Senate Bill S10294

2025-2026 Legislative Session

Requires telephone corporations provide on their website information and materials pertaining to victims of domestic violence and opting-out of a bundle telephone contract

download bill text pdf

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Energy And Telecommunications Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

Please enter your contact information

First Name

Last Name

Email Address

A valid email address is required.

Home address is used to determine the senate district in which you reside. Your support or opposition to this bill is then shared immediately with the senator who represents you.

Optional services from the NY State Senate:

Create an account. An account allows you to officially support or oppose key legislation, sign petitions with a single click, and follow issues, committees, and bills that matter to you. When you create an account, you agree to this platform's terms of participation.

Include a custom message for your Senator? (Optional)

Enter a message to your senator. Many New Yorkers use this to share the reasoning behind their support or opposition to the bill. Others might share a personal anecdote about how the bill would affect them or people they care about.

Actions

View Actions

Date of Action	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
May 11, 2026	referred to energy and telecommunications

2025-S10294 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Energy And Telecommunications
Law Section:: Public Service Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §§2 & 91, Pub Serv L

2025-S10294 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Requires telephone corporations to create a subsection on their websites with information and materials pertaining to victims of domestic violence and opting-out of a bundle telephone contract with such telephone corporation due to a person's status as a victim of domestic violence.

2025-S10294 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S10294

SPONSOR: PERSAUD
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the public service law, in relation to requiring tele-
phone corporations to create a subsection on their websites with infor-
mation and materials pertaining to victims of domestic violence and
opting-out of a bundle telephone contract with such telephone corpo-
ration due to a person's status as a victim of domestic violence

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

To enhance the accessibility of telephone corporations' domestic
violence resources on their websites; to establish a less burdensome
process for submitting line separation requests for individuals with a
status as a victim of domestic violence.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 of the bill amends section 2 of the public service law by
adding definitions for the terms "shared telephone line", "victim of

domestic violence", "line separation", and "survivor".

Section 2 of the bill amends subdivision eight of section 91 of the
public service law. This section clarifies that a telephone corporation
shall not require a survivor to submit any other documentation, informa-
tion, or anything other than a written self-attestation form to certify
they wish to leave a contract with such telephone corporation due to
their status as a victim of domestic violence. This section also
requires the telephone corporation to process this request no later than
two business days after receiving request.

Section 3 of the bill amends subdivision thirteen of section 91 of the
public service law. Further, this section establishes that a telephone
corporation must create a subsection in their website's support menu
titled "Domestic Violence Resources" that consists of specific informa-
tion and resources related to the process of a line separation request
for an individual with a status as a victim of domestic violence. Last-
ly, this section provides telephone corporations with a specific guide-
line for what information such telephone corporations shall require a
victim of domestic violence to provide on the self-attestation form.

Section 4 of the bill provides the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Domestic violence abusers are often extremely skillful at utilizing
sensitive information about their victims to control, manipulate, and
harm them. In cases where a domestic violence abuser is a primary
account holder of a shared telephone line that the survivor is a part
of, an abuser can easily access and monitor their victim's phone data,
texts, and calls. This poses a serious threat to both the survivor and
those they are in contact with as the abuser can utilize this informa-
tion to compromise their privacy and wellbeing.  Furthermore, an abuser
can use this access to manipulate the survivor and interfere with their
efforts to escape.


Currently, New York State law requires telephone corporations to make
their domestic violence resources widely available on their websites and
in their stores for survivors to utilize. However, it is still extremely
difficult for survivors to find the information and materials needed to
take advantage of this resource. This difficulty largely stems from the
lack of a clear and universal way to locate this essential service on
telephone websites.

Today, telephones are a central part of our daily lives, enabling us to
accomplish essential tasks such as communicating with others, managing
banking and utility accounts, and navigating directions while traveling.
Therefore, it is imperative that survivors have a streamlined process
for removing control of their devices from their abusers. Ultimately,
this legislation ensures that no survivor struggles to access resources
that help them reclaim their control over their lives.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New Bill

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None noted.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have
become law.

2025-S10294 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   10294
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               May 11, 2026
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. PERSAUD -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on  Energy  and  Telecommuni-
   cations
 
