PRINTER'S NO. 313
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.363
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY BOSCOLA, FARRY, BARTOLOTTA, FONTANA, PENNYCUICK,
COMITTA, KEARNEY, SCHWANK, TARTAGLIONE, HAYWOOD AND KANE,
MARCH 3, 2025
REFERRED TO CONSUMER PROTECTION AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE,
MARCH 3, 2025
AN ACT
Amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), entitled "An
act to consolidate, editorially revise, and codify the public
welfare laws of the Commonwealth," in general powers and
duties of the Department of Public Welfare, providing for
Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program; and making an
editorial change.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Article II heading of the act of June 13, 1967
(P.L.31, No.21), known as the Human Services Code, is amended to
read:
ARTICLE II
GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES
OF THE DEPARTMENT OF [ PUBLIC WELFARE] HUMAN SERVICES
Section 2. The act is amended by adding a section to read:
Section 217. Low-Income Household Water Assistance
Program.--(a) No later than July 1, 2026, the department, in
consultation with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission,
shall establish the Low-Income Household Water Assistance
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19 Program, to be administered by the department.
(b) The purpose of the program is to provide assistance for
individuals who are eligible for assistance in accordance with
subsection (c), for any of the purposes specified under
subsection (f) upon the termination of the temporary Federal
Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program.
(c) (1) The department shall develop eligibility
requirements under the program in accordance with this
subsection, without limitation.
(2) An individual is eligible for assistance under the
program if the individual:
(i) Owns or rents a home in this Commonwealth.
(ii) Is a water system customer or wastewater system
customer, or both, and is financially responsible for paying the
water system bills or wastewater system bills, or both.
(iii) Has an overdue water system bill or wastewater system
bill, which has resulted in arrearages, a termination notice or
the termination of water system services or wastewater system
services, or both.
(iv) Meets certain income guidelines as determined by the
department.
(d) (1) A water system entity or wastewater system entity
may apply for a grant under the program on behalf of individuals
who are eligible for assistance under subsection (c) and who are
customers of the entity.
(2) The application under this subsection must be on a form
and in a manner determined by the department.
(3) A completed application under this subsection must
contain:
(i) The name and contact information of the water system
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30 entity or wastewater system entity.
(ii) The following information regarding the customers in
need of assistance under the program:
(A) The names and addresses of the customers.
(B) Proof that the customers are individuals who are
eligible for assistance in accordance with subsection (c).
(C) The amount of the overdue water system bills or
wastewater system bills for the customers, along with the
circumstances that have resulted from the overdue bills,
including arrearages, termination notices or termination of
services.
(e) The department shall review each application under
subsection (d) and determine the total amount of the grant to be
awarded. The award must include the names of the customers
designated to receive grant money, the amount of grant money
that each designated customer shall receive and any conditions
regarding the grant or grant money.
(f) A grant under the program may only be used to:
(1) Prevent the termination of water system services or
wastewater system services, or both.
(2) Pay overdue water system bills or wastewater system
bills, or both.
(3) Restore terminated water system services or wastewater
system services, or both.
(g) The following apply to reports:
(1) Each July 1 following the effective date of this
subsection, the department shall issue a report on the following
information for the previous fiscal year:
(i) The water system entities and wastewater system entities
that applied for a grant under the program.
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30 (ii) The water system entities and wastewater system
entities that received a grant under the program.
(iii) The number of customers who received assistance under
the program, along with the amount and purpose of the grant
money received by each customer.
(iv) The total amount of money expended under the program.
(2) The department shall submit each report under this
subsection to the following:
(i) The Governor.
(ii) The President pro tempore of the Senate.
(iii) The Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(iv) The Majority Leader and the Minority Leader of the
Senate.
(v) The Majority Leader and the Minority Leader of the House
of Representatives.
(vi) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee of the
Senate.
(vii) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
Consumer Protection, Technology and Utilities Committee of the
House of Representatives.
(3) Each report under this subsection shall be posted on the
publicly accessible Internet website of the department.
(h) Rulemaking authority.--The department shall promulgate
rules, regulations or guidelines necessary to implement this
section.
(i) As used in this section, the following words and phrases
shall have the following meanings:
"Program" means the Low-Income Household Water Assistance
Program established under subsection (a).
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30 "Wastewater system" means as the term "sewer system" is
defined under 25 Pa. Code ยง 94.1 (relating to definitions).
"Water system" means a public water system that serves at
least fifteen service connections used by year-round residents
or regularly serves at least twenty-five year-round residents.
Section 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
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