Maryland 2022 Regular Session

Maryland House Bill HB998 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1
2	2
3	3		EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
4	4		[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
5		-	Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
6		-	Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
7		-	amendment.
8	5		hb0998
9	6
10	7		HOUSE BILL 998
11	8		C5 2lr1961
12	9		CF SB 905
13	10		By: Delegate Carey
14	11		Introduced and read first time: February 10, 2022
15	12		Assigned to: Economic Matters
16		-	Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
17		-	House action: Adopted
18		-	Read second time: March 10, 2022
19	13
20		-	~~CHAPTER ______~~
	14	+	A BILL ENTITLED
21	15
22	16		AN ACT concerning 1
23	17
24	18		Human Services – Silver Energy Savers Program and Energy Assistance Fund 2
25	19
26	20		FOR the purpose of requiring the Office of Home Energy Programs to establish a Silver 3
27	21		Energy Savers Program to provide bill assistance to eligible energy customers who 4
28		-	are at least a certain age; requiring the Office to approve a third–party supplier enter 5
29		-	into a contract with 2–1–1 Maryland to provide assistance with the Program; 6
30		-	requiring the Office 2–1–1 Maryland to designate four centers in certain regions of 7
31		-	the State to administer the Program; requiring the Office to perform certain duties 8
32		-	to carry out the Program, including establishing a certain communication system, 9
33		-	requiring certain local offices to perform certain functions, and authorizing the 10
34		-	third–party supplier 2–1–1 Maryland to allow telephonic signatures for a certain 11
35		-	purpose; establishing the Office of Home Energy Programs Energy Assistance Fund 12
36		-	as a special, nonlapsing fund; and generally relating to the Office of Home Energy 13
37		-	Programs and bill assistance for eligible energy customers. 14
	22	+	are at least a certain age; requiring the Office to approve a third–party supplier to 5
	23	+	provide assistance with the Program; requiring the Office to designate four centers 6
	24	+	in certain regions of the State to administer the Program; requiring the Office to 7
	25	+	perform certain duties to carry out the Program, including establishing a certain 8
	26	+	communication system, requiring certain local offices to perform certain functions, 9
	27	+	and authorizing the third–party supplier to allow telephonic signatures for a certain 10
	28	+	purpose; establishing the Office of Home Energy Programs Energy Assistance Fund 11
	29	+	as a special, nonlapsing fund; and generally relating to the Office of Home Energy 12
	30	+	Programs and bill assistance for eligible energy customers. 13
38	31
39		-	BY renumbering 15
40		-	Article – Human Services 16
41		-	Section 5–5A–09 17
42		-	to be Section 5–5A–10 18
43		-	Annotated Code of Maryland 19
44		-	(2019 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement) 20
	32	+	BY renumbering 14
	33	+	Article – Human Services 15
	34	+	Section 5–5A–09 16
	35	+	to be Section 5–5A–10 17
