Creates provisions that allow for transfer of utility service to a spouse of the account holder without additional fees under certain circumstances

SECOND REGULAR SESSION
HOUSE BILL NO. 3161
103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE PARKER.
6996H.01I JOSEPH ENGLER, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
To amend chapter 393, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to transfers of
utility service under certain circumstances.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapter 393, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be
2 known as section 393.1685, to read as follows:
393.1685. 1. No public utility, as such term is defined in section 295.020, shall
2 require additional deposits or transfer fees to transfer services to the spouse of the
3 account holder when the account is in good standing and the account holder:
4 (1) Dies;
5 (2) Is deported; or
6 (3) Is incar
cerated for more than sixty days.
7 2. (1) Notwithstanding the pr
ovisions of subsection 1 of this section, a new
8 deposit may be r
equired if:
9 (a) The spouse has an unpaid bill within the last five years that, at the time of the
10 transfer req
uest, remains unpaid and is not the subject of a dispute with any public
11 utility for the same type of service;
12 (b) The spouse has, in the last five years and without authorization, interfer ed
13 with or diverted the service of a public utility for the same type of service; or
14 (c) The spouse fails to prov
ide proof of identity, such as government-issued photo
15 identification and Social Security number
.
16 (2) If a new deposit is requ
ired under the provisions of this subsection, the public
17 utility shall permit the spouse to pay the deposit in installments unless the public utility
EXPLANATION — Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in the above bill is not enacted and is
intended to be omitted from the law. Matter in bold-face type in the above bill is proposed language.
WITHDRAWN
18 shows the spouse has previously interfered with, diverted, or used the service of the
19 utility without authorization.
20 3. A public utility may require proper documentation, such as a marriage
21 certificate or proof of residency, before transferring service to the spouse of the account
22 holder under subsection 1 of this section.
✔
HB 3161 2
WITHDRAWN