Hawaii 2024 Regular Session

Hawaii Senate Bill SB623 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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1	1	THE SENATE S.B. NO. 623 THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT relating to energy assistance. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
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3	3	THE SENATE S.B. NO. 623
4	4	THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
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7	7	THE SENATE
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9	9	S.B. NO.
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13	13	THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
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17	17	STATE OF HAWAII
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31	31	A BILL FOR AN ACT
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37	37	relating to energy assistance.
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43	43	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
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47	47	SECTION 1. The purpose of this Act is to implement the recommendations of the Hawaii low-income home energy assistance program working group. SECTION 2. Chapter 269, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part I to be appropriately designated and to read as follows: "§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. INTRODUCED BY: _____________________________
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49	49	SECTION 1. The purpose of this Act is to implement the recommendations of the Hawaii low-income home energy assistance program working group.
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51	51	SECTION 2. Chapter 269, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part I to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
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53	53	"§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."
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55	55	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:
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57	57	"§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.
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59	59	(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.
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61	61	(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.
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63	63	(d) The department shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 for purposes of this section, including:
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65	65	(1) Determining the levels of assistance based upon income and household size; and
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67	67	(2) Required energy efficiency improvements that a recipient of funds shall complete to qualify for further participation in the program.
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69	69	§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:
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71	71	(1) Appropriations made by the legislature to the fund;
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73	73	(2) Moneys assessed and deposited into the special fund pursuant to section 269- ;
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75	75	(3) All contributions from public or private partners;
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77	77	(4) All interest earned on or accrued to moneys deposited in the special fund; and
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79	79	(5) Any other moneys made available to the special fund from other sources.
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81	81	(b) Moneys in the fund shall be expended by the department for the Hawaii low-income home energy assistance program."
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83	83	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.
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85	85	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.
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87	87	The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of this Act.
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89	89	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.
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91	91	SECTION 7. New statutory material is underscored.
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93	93	SECTION 8. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2023.
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97	97	INTRODUCED BY: _____________________________
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99	99	INTRODUCED BY:
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107	107	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.
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115	115	Energy Bill Assistance; DHS; Hawaii Low-income Home Energy Assistance Program; PUC; Appropriation
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119	119	Description:
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121	121	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.
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129	129	The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.