Public Act 095-0532
 
SB0175 Enrolled LRB095 07145 DRJ 27272 b

    AN ACT concerning public aid.
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
 
    Section 5. The Energy Assistance Act is amended by changing
Section 4 as follows:
 
    (305 ILCS 20/4)  (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 1404)
    Sec. 4. Energy Assistance Program.
    (a) The Department of Healthcare and Family Services
Economic Opportunity is hereby authorized to institute a
program to ensure the availability and affordability of heating
and electric service to low income citizens. The Department
shall implement the program by rule promulgated pursuant to The
Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. The program shall be
consistent with the purposes and objectives of this Act and
with all other specific requirements provided herein. The
Department may enter into such contracts and other agreements
with local agencies as may be necessary for the purpose of
administering the energy assistance program.
    (b) Nothing in this Act shall be construed as altering or
limiting the authority conferred on the Illinois Commerce
Commission by the Public Utilities Act to regulate all aspects
of the provision of public utility service, including but not
limited to the authority to make rules and adjudicate disputes
between utilities and customers related to eligibility for
utility service, deposits, payment practices, discontinuance
of service, and the treatment of arrearages owing for
previously rendered utility service.
    (c) The Department of Healthcare and Family Services is
authorized to institute an outreach program directed at
low-income minority heads of households and heads of households
age 60 or older. The Department shall implement the program
through rules adopted pursuant to the Illinois Administrative
Procedure Act. The program shall be consistent with the
purposes and objectives of this Act and with all other specific
requirements set forth in this subsection (c).
(Source: P.A. 94-773, eff. 5-18-06; 94-793, eff. 5-19-06;
revised 8-3-06.)
 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.