 AN  ACT  to amend the public service law, in relation to requiring tele-
   phone corporations to create  a  subsection  on  their  websites  with
   information  and  materials pertaining to victims of domestic violence
   and opting-out of a bundle  telephone  contract  with  such  telephone
   corporation due to a person's status as a victim of domestic violence
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Section 2 of the public service law is  amended  by  adding
 three new subdivisions 18-a, 30, and 31 to read as follows:
   18-A.  THE  TERM  "SHARED  TELEPHONE LINE", WHEN USED IN THIS CHAPTER,
 INCLUDES CONDUITS, DUCTS, POLES, WIRES, CABLES,  CROSS-ARMS,  RECEIVERS,
 TRANSMITTERS,  INSTRUMENTS,  MACHINES,  APPLIANCES AND ALL DEVICES, REAL
 ESTATE, EASEMENTS, APPARATUS, PROPERTY  AND  ROUTES  USED,  OPERATED  OR
 OWNED BY ANY TELEPHONE CORPORATION TO FACILITATE THE BUSINESS OF AFFORD-
 ING COMMUNICATION UP TO AND INCLUDING THE DEMARCATION POINT LOCATED ON A
 SUBSCRIBER'S  PREMISES  IN WHICH THE CONTRACT FOR SAID TELEPHONE LINE IS
 SHARED AMONGST A GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS WITH ONE INDIVIDUAL ACTING AS  THE
 PRIMARY  ACCOUNT HOLDER AND THE ABILITY TO MONITOR OR RESTRICT THE DATA,
 TALK, AND TEXT USAGE OF ALL LINES UNDER THE CONTRACT.
   30. THE TERMS "VICTIM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE" AND "SURVIVOR", WHEN  USED
 IN  THIS  CHAPTER, SHALL MEAN ANY PERSON AS DESCRIBED IN SUBDIVISION ONE
 OF SECTION FOUR HUNDRED FIFTY-NINE-A OF THE SOCIAL SERVICES LAW.
   31. THE TERM "LINE SEPARATION", WHEN USED IN THIS CHAPTER, SHALL REFER
 TO THE SEPARATION OR REMOVAL OF ONE OR MORE INDIVIDUALS  FROM  A  SHARED
 TELEPHONE LINE CONTRACT HELD WITH A TELEPHONE CORPORATION.
   § 2. Subdivision 8 of section 91 of the public service law, as amended
 by chapter 42 of the laws of 2023, is amended to read as follows:
   8.  Every  telephone  corporation,  as  defined in this chapter, shall
 allow a person who is under contract including, but not  limited  to,  a
 multi-year  contract or bundle contract with such telephone corporation,
 to opt-out of such contract without fee, penalty  or  charge  when  such
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.

                                                            LBD15689-02-6
 S. 10294                            2

 person  is a victim of domestic violence and provides [an attestation] A
 SELF-ATTESTATION in writing that they no longer wish to be  a  party  to
 such contract due to their status as a victim of domestic violence. Such
 telephone  corporation may not require such person to disclose confiden-
 tial information or details relating to such person's status as a victim
 of domestic violence, as a condition of permitting such person  to  opt-
 out of such contract.  SUCH TELEPHONE CORPORATION SHALL NOT REQUIRE SUCH
 PERSON TO SUBMIT ANY OTHER DOCUMENTATION, INFORMATION, OR ANYTHING OTHER
 THAN  SUCH A WRITTEN SELF-ATTESTATION TO CERTIFY THAT SUCH PERSON WISHES
 TO LEAVE A CONTRACT WITH SUCH TELEPHONE CORPORATION DUE TO THEIR  STATUS
 AS  A  VICTIM  OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. Further, such telephone corporation
 may not make release from such contract contingent on:  (a)  maintaining
 contractual  or  billing  responsibility  of  a  separated line with the
 provider; (b) approval of separation by the primary account  holder,  if
 the  primary account holder is not the person making such request; (c) a
 prohibition or limitation on number portability or a request  to  change
 phone  numbers;  or (d) a prohibition or limitation on the separation of
 lines as a result of arrears accrued  by  the  account.  Such  telephone
 corporation  shall  release such person from such contract no later than
 [seven] TWO BUSINESS days after receiving  such  opt-out  request.  Such
 telephone  corporation  shall  dispose  of information submitted by such
 person no later than thirty days after receiving such information  in  a
 manner  as  to maintain confidentiality of such information. A claim for
 opting-out of such contract without charge shall be made in good  faith.
 Such  telephone  corporation  shall  waive the otherwise applicable fee,
 penalty or  charge  for  such  person  requesting  to  opt-out  of  such
 contract.
   §  3.  Section 91 of the public service law is amended by adding a new
 subdivision 13-a to read as follows:
   13-A. (A) EVERY TELEPHONE CORPORATION SHALL CREATE A SUBSECTION IN THE
 SUPPORT MENU ON THEIR WEBSITE TITLED "DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RESOURCES"  THAT
 SHALL  INCLUDE A LINK TO AN INFORMATION PAGE THAT SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT
 SHALL NOT BE LIMITED TO, THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION AND RESOURCES:
   (I) A PARAGRAPH WHICH SHALL PROVIDE A BRIEF, CLEAR, AND CONCISE EXPLA-
 NATION OF THE OPTIONS AFFORDED TO A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVOR BY SUBDI-
 VISION EIGHT OF THIS SECTION AND/OR THE SAFE CONNECTIONS ACT OF 2022.
   (II) A SELF-ATTESTATION  FORM  WHICH  SATISFIES  THE  REQUIREMENTS  OF
 SUBDIVISION EIGHT OF THIS SECTION AND PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS SUBDIVISION.
 A SURVIVOR SHALL BE ABLE TO COMPLETE AND SUBMIT SUCH FORM ON THE WEBSITE
 TO  REMOVE  THEMSELVES  AND  THEIR  DEPENDENTS FROM THE SHARED TELEPHONE
 LINE.  A SURVIVOR SHALL ALSO BE ABLE TO  DOWNLOAD  THE  SELF-ATTESTATION
 FORM  FROM  THE WEBSITE, REQUEST TO BE SENT THE SELF-ATTESTATION FORM IN
 THE MAIL FROM THE WEBSITE, AND SUBMIT THE SELF-ATTESTATION FORM  THROUGH
 THE MAIL OR IN-PERSON.
   (III)  SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING HOW THE SURVIVOR MAY OPT-OUT OF
 THE SHARED TELEPHONE LINE INCLUDING THE REQUIRED  INFORMATION  THAT  THE
 SURVIVOR  MUST  INCLUDE  IN  THEIR WRITTEN SELF-ATTESTATION FORM AND THE
 MANNER IN WHICH THEY MUST COMPLETE AND SUBMIT THE FORM TO THE  TELEPHONE
 CORPORATION. THE TELEPHONE CORPORATION SHALL NOT REQUIRE THE SURVIVOR TO
 COMPLETE  THIS  PROCESS  IN-PERSON AND SHALL OFFER AN OPTION TO SEPARATE
 LINES VIA A MAILED OR DIGITAL SUBMISSION OF  THE  SELF-ATTESTATION  FORM
 AND/OR OVER THE PHONE WITH A CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE.
   (IV)  A DEVICE TRACKING DISCLAIMER THAT INFORMS THE SURVIVOR THAT SOME
 SERVICES AND DEVICES HAVE LOCATION TRACKING FEATURES AND THAT SEPARATING
 THEIR LINE FROM A SHARED TELEPHONE LINE DOES NOT DISABLE THESE FEATURES.
 S. 10294                            3
 
