S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   7056
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                              March 20, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of A. BICHOTTE HERMELYN -- read once and referred to
   the Committee on Energy
 
 AN ACT to amend the public service law, in relation to  authorizing  the
   department of public service to develop 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.  The public service law is amended by adding a new section
 28 to read as follows:
   § 28. TEMPORARY MIDDLE INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. 1.   THE
 DEPARTMENT IS AUTHORIZED TO DEVELOP, IMPLEMENT, ADMINISTER AND OPERATE A
 PLAN, AND HOLD FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR SUCH PLAN, TO MAKE AVAILABLE ONE-TIME
 SUPPLEMENTING GRANTS FOR THE PURPOSE OF ASSISTING ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS TO
 OBTAIN HOME HEATING FUEL.
   2.  FOR  PURPOSES  OF THIS SECTION, 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.
   3. THE DEPARTMENT IS REQUIRED, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PLAN ESTABLISHED
 IN  SUBDIVISION  ONE  OF  THIS  SECTION, TO PARTICIPATE IN THE TEMPORARY
 MIDDLE INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE  PROGRAM  AND  TO  ASSIST  ELIGIBLE
 HOUSEHOLDS TO OBTAIN MIDDLE INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE.
   4.  PERSONS  WHO  QUALIFY  FOR MIDDLE INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE IN
 ACCORDANCE WITH STANDARDS PROMULGATED BY THE DEPARTMENT, SHALL BE CERTI-
 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.
   5.  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
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD04533-01-5
              

 A. 7056                             2
 
 OR  RESOURCES  OF  SUCH  HOUSEHOLDS,  OR  OF ANY MEMBER THEREOF, FOR ANY
 PURPOSE UNDER ANY STATE LAW.
   §  2.  The sum of one million dollars ($1,000,000), or so much thereof
 as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated to the department of  public
 service  out  of any moneys in the state treasury 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 certi-
 fied or approved by the department  of  public  service  in  the  manner
 prescribed by law.
   §  3.  This  act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be
 deemed repealed April 1, 2027.