§ 222. Senior citizen energy packaging pilot program. 1. (a) The
legislature finds and declares that a significant percentage of the
state's senior citizens live at or below the poverty level. In many
cases, energy costs reach or exceed thirty percent of household income.
These factors make energy conservation efforts on behalf of low income
elderly crucial. The legislature further finds that energy conservation
programs have been under-utilized by such citizens because of such
factors as reduced mobility, social and physical isolation, and the
complexity of the maze of services available.

(b) The legislature therefore declares that a pilot program to assist
such citizens to conserve energy should be implemented by the office in
conjunction with county offices for the aging. The legislature further
declares that such a program will further the energy conservation
objectives of the state and should be partially supported by petroleum
overcharge restitution funds.

2. Within the amounts appropriated therefor, the office shall
establish guidelines for and administer a senior citizen energy
packaging pilot program to be carried out by county offices for the
aging in the counties of Nassau, Suffolk, Broome, Erie, and Tompkins and
such other counties as funds may allow. Wherever possible, such program
shall be coordinated with appropriate existing programs of public
utilities, the state energy office, and the department of state.

3. These appropriations shall be used specifically for the training of
personnel within county offices for the aging to insure their thorough
familiarity with state and federal energy conservation programs and
benefits and their ability to facilitate receipt of such benefits by the
client population. These appropriations shall also be used to provide
salaries, appropriate benefits and expenses of such personnel in
carrying out the purposes of the pilot program. Depending on the size of
the client population to be served, no more than five of such personnel
shall be trained and utilized in any county.

4. The client population shall consist of those senior citizens living
at or below the poverty level. Whenever possible, priority shall be
given to serving first those in greatest need of assistance, including
but not limited to, home energy assistance program recipients.