093_SB1066eng

 
SB1066 Engrossed                     LRB093 08059 DRJ 08260 b

 1        AN ACT in relation to energy.

 2        Be it enacted by the People of  the  State  of  Illinois,
 3    represented in the General Assembly:

 4        Section  1.  Short  title.  This  Act may be cited as the
 5    Good Samaritan Energy Plan Act.

 6        Section 5.  Definitions. In this Act:
 7        "Department"  means  the  Department  of   Commerce   and
 8    Economic Opportunity.
 9        "LIHEAP"  means the energy assistance program established
10    under the Energy Assistance Act of 1989.

11        Section 10.  Legislative findings. The  General  Assembly
12    finds  that  high  electric  and  gas  bill  arrearages are a
13    serious problem for low-income utility consumers in Illinois,
14    often impeding access to service. The General  Assembly  also
15    finds  that  the  inability  to  have electric or gas service
16    connected due to high arrearages is a threat  to  the  health
17    and  safety  of  many  low-income households in Illinois. The
18    General Assembly further finds that  eligibility  for  LIHEAP
19    does   not  alleviate  the  burden  of  high  arrearages  for
20    low-income utility consumers and is not enough to enable many
21    households to have electric or gas service connected.

22        Section 15. Good Samaritan Energy Trust  Fund.  The  Good
23    Samaritan  Energy  Trust Fund is created as a special fund in
24    the State treasury. The Department shall administer the Fund.
25    The  Department  shall  deposit  moneys  received  from   the
26    following sources into the Fund:
27             (1)  Voluntary     donations    from    individuals,
28        foundations, corporations, and other sources.
29             (2)  Proceeds from fundraising events held  for  the
 
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 1        purpose of generating moneys for the Fund.

 2        Section  20.  Solicitation  of contributions to Fund. The
 3    Department  may  insert  a  fundraising   letter   requesting
 4    voluntary  contributions to the Fund in utility bills 2 times
 5    each year to solicit contributions to the  Fund.  All  public
 6    utilities  doing  business  in  the  State shall cooperate in
 7    allowing the Department to  insert  fundraising  solicitation
 8    letters in their utility bills.

 9        Section 25.  Administration of Fund. The Department shall
10    administer  the  Good  Samaritan  Energy  Trust Fund with the
11    advice and consent of the Low Income Energy Assistance Policy
12    Advisory Council established under the Energy Assistance  Act
13    of  1989.  Donations  received  for  the  Fund  shall be made
14    available  for  the  purpose  of  alleviating  utility   bill
15    arrearages  for  households  determined  eligible for LIHEAP.
16    Resources from the  Fund  shall  be  awarded  to  local  area
17    agencies  that have existing contracts with the Department to
18    administer LIHEAP in Illinois.

19        Section  30.  Distribution  of  moneys  from  Fund.   The
20    Department,  with  the  advice  and consent of the Low Income
21    Energy Assistance Policy Advisory  Council,  shall  establish
22    priorities  for  the  distribution  of  moneys  from the Good
23    Samaritan Energy Trust Fund to low-income consumers to enable
24    them to pay gas or electric bill arrearages in order to  have
25    household   gas   or   electric  utility  service  connected.
26    Low-income consumers who are unable  to  have  their  service
27    connected even with a LIHEAP grant shall be given preference.

28        Section  35.  Annual  report. On or before May 31 of each
29    year, beginning in 2005,  the  Department  shall  provide  an
30    annual  report  to  the  General  Assembly  on  the  use  and
 
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 1    effectiveness  of  the  Good Samaritan Energy Trust Fund. The
 2    report shall include the amount of money deposited  into  the
 3    Fund,  the  amount  of  money  allocated  by the Fund for the
 4    direct  benefit  of  low-income  consumers,  the  number   of
 5    low-income  households  served  by  the  Fund, by county, and
 6    recommendations for improving the operation and effectiveness
 7    of the Fund.

 8        Section 90.  The State Finance Act is amended  by  adding
 9    Section 5.595 as follows:

10        (30 ILCS 105/5.595 new)
11        Sec. 5.595.  The Good Samaritan Energy Trust Fund.

12        Section  99.  Effective  date. This Act takes effect upon
13    becoming law.