| Chapter 447 |
| 2016 -- H 7459 SUBSTITUTE A Enacted 07/12/2016 |
| A N A C T |
| RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- PUBLIC UTILITIES |
| Introduced By: Representatives Amore, Costa, Fogarty, Maldonado, and Kazarian |
| Date Introduced: February 04, 2016 |
| It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: |
| SECTION 1. Chapter 11-35 of the General Laws entitled "Public Utilities" is hereby |
| amended by adding thereto the following section: |
| 11-35-20.1. Wrongful termination or disruption of service. -- (a) Any person who has |
| been served an order issued pursuant to chapter 8.1 of title 8, or chapters 5 or 15 of title 15 who |
| causes the interruption of any utility service by false presentation or other means at the residence |
| of the person(s) protected by a protective order issued pursuant to chapter 8.1 of title 8, or |
| chapters 5 or 15 of title 15 shall constitute harassment. |
| (b) Any person subject to an order issued pursuant to chapter 8.1 of title 8, or chapters 5 |
| or 15 of title 15 who wishes to remove their name from a utility bill and terminate their future |
| financial responsibility for making payments on that bill must first seek approval from the court |
| that issued the protective order. |
| (1) The court shall not allow any person, upon his or her own motion, to remove his or |
| her name from a utility bill and terminate their financial responsibility with respect to the utility |
| bill without first ensuring that the preexisting balance owed to the utility has been satisfied and |
| that the person(s) covered by the protective order is able to establish an account under his or her |
| own name without the need to make a deposit that causes hardship, and is capable of fulfilling |
| their financial obligations towards the utility in the future. |
| (c) Nothing in this section shall prevent a person protected by an order issued pursuant to |
| chapter 8.1 of title 8, or chapters 5 or 15 of title 15 from transferring a utility bill into his or her |
| name and assuming any and all obligations to the utility. |
| (d) Any person who shall wrongfully terminate or disrupt any utility service in violation |
| of this section shall be guilty of a violation and subject to a fine not exceeding five hundred |
| dollars ($500). |
| SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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| LC004005/SUB A |
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