primarily to provide information regarding propane, propane
33 equipment, mechanical and technical practices, and propane uses to
34 consumers and members of the propane industry.
35 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
