N.Y. Public Service Law § 31-a: Use of preferred name and pronouns

§ 31-a. Use of preferred name and pronouns. 1. Every utility

corporation or municipality shall provide applicants for residential

service and residential customers with a convenient option to request

that the utility corporation or municipality use their preferred name

and/or preferred pronouns in all written or oral communications between

the utility corporation or municipality and the applicant or customer,

as well as all statements or documentation relating to a customer's

residential service, regardless of whether such applicant or customer's

preferred name differs from their current legal name.

2. If an applicant or customer's preferred name differs from their

current legal name, a utility corporation or municipality may require

such applicant or customer to provide reasonable proof of identity using

their legal name, provided that such information shall be used solely to

verify the applicant or customer's identity or for other purposes

required by law.

3. No utility corporation or municipality shall:

(a) willfully and repeatedly fail to use an applicant or customer's

preferred name and/or preferred pronouns after being clearly informed of

the preferred name and/or preferred pronouns pursuant to subdivision one

of this section; or

(b) require an applicant or customer to specify their sexual

orientation or gender identity or expression in order to use their

preferred name and/or preferred pronouns.