Bill Text: NJ A2017 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Prohibits termination of certain telephone service.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-02-08 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee [A2017 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-A2017-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman CAROLINE CASAGRANDE
District 12 (Mercer and Monmouth)
SYNOPSIS
Prohibits termination of certain telephone service.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning telephone service and supplementing Title 48 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. As used in this act:
"Board" means the Board of Public Utilities or any successor agency.
"County or municipal law enforcement agency" means and includes, but is not limited to, a county or municipal police department or force, a county corrections department, and a county sheriff's office.
"Emergency service organization" means a fire or first aid organization, whether organized as a volunteer fire company, volunteer fire department, fire district, or duly incorporated volunteer first aid, emergency or volunteer ambulance, or rescue squad association.
"Telecommunications company" means a company authorized by the board or by law or to provide telecommunications service to customers in this State.
"Telephone company" means a company which is regulated by the board as a public utility pursuant to Title 48 of the Revised Statutes, and which provides telephone service to customers in this State.
2. Notwithstanding the provisions of R.S.48:2-24, or any other law, rule, regulation, or order to the contrary, no telephone company or telecommunications company authorized by the board to provide telephone service in this State shall terminate local telephone service to any county or municipal law enforcement agency or any emergency service organization for any reason, including, but not limited to, nonpayment or late payment of a telephone bill.
3. The board shall promulgate, in accordance with the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), such rules and regulations as may be necessary to effectuate the purposes of this act.
4. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill would prohibit any telephone company or telecommunications company authorized by the Board of Public Utilities to provide telephone service in this State from terminating local telephone service to any county or municipal law enforcement agency or emergency service organization for any reason, including, but not limited to, nonpayment or late payment of a telephone bill.
