Authorizes the New York state energy research and development authority to develop, implement, administer and operate a temporary middle income home energy assistance program; makes an appropriation therefor.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
775
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 9, 2017
___________
Introduced by M. of A. BICHOTTE -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Energy
AN ACT to amend the public authorities law, in relation to authorizing
the New York state energy research and development authority to devel-
op a temporary middle income home energy assistance program; making an
appropriation therefor and providing for the repeal of such provisions
upon expiration thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 1854 of the public authorities law is amended by
2 adding a new subdivision 9 to read as follows:
3 9. Temporary middle income home energy assistance program. (a) The
4 authority is authorized, in conjunction with the department of taxation
5 and finance, to develop, implement, administer and operate a plan, and
6 hold funds available for such plan, to make available one-time supple-
7 menting grants for the purpose of assisting eligible households to
8 obtain home heating fuel.
9 (b) For purposes of this subdivision, the term "home heating fuel"
10 shall mean fuel oil, coal, wood, propane, natural gas, electricity,
11 steam, kerosene and any other fuel when used for residential heating
12 purposes.
13 (c) The authority is required, in accordance with the plan established
14 in paragraph (a) of this subdivision, to participate in the temporary
15 middle income home energy assistance program and to assist eligible
16 households to obtain middle income home energy assistance.
17 (d) Persons who qualify for middle income home energy assistance in
18 accordance with standards promulgated by the authority, shall be certi-
19 fied as eligible for and entitled to receive such home energy assist-
20 ance. No person, however, shall be certified as eligible for and enti-
21 tled to receive such home energy assistance if no state funds are
22 available for such purpose.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02149-01-7
A. 775 2
1 (e) Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of law to the contrary,
2 the amount of any home energy assistance payments or allowances provided
3 to an eligible household under such plan shall not be considered income
4 or resources of such households, or of any member thereof, for any
5 purpose under any state law.
6 § 2. The sum of one million dollars ($1,000,000), or so much thereof
7 as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated to the New York state energy
8 research and development authority out of any moneys in the state treas-
9 ury in the general fund to the credit of the state purposes fund, not
10 otherwise appropriated, and made immediately available, for the purpose
11 of supporting the temporary middle income home energy assistance
12 program. Such moneys shall be payable on the audit and warrant of the
13 comptroller on vouchers certified or approved by the New York state
14 energy research and development authority in the manner prescribed by
15 law.
16 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be
17 deemed repealed April 1, 2019.
