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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
623 |
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THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to energy assistance.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
"§269- Hawaii low-income home energy
assistance program surcharge.
The public utilities commission, by order or rule, shall
require that not more than per cent of the moneys collected by
Hawaii's electric utilities from its ratepayers through a demand-side
management surcharge be transferred to the commission for deposit into the Hawaii
low-income home energy assistance program special fund established pursuant to
section 346-B."
SECTION 3. Chapter 346, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding two new sections to part I to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§346-A Hawaii low-income home energy assistance
program; established. (a) There is established the Hawaii low-income
home energy assistance program. Subject
to available funds, the program shall assist eligible low-income households
with their energy costs, bill payment assistance, energy crisis assistance,
weatherization, and energy-related home repairs.
(b) Any current beneficiary of the supplemental
nutrition assistance program shall qualify for the program; provided that the
department may expand qualifications for the program based upon available
funds.
(c) The department shall require recipients of
funds from the program to participate in an energy audit of their home within
two years of the first assistance received under the program.
(d) The department shall adopt rules pursuant to
chapter 91 for purposes of this section, including:
(1) Determining the levels of assistance
based upon income and household size; and
(2) Required energy efficiency
improvements that a recipient of funds shall complete to qualify for further
participation in the program.
§346-B Hawaii low-income home energy assistance
program special fund. (a) There is established the Hawaii low-income
home energy assistance program special fund into which shall be deposited:
(1) Appropriations made by the
legislature to the fund;
(2) Moneys assessed and deposited into the
special fund pursuant to section 269- ;
(3) All contributions from public or
private partners;
(4) All interest earned on or accrued to
moneys deposited in the special fund; and
(5) Any other moneys made available to
the special fund from other sources.
(b) Moneys in the fund shall be expended by the
department for the Hawaii low-income home energy assistance
program."
SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2023-2024 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 for deposit into the Hawaii low-income home energy assistance program special fund.
SECTION 5. There is appropriated out of the Hawaii low‑income home energy assistance program special fund the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2023-2024 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 for the Hawaii low-income home energy assistance program.
The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 6. In codifying the new sections added by sections 2 and 3 of this Act, the revisor of statutes shall substitute appropriate section numbers for the letters used in designating the new sections in this Act.
SECTION 7. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 8. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2023.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
Energy Bill Assistance; DHS; Hawaii Low-income Home Energy Assistance Program; PUC; Appropriation
Description:
Establishes
the Hawaii low-income home energy assistance program within the Department of
Human Services to assist low-income households in paying their energy bills. Requires the Public Utilities Commission to
assess ratepayers a percentage fee to fund the program. Appropriates moneys.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.