S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
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                                 6816--A

                       2015-2016 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                              April 6, 2015
                               ___________

Introduced by M. of A. BICHOTTE, PICHARDO, MOSLEY, JOYNER -- Multi-Spon-
  sored  by  -- M.   of A. COOK, KEARNS -- read once and referred to the
  Committee on Energy -- recommitted  to  the  Committee  on  Energy  in
  accordance  with Assembly Rule 3, sec. 2 -- committee discharged, bill
  amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said  commit-
  tee

AN  ACT  to amend the public authorities law, in relation to authorizing
  the New York state energy research and development authority to devel-
  op a temporary middle income home energy assistance 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.  Section  1854 of the public authorities law is amended by
adding a new subdivision 9 to read as follows:
  9. TEMPORARY MIDDLE INCOME HOME ENERGY  ASSISTANCE  PROGRAM.  (A)  THE
AUTHORITY  IS AUTHORIZED, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION
AND FINANCE, TO DEVELOP, IMPLEMENT, ADMINISTER AND OPERATE A  PLAN,  AND
HOLD  FUNDS  AVAILABLE FOR SUCH PLAN, TO MAKE AVAILABLE ONE-TIME SUPPLE-
MENTING GRANTS FOR THE  PURPOSE  OF  ASSISTING  ELIGIBLE  HOUSEHOLDS  TO
OBTAIN HOME HEATING FUEL.
  (B)  FOR  PURPOSES  OF  THIS SUBDIVISION, THE TERM "HOME HEATING FUEL"
SHALL MEAN FUEL OIL, COAL,  WOOD,  PROPANE,  NATURAL  GAS,  ELECTRICITY,
STEAM,  KEROSENE  AND  ANY  OTHER FUEL WHEN USED FOR RESIDENTIAL HEATING
PURPOSES.
  (C) THE AUTHORITY IS REQUIRED, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PLAN ESTABLISHED
IN PARAGRAPH (A) OF THIS SUBDIVISION, TO PARTICIPATE  IN  THE  TEMPORARY
MIDDLE  INCOME  HOME  ENERGY  ASSISTANCE  PROGRAM AND TO ASSIST ELIGIBLE
HOUSEHOLDS TO OBTAIN MIDDLE INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE.
  (D) PERSONS WHO QUALIFY FOR MIDDLE INCOME HOME  ENERGY  ASSISTANCE  IN
ACCORDANCE  WITH STANDARDS PROMULGATED BY THE AUTHORITY, SHALL BE CERTI-

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD06639-03-6
              

A. 6816--A                          2

FIED AS ELIGIBLE FOR AND ENTITLED TO RECEIVE SUCH  HOME  ENERGY  ASSIST-
ANCE.  NO  PERSON, HOWEVER, SHALL BE CERTIFIED AS ELIGIBLE FOR AND ENTI-
TLED TO RECEIVE SUCH HOME  ENERGY  ASSISTANCE  IF  NO  STATE  FUNDS  ARE
AVAILABLE FOR SUCH PURPOSE.
  (E) NOTWITHSTANDING ANY INCONSISTENT PROVISION OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY,
THE AMOUNT OF ANY HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS OR ALLOWANCES PROVIDED
TO  AN ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLD UNDER SUCH PLAN SHALL NOT BE CONSIDERED INCOME
OR RESOURCES OF SUCH HOUSEHOLDS, OR  OF  ANY  MEMBER  THEREOF,  FOR  ANY
PURPOSE UNDER ANY STATE LAW.
  S  2.  The sum of one million dollars ($1,000,000), or so much thereof
as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated to the New York state energy
research and development authority out of any moneys in the state treas-
ury in the general fund to the credit of the state  purposes  fund,  not
otherwise  appropriated, and made immediately available, for the purpose
of  supporting  the  temporary  middle  income  home  energy  assistance
program.    Such moneys shall be payable on the audit and warrant of the
comptroller on vouchers certified or approved  by  the  New  York  state
energy  research  and  development authority in the manner prescribed by
law.
  S 3. This act shall take effect immediately and shall  expire  and  be
deemed repealed April 1, 2018.