§ 31-A — Use of preferred name and pronouns

New York § 31-A

• Jurisdiction: New York
• Law PBS: Public Service
• Art. 2: Residential Gas, Electric and Steam Utility Service

Text

§ 31-a. Use of preferred name and pronouns. 1. Every utility\ncorporation or municipality shall provide applicants for residential\nservice and residential customers with a convenient option to request\nthat the utility corporation or municipality use their preferred name\nand/or preferred pronouns in all written or oral communications between\nthe utility corporation or municipality and the applicant or customer,\nas well as all statements or documentation relating to a customer's\nresidential service, regardless of whether such applicant or customer's\npreferred name differs from their current legal name.\n 2. If an applicant or customer's preferred name differs from their\ncurrent legal name, a utility corporation or municipality may require\nsuch applicant or customer to provide reasonable proof of identity using\ntheir legal name, provided that such information shall be used solely to\nverify the applicant or customer's identity or for other purposes\nrequired by law.\n 3. No utility corporation or municipality shall:\n (a) willfully and repeatedly fail to use an applicant or customer's\npreferred name and/or preferred pronouns after being clearly informed of\nthe preferred name and/or preferred pronouns pursuant to subdivision one\nof this section; or\n (b) require an applicant or customer to specify their sexual\norientation or gender identity or expression in order to use their\npreferred name and/or preferred pronouns.\n