NY State Senate Bill 2013-S3121

Archive: Last Bill Status - Stricken

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 13, 2014	recommit, enacting clause stricken
Jan 08, 2014	referred to finance
Jan 30, 2013	referred to finance

2013-S3121 (ACTIVE) - Details

Law Section:: Appropriations
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2009-2010: S2469
2011-2012: S1734

2013-S3121 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Provides grants of up to $200 to low income households for home energy assistance through the office of temporary and disability assistance; appropriates $500 million therefor.

2013-S3121 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                BILL NUMBER:S3121

TITLE  OF  BILL:   An act to create the temporary home energy assistance
grant program; making an appropriation therefor; and providing  for  the
repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof

PURPOSE:    Creates  the  temporary  home  energy assistance program, to
provide additional benefits to those  who  receive  federal  home-energy
assistance,  as  well as to provide benefits to those whose incomes make
them ineligible for the federal program.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 creates the temporary home energy  assistance  grant  program,
and outlines the grant limits. Section 2 provides that all those who are
eligible  for  the  federal  program  and  pay  for their own heat, will
receive a state grant of $200. Those who pay indirectly for  their  heat
will  receive  a state grant of $100. Households that are ineligible for
federal energy assistance, but whose incomes are still below 100% of the
state's median income level, based on size, will receive a  state  grant
of  between  $50-$150.  Those  who pay directly for their heat and whose
income is above 60% but below  750  of  the  state  median  income  will
receive $150; those whose income is above 75% but below E5% of the state
median  income  will  receive  $100; those whose income is above 85% but
below 100% of the state median income will receive $50.  Those  who  pay
indirectly  for  their heat, and whose income is between 60% and 100% of

the state's median  income  will  receive  $50.  This  legislation  also
provides  that  the grants issued by this bill will not be considered in
any way as income or resources.

Section 3 provides for an immediate effective date, and a sunset of  May
31, 2012.

EXISTING  LAW:  Currently, only those whose incomes are less than 60% of
the state's median income, based on household size, are eligible for the
home energy assistance program.

JUSTIFICATION:   Over the past year,  fuel  prices  have  been  steadily
climbing.  Increased  demand for oil, coupled with the crippling effects
of Hurricane Katrina has placed an enormous economic burden  on  consum-
ers.  The  sharp  increase in petroleum costs will result in much higher
heating bills this winter for all New Yorkers. According to state energy
officials, the cost of natural gas is expected to be up  32%  from  last
winter, heating oil 31%, propane 21% and electricity 11%. A recent anal-
ysis by federal officials predicts that the average New York family will
have to spend $400 more to heat their home this winter.

The anticipated spike in home heating costs has placed New York State in
the  throes  of  an  energy crisis. Many working families and vulnerable
populations will be forced to choose between eating  and  heating  their
homes. This issue was recently highlighted in an article in the New York

Times on 11/27/05; which commented that many offices are not only seeing
an increase in first time applications for assistance, but are having to
refuse  assistance to many because they are over the income limits. This
legislation will help ease the burden of this winter's energy bills, not
only  for  those  who  already  receive  assistance, but for those whose
incomes are too high to get  the  federal  assistance,  yet  are  barely
making it by.

LEGISLATIVE  HISTORY:  2011-2012: S .1734- Finance 2010: S.2469 Referred
to Finance 2008: S.2484 Referred to Finance  2006:  S.7106  Referred  to
Finance

FISCAL  IMPLICATIONS:    $500  million  appropriation  to be made to the
program.

EFFECTIVE DATE:  Takes effect immediately and shall expire and be deemed
repealed on May 31, 2014.

2013-S3121 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

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

                                  3121

                       2013-2014 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                            January 30, 2013
                               ___________

Introduced  by  Sen.  PARKER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
  printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance

AN ACT to create the temporary home  energy  assistance  grant  program;
  making an appropriation therefor; and providing for the repeal of such
  provisions upon expiration thereof

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

  Section 1. The temporary home  energy  assistance  grant  program.  1.
Notwithstanding  any  law,  rule or regulation to the contrary, there is
hereby created the temporary home energy assistance grant program to  be
administered by the commissioner of the office of temporary and disabil-
ity  assistance,  or his or her designees, to award a grant of up to two
hundred dollars to each household eligible for the low-income home ener-
gy assistance program, as provided in section 97 of the social  services
law,  and  a  grant of up to one hundred fifty dollars for all remaining
households.   Such eligible household  shall  file  an  application,  as
provided  by  the commissioner, for the temporary home energy assistance
grant on or before May 31, 2014.
  2. The commissioner shall award grants as follows:
  a. For those households that meet the eligibility requirements for the
home energy assistance program, the commissioner shall award a grant of:
  (i) two hundred dollars to any household who directly pays their  home
energy costs; or
  (ii)  one  hundred  dollars to any household who indirectly pays their
home energy costs, such as being included in their rent.
  b. For all other households, the commissioner  shall  grant  an  award
according to the following:
  (i)  For  households  with  an income of more than sixty but less than
seventy-five percent of the state median income, a grant of one  hundred
fifty dollars if they pay their home energy cost directly;

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD06738-01-3

S. 3121                             2

  (ii)  For households with an income of seventy-five percent or greater
but less than eighty-five percent of the state median income, a grant of
one hundred dollars if they pay their home energy cost directly;
  (iii) For households with an income from eighty-five percent up to one
hundred  percent of the state median income, a grant of fifty dollars if
they pay their home energy cost directly;
  (iv) For households with an income equal to or less than  one  hundred
percent  of  the  state  median income, a grant of fifty dollars if they
indirectly pay their home energy costs, such as being included in  their
rent.
  c.  Any grant awarded pursuant to this act shall be in addition to any
federal assistance received by the homeowner.
  3. The temporary home energy assistance grant provided under this  act
shall  not  be  considered income or resources of such households, or of
any member thereof, for any purpose under any federal,  state  or  local
law, including any law relating to taxation, food stamps, public assist-
ance or other available benefits.
  S 2. The sum of five hundred million dollars ($500,000,000) or so much
thereof  as  may  be  necessary, is hereby appropriated to the office of
temporary and disability assistance and made immediately available,  for
the  purpose  of  carrying  out  the provisions of this act.   Up to ten
percent of such moneys may be  used  for  administrative  costs.    Such
moneys  shall  be payable on the audit and warrant of the comptroller on
vouchers certified or approved by the  commissioner  of  the  office  of
temporary and disability assistance in the manner prescribed by law.
  S  3.  This  act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be
deemed repealed on May 31, 2014.

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Senate Bill S3121

Sponsored By

Archive: Last Bill Status - Stricken

2013-S3121 (ACTIVE) - Details

2013-S3121 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2013-S3121 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2013-S3121 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

Senate Bill S3121

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Sponsored By

Kevin S. Parker

Archive: Last Bill Status - Stricken

2013-S3121 (ACTIVE) - Details

2013-S3121 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2013-S3121 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2013-S3121 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments