1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to energy; requiring a report; appropriating money.
1.3 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.4 	Section 1. PREPURCHASING PROPANE; REPORT.
 1.5 	(a) The commissioner of commerce shall conduct a study of the operation of the 
1.6 	propane prepurchase program under Minnesota Statutes, section 216B.0951. The study 
1.7 	must address:
1.8 	(1) the amount and price of propane prepurchased;
1.9 	(2) the locations where prepurchased propane was stored and any costs of storage;
1.10 	(3) a description of how the propane was distributed to customers, focusing on the 
1.11 	activities of the local agencies that deliver energy assistance and propane distributors;
1.12 	(4) a description of any obstacles that interfered with the efficient operation of the 
1.13 	program, and suggestions for overcoming those obstacles; and
1.14 	(5) an estimate of the savings that accrued to propane customers as a result of the 
1.15 	prepurchase program.
1.16 	(b) By January 1 of 2016 and 2017, the commissioner of commerce shall submit a 
1.17 	report containing the information required under this section for the previous calendar year 
1.18 	to the chairs and ranking minority members of the senate and house of representatives 
1.19 	committees with primary responsibility for energy policy.

1.20 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.

1.21 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION.
 2.1 	(a) $5,000,000 in fiscal year 2016 and $5,000,000 in fiscal year 2017 are appropriated 
2.2 	from the general fund to the commissioner of commerce for the purpose of prepurchasing 
2.3 	propane under Minnesota Statutes, section 216B.0951. Propane may not be distributed 
2.4 	to customers before October 1 each year.
2.5 	(b) The commissioner shall reserve $5,000,000 each year from the federal funds 
2.6 	transferred to the state for use in the 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 heating seasons under 
2.7 	the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program and transfer those amounts to the 
2.8 	general fund.

2.9 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.