ALBANY — Domestic violence victims fleeing dangerous living situations will no longer be pegged with hefty phone and cable fines should they break contracts early, thanks to a new law signed Wednesday.
Victims of domestic abuse who have sought and received a permanent order of protection will be exempt from footing the bill typically accrued when a person prematurely ends a multi-year contract with the phone, cable or satellite company.
“Survivors of domestic violence should not have to handle the added stress and red tape that comes with contract termination penalties,” said Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
“When leaving an abusive environment, a clean break is critical and in New York we will give survivors the resources they need to move onto the next chapter of their lives.”
Under a law approved in 2010, local telephone or cable companies are required to give domestic violence victims anonymous listings or fake names assigned to their phone number for free.
But bill sponsors state Sen. Kevin Parker (D-Brooklyn) and Assemblywoman Nily Rozic (D-Queens) argue that due to the changing telecommunications market, some people have opted for consolidated or “bundled” phone or cable contracts that aren’t covered under that 2010 statute.
Instead, when a victim suddenly bolts from a hazardous situation and needs to cancel services right away they are hit with a stiff fine.
“Too often, domestic violence survivors and their families face hurdles when rebuilding their lives, so it is important that we enact policy to lift them up and help them break away from cycles of abuse,” Rozic said.
The law takes effect immediately.
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