Bill Text: MI SB0344 | 2021-2022 | 101st Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Human services: services or financial assistance; water rate affordability program; create. Amends 1939 PA 280 (MCL 400.1 - 400.119b) by adding secs. 14n, 14o, 14p & 14q.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 9-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-03-25 - Referred To Committee On Environmental Quality [SB0344 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2021-SB0344-Introduced.html
SENATE BILL NO. 344
A bill to amend 1939 PA 280, entitled
"The social welfare act,"
(MCL 400.1 to 400.119b) by adding sections 14n, 14o, 14p, and 14q.
the people of the state of michigan enact:
Sec. 14n. As used in this section and sections 14o to 14r:
(a) "Eligible customer" means a provider's customer whose household income does not exceed 200% of the federal poverty guidelines or who meets any of the following requirements:
(i) Has received assistance from a state emergency relief program within the past year.
(ii) Receives food assistance under the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program administered by this state.
(iii) Receives medical assistance administered under this act.
(iv) Receives any other form of federal or state public assistance.
(b) "Low-income water residential affordability program" means the low-income water residential affordability program created in section 14o.
(c) "Nonaffordability application" means a form that the department must develop to trigger an income eligibility review for the low-income water residential affordability program. The nonaffordability application must include the option of authorization for release of the customer's information to the provider.
(d) "Provider" means any water and sewerage system that provides water or sewerage service in this state.
(e) "Task force" means the task force created in section 14q.
Sec. 14o. (1) The low-income water residential affordability program is created within the department to address reduction or retiring of water and sewerage bill arrearages and to ensure that an eligible customer's monthly water and sewerage bill is based on the eligible customer's household income. The department shall develop and administer the low-income water residential affordability program created under this section.
(2) Not later than 30 days after the department receives a signed nonaffordability application, the department shall complete an income eligibility review to determine if the individual meets the eligibility requirement for the low-income water residential affordability program. The department shall determine eligibility for the low-income water residential affordability program using the same process by which it determines eligibility for cash assistance under this act. The department shall immediately notify the provider it has begun the eligibility review and that the provider shall not pursue shutoff during the review. The department shall send notification to the applicant and the provider about the results of the eligibility review promptly once that review is completed.
(3) In addition to any other verification of income accepted by the department, the department may accept a federal income tax return as documentation of income. When applicable, the department must use publicly available information regarding standard benefit amounts for supplemental security income and temporary assistance for needy families. An applicant has no obligation to provide confirmation of the amount of benefits he or she receives from supplemental security income and temporary assistance to needy families.
(4) If, upon the department's determination of the individual's household income, the department finds that the individual is an eligible customer, the department shall provide that information, as well as the eligible customer's household income, to that eligible customer's provider. Upon receipt of the information from the department under this subsection, the eligible customer's provider shall charge the eligible customer a rate that is affordable based on the eligible customer's household income as determined by the department. Alternatively, the department may provide a subsidy to the eligible customer based on the department's determination of the eligible customer's household income.
(5) The department shall inform the individual of the determination of whether or not he or she is an eligible customer. If the individual is an eligible customer, the department shall provide him or her with information regarding the low-income water residential affordability program and the rate to be charged by the provider.
Sec. 14p. (1) Each provider shall give notice to its customers regarding the availability of the low-income water residential affordability program and the process to apply for that program. The notice required under this subsection must be given to each customer in writing at least 1 time per year and by posting on the provider's website.
(2) The department must inform all individuals receiving services from the department regarding the availability of the low-income water residential affordability program and the process to apply for that program.
Sec. 14q. (1) Not later than 30 days after the effective date of the amendatory act that added this section, the department shall create a low-income water residential affordability program task force.
(2) The department director shall appoint members of the task force that include, but are not limited to, representatives of providers and water and sewerage customer advocacy groups.
(3) The task force shall do all of the following:
(a) Discuss, and advise the department on, best practices for administering the low-income water residential affordability program.
(b) By no later than March 1, 2022, create a plan for the low-income water residential affordability program that is based on household income, that addresses water and sewerage bill arrearages, and that includes, but is not limited to, funding and coordination of voluntary check-off contributions with providers. The department shall implement this plan no later than October 1, 2022.
Enacting section 1. This amendatory act does not take effect unless all of the following bills of the 101st Legislature are enacted into law:
(a) Senate Bill No. 343.
(b) Senate Bill No.____ or House Bill No.____ (request no. 02535'21).
