Signed by Governor Kathy Hochul

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires utility corporations, municipalities, water-works corporations, and telephone service providers to allow customers to use their preferred name and pronouns.

Highlights:

• Requires every utility corporation or municipality to provide applicants and customers with a convenient option to request that the utility corporation or municipality use their preferred name and/or preferred pronouns in all written or oral communication, as well as all statements or documentation relating to a customer's residential service, regardless of whether such applicant or customer's preferred name differs from their current legal name (Sec. 1). 

• Requires every water-works corporation to provide customers with a convenient option to request that the water-works corporation use their preferred name and/or preferred pronouns in all written or oral communications between the water-works corporation and the customer, as well as all statements or documentation relating to a customer's water service, regardless of whether such customer's preferred name differs from their current legal name (Sec.1).

• Requires every telephone service provider to provide customers with a convenient option to request that the telephone service provider use their preferred name and/or preferred pronouns in all written or oral communications between the telephone service provider and the customer, as well as all statements or documentation relating to a customer's telephone service, regardless of whether such customer's preferred name differs from their current legal name (Sec. 1).

• Establishes that if an applicant or customer's preferred name differs from their current legal name, a utility corporation or municipality, water-works corporation, or telephone service provider may require such applicant or customer to provide reasonable proof of identity using their legal name, provided that such information shall be used solely to verify the applicant or customer's identity or for other purposes required by law (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits a utility corporation or municipality, water-works corporation, or telephone service provider to (Sec. 1):

• Willfully and repeatedly fail to use an applicant or customer's preferred name and/or preferred pronouns after being informed of the preferred name and/or preferred pronouns according to subdivision one of this section; or

• Require an applicant or customer to specify their sexual orientation or gender identity or expression to use their preferred name and/or preferred pronouns.

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires utility corporations, municipalities, water-works corporations, and telephone service providers to allow customers to use their preferred name and pronouns.

Highlights:

• Requires every utility corporation or municipality to provide applicants and customers with a convenient option to request that the utility corporation or municipality use their preferred name and/or preferred pronouns in all written or oral communication, as well as all statements or documentation relating to a customer's residential service, regardless of whether such applicant or customer's preferred name differs from their current legal name (Sec. 1). 

• Requires every water-works corporation to provide customers with a convenient option to request that the water-works corporation use their preferred name and/or preferred pronouns in all written or oral communications between the water-works corporation and the customer, as well as all statements or documentation relating to a customer's water service, regardless of whether such customer's preferred name differs from their current legal name (Sec.1).

• Requires every telephone service provider to provide customers with a convenient option to request that the telephone service provider use their preferred name and/or preferred pronouns in all written or oral communications between the telephone service provider and the customer, as well as all statements or documentation relating to a customer's telephone service, regardless of whether such customer's preferred name differs from their current legal name (Sec. 1).

• Establishes that if an applicant or customer's preferred name differs from their current legal name, a utility corporation or municipality, water-works corporation, or telephone service provider may require such applicant or customer to provide reasonable proof of identity using their legal name, provided that such information shall be used solely to verify the applicant or customer's identity or for other purposes required by law (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits a utility corporation or municipality, water-works corporation, or telephone service provider to (Sec. 1):

• Willfully and repeatedly fail to use an applicant or customer's preferred name and/or preferred pronouns after being informed of the preferred name and/or preferred pronouns according to subdivision one of this section; or

• Require an applicant or customer to specify their sexual orientation or gender identity or expression to use their preferred name and/or preferred pronouns.

Full Bill Text