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- Referred to social services
- Referred to social services
Full text
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Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S1091
Title of bill
An act to amend the social services law, in relation to providing for home cooling needs assistance for low income households
Purpose
Provides for home cooling needs assistance through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
Summary of provisions
Section 1. Section 97 of the social services law is amended by adding a new subdivision 6.
The office of temporary and disability assistance is authorized to develop a plan, in accordance with state plan and federal regulations, which would establish a program to help eligible low-income households meet their home cooling needs.
It authorizes the department to act for the state in negotiations with the federal government relative to the plan, and make arrangements to submit, implement, administer and operate the plan.
It authorizes the department to secure for the state the benefits available under the act.
It allows for the purchase of air conditioners and/or monetary assistance with energy cooling bills.
Section two is the enacting clause.
Existing law
Currently, the HEAP program, as administered by the state's Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, the Office for the Aging, the Division of Housing and Community Renewal and local Departments of Social Services, grants money to qualifying low-income households for help with heating bills.
Justification
Summer heat waves can be deadly to older people and people with disabilities who do not have access to air conditioning.
Energy bills have gone up by as much as 40% recently, and are anticipated to continue climbing. The price of energy spikes during the summer months when more electricity is used than at any other time. Summer cooling, especially in urban areas, will become even more expensive over time, when energy shortages are expected. These higher bills, coupled with the sluggish economy, can be lethal for many low-income people.
This bill will allow qualifying low-income families, people with disabilities and older people to access grant money to buy air conditioners and/or pay for electric bills in the summer.
Legislative history
2009-10: S.2276/A.1459 - Passed both houses, veto memo 6742 2008-09: S.2474/A.700 2006-07: S.1354/A.6794
Fiscal implications
The LIHEAP program is a federally-funded program, currently funded to New York State as the HEAP program (Home Energy Assistance Program) at $220 million. This bill will expand the program to include summer cooling needs, and direct the State to negotiate with the federal government for additional funding.
Local fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
The act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.