	36	+	Annotated Code of Maryland 18
	37	+	(2019 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement) 19
45	38
46		-	BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 21
47		-	Article – Human Services 22
48		-	Section 5–5A–01(d) 23 2 HOUSE BILL 998
	39	+	BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 20
	40	+	Article – Human Services 21
	41	+	Section 5–5A–01(d) 22
	42	+	Annotated Code of Maryland 23
	43	+	(2019 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement) 24
	44	+
	45	+	BY adding to 25
	46	+	Article – Human Services 26
	47	+	Section 5–5A–09 27
	48	+	Annotated Code of Maryland 28 2 HOUSE BILL 998
49	49
50	50
51		-	Annotated Code of Maryland 1
52		-	(2019 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement) 2
	51	+	(2019 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement) 1
53	52
54		-	BY adding to 3
55		-	Article – Human Services 4
56		-	Section 5–5A–09 5
57		-	Annotated Code of Maryland 6
58		-	(2019 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement) 7
	53	+	SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 2
	54	+	That Section(s) 5–5A–09 of Article – Human Services of the Annotated Code of Maryland 3
	55	+	be renumbered to be Section(s) 5–5A–10. 4
59	56
60		-	SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 8
61		-	That Section(s) 5–5A–09 of Article – Human Services of the Annotated Code of Maryland 9
62		-	be renumbered to be Section(s) 5–5A–10. 10
	57	+	SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED , That the Laws of Maryland read 5
	58	+	as follows: 6
63	59
64		-	SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED , That the Laws of Maryland read 11
65		-	as follows: 12
	60	+	Article – Human Services 7
66	61
67		-	~~Article – Human Services 13~~
	62	+	5–5A–01. 8
68	63
69		-	~~5–5A–01~~. 14
	64	+	(d) “Office” means the Office of Home Energy Programs. 9
70	65
71		-	~~(d) “Office” means the Office of Home Energy Programs~~. 15
	66	+	5–5A–09. 10
72	67
73		-	5–5A–09. 16
	68	+	(A) THE OFFICE SHALL ESTABLISH A SILVER ENERGY SAVERS PROGRAM 11
	69	+	TO PROVIDE BILL ASSISTA NCE IN ACCORDANCE WITH T HIS SECTION TO ELIGIBLE 12
	70	+	ENERGY CUSTOMERS WHO ARE AT LEAST 60 YEARS OLD. 13
74	71
75		-	(A) ~~IN THIS SECTION , “2–1–1 MARYLAND” MEANS~~ THE ~~MARYLAND 17~~
76		-	~~INFORMATION NETWORK, A 501(C)(3) CORPORATION IN~~ THE ~~STATE. 18~~
	72	+	(B) THE OFFICE SHALL APPROVE A THIRD–PARTY SUPPLIER TO PROVIDE 14
	73	+	ASSISTANCE THROUGH THE SILVER ENERGY SAVERS PROGRAM BY: 15
77	74
78		-	(A) (B) THE OFFICE SHALL ESTABLISH A SILVER ENERGY SAVERS 19
79		-	PROGRAM TO PROVIDE BILL ASSISTA NCE IN ACCORDANCE WITH T HIS SECTION TO 20
80		-	ELIGIBLE ENERGY CUSTOMERS WHO ARE AT LEAST 60 YEARS OLD. 21
	75	+	(1) HELPING ELIGIBLE ENERGY CUSTOMERS UNDERSTAND ANY 16
	76	+	FORMS; 17
81	77
82		-	(B) (C) THE OFFICE SHALL APPROVE A THIRD –PARTY SUPPLIER ENTER 22
83		-	INTO A CONTRACT WITH 2–1–1 MARYLAND TO PROVIDE ASSISTANC E THROUGH THE 23
84		-	SILVER ENERGY SAVERS PROGRAM BY: 24
	78	+	(2) HELPING ELIGIBLE ENERGY CUSTOMERS WITH ANY REQUIRED 18
	79	+	APPLICATION INFORMATION ; AND 19
85	80
86		-	(1) HELPING ELIGIBLE ENERGY CUSTOMERS UNDERSTAND ANY 25
87		-	FORMS; 26
	81	+	(3) TRANSPOR TING APPLICATIONS FROM AN ELIGIBLE ENERGY 20
	82	+	CUSTOMER TO A LOCAL OFFICE TH ROUGH THE PROCESS ES TABLISHED BY THE 21
	83	+	THIRD–PARTY SUPPLIER . 22
88	84
89		-	(2) ~~HELPING ELIGIBLE ENERGY CUSTOMERS WITH ANY REQUIRED 27~~
90		-	~~APPLICATION INFORMATION ; AND 28~~
	85	+	(C) THE OFFICE SHALL DESIGNATE FOUR CENTERS TO ADMINIS TER THE 23
	86	+	SILVER ENERGY SAVERS PROGRAM, INCLUDING: 24
91	87
92		-	(3) TRANSPORTING APPLICA TIONS FROM AN ELIGIBLE ENERGY 29
93		-	CUSTOMER TO A LOCAL OFFICE TH ROUGH THE PROCESS ES TABLISHED BY THE 30
94		-	THIRD–PARTY SUPPLIER . 31
95		-	HOUSE BILL 998 3
	88	+	(1) ONE LOCATION IN CENTRAL MARYLAND; 25
	89	+
	90	+	(2) ONE LOCATION ON THE EASTERN SHORE OF MARYLAND; 26
	91	+
	92	+	(3) ONE LOCATION IN SOUT HERN MARYLAND; AND 27
	93	+
	94	+	(4) ONE LOCATION IN WESTERN MARYLAND. 28 HOUSE BILL 998 3
96	95
97	96
98		-	(C) (D) THE OFFICE 2–1–1 MARYLAND SHALL DESIGNATE FOUR 1
99		-	CENTERS TO ADMINIS TER THE SILVER ENERGY SAVERS PROGRAM, INCLUDING: 2
100	97
101		-	(1) ONE LOCATION IN CENTRAL MARYLAND; 3
	98	+	(D) CENTERS DESIGNATED BY THE OFFICE UNDER SUBSECTION (C) OF THIS 1
	99	+	SECTION SHALL: 2
102	100
103		-	(2) ONE LOCATION ON THE EASTERN SHORE OF MARYLAND; 4
	101	+	(1) ESTABLISH CALL CENTE RS TO PROVIDE ASSIST ANCE TO ELIGIBLE 3
	102	+	ENERGY CUSTOMERS ; 4
104	103
105		-	(3) ONE LOCATION IN SOUT HERN MARYLAND; AND 5
	104	+	(2) ASSIST ELIGIBLE ENERGY CUSTOMERS IN GATHERI NG THE 5
	105	+	INFORMATION REQUIRED TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION TO A LOCAL OFFICE; 6
106	106
107		-	(4) ONE LOCATION IN WESTERN MARYLAND. 6
	107	+	(3) COLLECT DATA FOR EAC H ELIGIBLE ENERGY CUSTOMER THAT IS 7
	108	+	PROVIDED ASSISTANCE , INCLUDING THE CUSTOM ER’S: 8
108	109
109		-	(D) (E) CENTERS DESIGNATED BY THE OFFICE 2–1–1 MARYLAND UNDER 7
110		-	SUBSECTION (C) (D) OF THIS SECTION SHAL L: 8
	110	+	(I) NAME; 9
111	111
112		-	(1) ESTABLISH CALL CENTE RS TO PROVIDE ASSIST ANCE TO ELIGIBLE 9
113		-	ENERGY CUSTOMERS ; 10
	112	+	(II) ADDRESS; 10
114	113
115		-	(2) ASSIST ELIGIBLE ENERGY CUSTOMERS IN GATHERI NG THE 11
116		-	INFORMATION REQUIRED TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION TO A LOCAL OFFICE; 12
	114	+	(III) AGE; 11
117	115
118		-	(3) COLLECT DATA FOR EAC H ELIGIBLE ENERGY CUSTOMER THAT IS 13
119		-	PROVIDED ASSISTANCE , INCLUDING THE CUSTOM ER’S: 14
	116	+	(IV) TELEPHONE NUMBER ; AND 12
120	117
121		-	(I) ~~NAME~~; 15
	118	+	(V) UTILITY COMPANY ; AND 13
122	119
123		-	(II) ~~ADDRESS; 16~~
	120	+	(4) MAINTAIN WRITTEN REC ORDS OF THEIR ACTIONS. 14
124	121
125		-	(~~III~~) ~~AGE; 17~~
	122	+	(E) THE OFFICE SHALL: 15
126	123
127		-	(IV) TELEPHONE NUMBER ; AND 18
	124	+	(1) ESTABLISH A COMMUNIC ATION SYSTEM BETWEEN LOCAL OFFICES 16
	125	+	AND THE THIRD –PARTY SUPPLIER APPRO VED UNDER SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS 17
	126	+	SECTION TO ENABLE CO MMUNICATION ABOUT TH E APPLICATIONS OF EL IGIBLE 18
	127	+	ENERGY CUSTOMERS , THE GRANTS PROCESS , AND THE REASONS FOR DENIAL OF AN 19
	128	+	APPLICATION; 20
128	129
129		-	(V) ~~UTILITY COMPANY ; AND 19~~
	130	+	(2) REQUIRE LOCAL OFFICE S TO: 21
130	131
131		-	(4) MAINTAIN WRITTEN REC ORDS OF THEIR ACTIONS. 20
	132	+	(I) PERFORM HOME VISITS TO OBTAIN DOCUMENTS FROM 22
	133	+	ELIGIBLE ENERGY CUST OMERS WHEN NECESSARY ; AND 23
132	134
133		-	(E) (F) THE OFFICE SHALL: 21
134		-
135		-	(1) ESTABLISH A COMMUNIC ATION SYSTEM BETWEEN LOCAL OFFICES 22
136		-	AND THE THIRD–PARTY SUPPLIER APPRO VED UNDER SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS 23
137		-	SECTION 2–1–1 MARYLAND TO ENABLE COMMUNICAT ION ABOUT THE 24
138		-	APPLICATIONS OF ELIG IBLE ENERGY CUSTOMER S, THE GRANTS PROCESS , AND THE 25
139		-	REASONS FOR DENIAL OF AN A PPLICATION; 26
	135	+	(II) ESTABLISH A SYSTEM T O COORDINATE THE TRA NSFER OF 24
	136	+	DOCUMENTS TO THE THI RD–PARTY SUPPLIER ; AND 25
140	137		4 HOUSE BILL 998
141	138
142	139
143		-	(2) REQUIRE LOCAL OFFICE S TO: 1
	140	+	(3) AUTHORIZE THE THIRD –PARTY SUPPLIER TO AL LOW TELEPHONIC 1
	141	+	SIGNATURES FOR ELIGI BLE ENERGY CUSTOMERS IN THE SILVER ENERGY SAVERS 2
	142	+	PROGRAM. 3
144	143
145		-	(I) ~~PERFORM~~ HOME ~~VISITS TO OBTAIN DOCUMENTS FROM 2~~
146		-	~~ELIGIBLE~~ ENERGY ~~CUST OMERS WHEN NECESSARY ; AND 3~~
	144	+	(F) (1) IN THIS SUBSECTION , “FUND” MEANS THE OFFICE OF HOME 4
	145	+	ENERGY PROGRAMS ENERGY ASSISTANCE FUND. 5
147	146
148		-	(II) ~~ESTABLISH A SYSTEM T O COORDINATE THE TRA NSFER~~ OF 4
149		-	~~DOCUMENTS TO THE THIRD–PARTY SUPPL IER 2–1–1 MARYLAND; AND 5~~
	147	+	(2) THERE IS AN OFFICE OF HOME ENERGY PROGRAMS ENERGY 6
	148	+	ASSISTANCE FUND. 7
150	149
151		-	(3) AUTHORIZE THE THIRD–PARTY SUPPLIER 2–1–1 MARYLAND TO 6
152		-	ALLOW TELEPHONIC SIG NATURES FOR ELIGIBLE ENERGY CUSTOMERS IN THE 7
153		-	SILVER ENERGY SAVERS PROGRAM. 8
	150	+	(3) THE PURPOSE OF THE FUND IS TO ADMINISTER THE SILVER 8
	151	+	ENERGY SAVERS PROGRAM. 9
154	152
155		-	(F) (G) (1) IN THIS SUBSECTION , “FUND” MEANS THE OFFICE OF 9
156		-	HOME ENERGY PROGRAMS ENERGY ASSISTANCE FUND. 10
	153	+	(4) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ADMI NISTER THE FUND. 10
157	154
158		-	(2) ~~THERE~~ IS ~~AN OFFICE OF HOME ENERGY PROGRAMS ENERGY~~ 11
159		-	~~ASSISTANCE FUND~~. 12
	155	+	(5) THE FUND IS A SPECIAL , NONLAPSING FUND THAT IS NOT 11
	156	+	SUBJECT TO § 7–302 OF THE STATE FINANCE AND PROCUREMENT ARTICLE. 12
160	157
161		-	(3) THE ~~PURPOSE OF~~ THE FUND ~~IS TO ADMINISTER THE SILVER~~ 13
162		-	~~ENERGY SAVERS PROGRAM~~. 14
	158	+	(6) THE STATE TREASURER SHALL HOLD THE FUND SEPARATELY , 13
	159	+	AND THE COMPTROLLER SHALL ACC OUNT FOR THE FUND. 14
163	160
164		-	(4) THE ~~DEPARTMENT SHALL ADMI NISTER THE FUND.~~ 15
	161	+	(7) THE FUND CONSISTS OF : 15
165	162
166		-	(5) THE ~~FUND IS A SPECIAL, NONLAPSING FUND THAT IS NOT~~ 16
167		-	~~SUBJECT TO § 7–302 OF THE STATE FINANCE~~ AND ~~PROCUREMENT ARTICLE.~~ 17
	163	+	(I) MONEY APPROPRIATED I N THE STATE BUDGET TO THE 16
	164	+	FUND; AND 17
168	165
169		-	(6) ~~THE STATE TREASURER SHALL HOLD THE FUND SEPARATELY ,~~ 18
170		-	~~AND~~ THE ~~COMPTROLLER SHALL ACC OUNT FOR THE~~ FUND. 19
	166	+	(II) ANY OTHER MONEY FROM ANY OTHER SOURCE ACC EPTED 18
	167	+	FOR THE BENEFIT OF T HE FUND. 19
171	168
172		-	(7) THE FUND CONSISTS OF : 20
	169	+	(8) FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024, THE GOVERNOR SHALL INCLUD E IN THE 20
	170	+	ANNUAL BUDGE T BILL AN APPROPRIATION OF $200,000 TO THE FUND. 21
173	171
174		-	(I) ~~MONEY A PPROPRIATED IN~~ THE ~~STATE BUDGET TO THE 21~~
175		-	~~FUND; AND 22~~
	172	+	(9) THE FUND MAY BE USED ONLY FOR ADMINISTRAT IVE COSTS OF 22
	173	+	THE SILVER ENERGY SAVERS PROGRAM, INCLUDING STAFFING . 23
176	174
177		-	(II) ~~ANY OTHER~~ MONEY ~~FROM ANY OTHER SOURCE ACC EPTED 23~~
178		-	~~FOR~~ THE ~~BENEFIT OF T HE FUND~~. 24
	175	+	(10) (I) THE STATE TREASURER SHALL INVES T THE MONEY OF THE 24
	176	+	FUND IN THE SAME MANN ER AS OTHER STATE MONEY MAY BE IN VESTED. 25
179	177
180		-	(8) FOR BEGINNING IN FISCAL YEAR 2024, AND EACH FISCAL YEAR 25
181		-	THEREAFTER , THE GOVERNOR SHALL INCLUD E IN THE ANNUAL BUDG ET BILL AN 26
182		-	APPROPRIATION OF $200,000 TO THE FUND. 27
183		-	HOUSE BILL 998 5
	178	+	(II) ANY INTEREST EARNINGS OF THE FUND SHALL BE 26
	179	+	CREDITED TO THE GENERAL FUND OF THE STATE. 27
184	180
185		-
186		-	(9) THE FUND MAY BE USED ONLY FOR ADMINISTRATIVE C OSTS OF 1
187		-	2–1–1 MARYLAND AND THE SILVER ENERGY SAVERS PROGRAM, INCLUDING 2
188		-	STAFFING. 3
189		-
190		-	(10) (I) THE STATE TREASURER SHALL INVES T THE MONEY OF THE 4
191		-	FUND IN THE SAME MANNER AS O THER STATE MONEY MAY BE IN VESTED. 5
192		-
193		-	(II) ANY INTEREST EARNINGS OF THE FUND SHALL BE 6
194		-	CREDITED TO THE GENERAL FUND OF THE STATE. 7
195		-
196		-	(11) EXPENDITURES FROM THE FUND MAY BE MADE ONLY IN 8
197		-	ACCORDANCE WITH THE STATE BUDGET . 9
198		-
199		-	(12) MONEY EXPENDED FROM THE FUND FOR THE SILVER ENERGY 10
200		-	SAVERS PROGRAM IS SUPPLEMENTAL TO A ND IS NOT INTENDED T O TAKE THE 11
201		-	PLACE OF FUNDING THA T OTHERWISE WOULD BE APPROPRIATED FOR BILL 12
202		-	ASSISTANCE TO ELIGIBLE ENERGY CUSTOMERS . 13
203		-
204		-	SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 14
205		-	1, 2022. 15
	181	+	(11) EXPENDITURES FROM THE FUND MAY BE MADE ONLY IN 28
	182	+	ACCORDANCE WITH THE STATE BUDGET . 29 HOUSE BILL 998 5
206	183
207	184
208	185
209		-	~~Approved:~~
210		-	~~________________________________________________________________________________~~
211		-	~~Governor.~~
212		-	~~________________________________________________________________________________~~
213		-	~~Speaker of the House of Delegates.~~
214		-	~~________________________________________________________________________________~~
215		-	~~President of the Senate.~~
	186	+	(12) MONEY EXPENDED FROM T HE FUND FOR THE SILVER ENERGY 1
	187	+	SAVERS PROGRAM IS SUPPLEMENTAL TO AND IS NOT INTENDED TO TAKE THE 2
	188	+	PLACE OF FUNDING THA T OTHERWISE WOULD BE APPROPRIATED FOR BILL 3
	189	+	ASSISTANCE TO ELIGIBLE ENERGY CUSTOMERS . 4
	190	+
	191	+	SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 5
	192	+	1, 2022. 6