| 1 | 1 | | 1 of 1 |
|---|
| 2 | 2 | | SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1513 FILED ON: 1/16/2025 |
|---|
| 3 | 3 | | SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 959 |
|---|
| 4 | 4 | | The Commonwealth of Massachusetts |
|---|
| 5 | 5 | | _________________ |
|---|
| 6 | 6 | | PRESENTED BY: |
|---|
| 7 | 7 | | Joanne M. Comerford |
|---|
| 8 | 8 | | _________________ |
|---|
| 9 | 9 | | To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General |
|---|
| 10 | 10 | | Court assembled: |
|---|
| 11 | 11 | | The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill: |
|---|
| 12 | 12 | | An Act providing for energy assistance during the summer months. |
|---|
| 13 | 13 | | _______________ |
|---|
| 14 | 14 | | PETITION OF: |
|---|
| 15 | 15 | | NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Joanne M. ComerfordHampshire, Franklin and Worcester 1 of 2 |
|---|
| 16 | 16 | | SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1513 FILED ON: 1/16/2025 |
|---|
| 17 | 17 | | SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 959 |
|---|
| 18 | 18 | | By Ms. Comerford, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 959) of Joanne M. Comerford |
|---|
| 19 | 19 | | for legislation to provide for energy assistance during the summer months. Housing. |
|---|
| 20 | 20 | | The Commonwealth of Massachusetts |
|---|
| 21 | 21 | | _______________ |
|---|
| 22 | 22 | | In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court |
|---|
| 23 | 23 | | (2025-2026) |
|---|
| 24 | 24 | | _______________ |
|---|
| 25 | 25 | | An Act providing for energy assistance during the summer months. |
|---|
| 26 | 26 | | Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority |
|---|
| 27 | 27 | | of the same, as follows: |
|---|
| 28 | 28 | | 1 SECTION 1. Chapter 23B of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official |
|---|
| 29 | 29 | | 2Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 24B the following section:- |
|---|
| 30 | 30 | | 3 Section 23C. The executive office of housing and livable communities, in coordination |
|---|
| 31 | 31 | | 4with the department of energy resources, shall, subject to appropriation, operate an annual |
|---|
| 32 | 32 | | 5extreme heat energy assistance program to provide assistance in paying the energy bills of |
|---|
| 33 | 33 | | 6residents of Massachusetts earning no greater than 150 per cent of the federal poverty guideline, |
|---|
| 34 | 34 | | 7as defined by the federal government, or no greater than 60 per cent of the state median income |
|---|
| 35 | 35 | | 8level, whichever is greater, and of residents who are already found eligible for the Low-income |
|---|
| 36 | 36 | | 9Home Energy Assistance Program, during the period of May 15 to September 30. Said program |
|---|
| 37 | 37 | | 10may be administered in coordination with the Low-income Home Energy Assistance Act, 42 |
|---|
| 38 | 38 | | 11United States Code sections 8621 et seq., or any successor acts thereto, subject to the following |
|---|
| 39 | 39 | | 12provisions: 2 of 2 |
|---|
| 40 | 40 | | 13 (a) the executive office shall establish benefit rates and maximum benefits such that total |
|---|
| 41 | 41 | | 14benefits paid do not exceed the amount appropriated for this benefit; and |
|---|
| 42 | 42 | | 15 (b) the executive office shall use the same grantee agencies, similar applications and |
|---|
| 43 | 43 | | 16similar verification procedures as are used in the Low Income Home Energy Assistance |
|---|
| 44 | 44 | | 17Program, to the maximum extent possible. The executive office may also utilize a reasonable |
|---|
| 45 | 45 | | 18percentage of any funds appropriated, not exceeding 10 per cent of such funds, for administrative |
|---|
| 46 | 46 | | 19costs of the program. |
|---|
| 47 | 47 | | 20 SECTION 2. The executive office of housing and livable communities shall promulgate |
|---|
| 48 | 48 | | 21rules and regulations to implement the provisions of section 23C of chapter 23B of the general |
|---|
| 49 | 49 | | 22laws, as inserted by this act, no later than 6 months following the effective date of this act. |
|---|