Provides for home cooling needs assistance through the low-income home energy assistance program developed by the office of temporary and disability assistance.

---

S1091-2011 Actions

• Jan 4, 2012: REFERRED TO SOCIAL SERVICES
• Jan 5, 2011: REFERRED TO SOCIAL SERVICES

S1091-2011 Memo

BILL NUMBER:S1091

TITLE OF BILL:
An act
to amend the social services law, in relation to providing for home
cooling needs assistance for low income households

PURPOSE:
Provides for home cooling needs assistance through the Low-Income Home
Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1.  Section 97 of the social services law is amended by
adding a new subdivision 6.

The office of temporary and disability assistance is authorized to
develop a plan, in accordance with state plan and federal regulations,
which would establish a program to help eligible low-income households
meet their home cooling needs.

It authorizes the department to act for the state in negotiations with
the federal government relative to the plan, and make arrangements to
submit, implement, administer and operate the plan.

It authorizes the department to secure for the state the benefits
available under the act.

It allows for the purchase of air conditioners and/or monetary
assistance with energy cooling bills.

Section two is the enacting clause.

EXISTING LAW:
Currently, the HEAP program, as administered by the state's Office of
Temporary and Disability Assistance, the Office for the Aging, the
Division of Housing and Community Renewal and local
Departments of Social Services, grants money to qualifying low-income
households for help with heating bills.

JUSTIFICATION:
Summer heat waves can be deadly to older people and people with
disabilities who do not have access to air conditioning.

Energy bills have gone up by as much as 40% recently, and are
anticipated to continue climbing. The price of energy spikes during
the summer months when more electricity is used than at any other
time. Summer cooling, especially in urban areas, will become even
more expensive over time, when energy shortages are expected. These
higher bills, coupled with the sluggish economy, can be lethal for
many low-income people.

This bill will allow qualifying low-income families, people with
disabilities and older people to access grant money to buy air
conditioners and/or pay for electric bills in the summer.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:


2009-10:  S.2276/A.1459 - Passed both houses, veto memo 6742
2008-09:  S.2474/A.700
2006-07:  S.1354/A.6794

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
The LIHEAP program is a federally-funded program, currently funded to
New York State as the HEAP program (Home Energy Assistance Program)
at $220 million. This bill will expand the program to include summer
cooling needs, and direct the State to negotiate with the federal
government for additional funding.

LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.

EFFECTIVE DATE:
The act shall take effect immediately.

S1091-2011 Text

                      S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
  ________________________________________________________________________

                                    1091

                         2011-2012 Regular Sessions

                              I N  SENATE

                               January 5, 2011
                                 ___________

  Introduced  by  Sens.  PARKER,  DIAZ,  DILAN, HASSELL-THOMPSON, KRUEGER,
    MONTGOMERY, PERKINS, SAMPSON -- read twice and  ordered  printed,  and
    when printed to be committed to the Committee on Social Services

  AN  ACT  to  amend the social services law, in relation to providing for
    home cooling needs assistance for low income households

    THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
  BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


    Section  1. Section 97 of the social services law is amended by adding
  a new subdivision 6 to read as follows:

    6. THE OFFICE OF TEMPORARY AND DISABILITY ASSISTANCE IS AUTHORIZED  TO
  DEVELOP  A  PLAN  IN  ACCORDANCE  WITH  THE STATE PLAN AND FEDERAL REGU-
  LATIONS, TO ESTABLISH A PROGRAM TO HELP ELIGIBLE LOW  INCOME  HOUSEHOLDS
  MEET  THEIR  HOME COOLING NEEDS, AND TO AMEND AND TO TAKE WHATEVER OTHER
  ACTION MAY BE NECESSARY WITH RESPECT TO SUCH PLAN,  INCLUDING,  BUT  NOT
  LIMITED  TO,  ACTING  FOR  THE STATE IN ANY NEGOTIATIONS RELATIVE TO THE
  SUBMISSION OF SUCH PLAN, AND MAKING SUCH ARRANGEMENTS  AND  TAKING  SUCH
  ACTION,  NOT INCONSISTENT WITH LAW, AS MAY BE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT, IMPLE-
  MENT, ADMINISTER AND OPERATE SUCH PLAN, AND TO SECURE FOR THE STATE  THE
  BENEFITS AVAILABLE UNDER SUCH ACT. SUCH COOLING NEEDS SHALL INCLUDE, BUT
  NOT  BE LIMITED TO, PURCHASES OF AIR CONDITIONERS AND/OR ASSISTANCE WITH
  ENERGY COOLING BILLS.
    S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.




   EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                        [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                             LBD01716-01-1