   (V) A SECTION THAT INFORMS THE SURVIVOR THAT THEIR DOCUMENTATION SHALL
 BE PROCESSED NO LATER THAN TWO BUSINESS DAYS FOLLOWING THE SUBMISSION OF
 THE REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION.
   (B)  THE  SELF-ATTESTATION  FORM  SHALL  ONLY  REQUIRE THE SURVIVOR TO
 PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:
   (I) THEIR NAME, MAILING ADDRESS, AND THE COUNTY IN WHICH THEY RESIDE.
   (II) THE IMPACTED PHONE NUMBER OR NUMBERS UNDER THE  SHARED  TELEPHONE
 LINE CONTRACT THAT THEY WISH TO SEPARATE.
   (III) THE ACCOUNT HOLDER NAME ASSOCIATED WITH SUCH PHONE NUMBERS.
   (IV)  THE DEVICE MAKE AND MODEL AND THE IMEI, SIM OR OTHER IDENTIFYING
 DEVICE INFORMATION ASSOCIATED WITH SUCH PHONE NUMBERS.
   (V) WHETHER THEY WISH TO START A NEW ACCOUNT UNDER THEIR NAME WITH THE
 PHONE NUMBERS  WITH  THAT  TELEPHONE  CORPORATION,  TRANSFER  THE  PHONE
 NUMBERS TO AN EXISTING ACCOUNT NUMBER WITH THE TELEPHONE CORPORATION, OR
 PORT-OUT  THE  PHONE NUMBERS TO ANOTHER CARRIER AND TO AN ACCOUNT IN THE
 SURVIVOR'S NAME.
   § 4. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day  after  it  shall
 have become a law.

Comments

Open Legislation is a forum for New York State legislation. All comments are subject to review and community moderation is encouraged.

Comments deemed off-topic, commercial, campaign-related, self-promotional; or that contain profanity, hate or toxic speech; or that link to sites outside of the nysenate.gov domain are not permitted, and will not be published. Attempts to intimidate and silence contributors or deliberately deceive the public, including excessive or extraneous posting/posts, or coordinated activity, are prohibited and may result in the temporary or permanent banning of the user. Comment moderation is generally performed Monday through Friday. By contributing or voting you agree to the Terms of Participation and verify you are over 13.

Create an account. An account allows you to sign petitions with a single click, officially support or oppose key legislation, and follow issues, committees, and bills that matter to you. When you create an account, you agree to this platform's terms of participation.

Find your Senator and share your views on important issues.

Do you support this bill?

Senate Bill S10294

Sponsored By

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Energy And Telecommunications Committee

Actions

2025-S10294 (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S10294 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S10294 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S10294 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

Do you support this bill?

Get Status Alerts for 2025-S10294

Senate Bill S10294

Share this bill

Sponsored By

Roxanne J. Persaud

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Energy And Telecommunications Committee

Actions

2025-S10294 (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S10294 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S10294 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S10294 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments