Bill Text: NJ A3268 | 2012-2013 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires BPU to report annually on certain public utility bill assistance program expenditures.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-09-27 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee [A3268 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2012-A3268-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman CONNIE WAGNER
District 38 (Bergen and Passaic)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblyman Eustace
SYNOPSIS
Requires BPU to report annually on certain public utility bill assistance program expenditures.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act revising the reporting requirements regarding certain public utility bill assistance and amending P.L.2009, c.207.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 1 of P.L.2009, c.207 is amended to read as follows:
1. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary of section 12 of P.L.1999, c.23 (C.48:3-60) or any law, or any rule, regulation, or order adopted pursuant thereto, in the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2010, the Board of Public Utilities shall, from available balances accumulated in accounts of the board from funds collected through the societal benefits charge imposed pursuant to that section, allocate $25 million to fund the payment of grants to help pay the gas and electric public utility bills of households seeking temporary assistance from the New Jersey Statewide Heating Assistance and Referral for Energy Services, Inc. (NJSHARES) or another equivalent nonprofit energy organization designated by the board.
Within 90 days of the end of each fiscal year in which the board has not fully disbursed the grant monies, and within one year after the board shall have completed the disbursement of grant monies to a nonprofit energy organization under this section, that nonprofit energy organization shall issue a report to the board which provides the number of applicants applying for household utility assistance grants, the number of households receiving utility assistance grants, the average amount of assistance provided, the average gross income of households receiving assistance, the methods and procedures used for the verification of income or hardship, a description of eligibility criteria for applicants, a comprehensive list of program access sites, and any other information as required by the board. The board shall thereupon submit such report to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1).
2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire on the 30th day following submission to the Legislature of the final report required to be issued pursuant to section 1 of this act.
STATEMENT
This bill requires the non-profit energy organization designated by the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to run the gas and electric temporary assistance program, currently referred to as Temporary Relief for Utility Expenses (TRUE), to make annual reports to the BPU and then for the BPU to report to the Legislature on the number of applicants applying for household utility assistance grants, the number of households receiving utility assistance grants, the average amount of assistance provided, the average gross income of households receiving assistance, the methods and procedures used for the verification of income or hardship, a description of eligibility criteria for applicants, a comprehensive list of program access sites, and any other information as required by the BPU. This annual reporting shall be in addition to the final report already required to be submitted to the Legislature once the full $25 million allocated has been disbursed.
