JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Water utilities said Tuesday that the Mississippi Public Service Commission doesn’t have the power to force them to allow victims of domestic abuse to hook up utilities without immediately paying deposits. And some representatives said it wasn’t a good idea anyway, saying the commission was singling out “a special group” that could cause other ratepayers to pay more and that private charities could take care of victims’ financial needs.

Mississippi’s proposal is modeled after similar measures in Louisiana and Texas. It would allow people certified as victims by certain agencies to delay paying deposits for 60 days.