| Vote Recommendation | Economic Freedom | Property Rights | Personal Responsibility | Limited Government | Individual Liberty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | Neutral | Positive | Neutral | Positive | Neutral |
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
HB 3428 would allow the decedent’s next of kin to submit a
request to a utility service to continue the services until 90-days after the utility
service receives the request or 14-days after a representative of the decedent’s
estate qualifies the request, or if the next of kin requests the discontinuance
of the services.
The next of kin would need to provide the utility service
with the decedent’s death certificate; otherwise the utility service is under
no requirement to comply with the request. Lastly, if the next of kin makes a
continuation of service request, the decedent’s estate is liable for the costs
of continuing the service, not the decedent’s next of kin.
Current law is unclear as to how a family may continue the utilities
following the death of a family member. HB 3428 would bring clarity to this
issue by determining how a person may request a temporary continuation
of service for the property of a deceased
loved one. Additionally this legislation designates the estate of the deceased
person as financially responsible for this continuation of service.
We support HB 3428 because it brings transparency to an area of law that was confusing. This legislation is comports with our limited
government principle.