HF 2493

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 03/02/2023 02:13pm

A bill for an act
relating to energy; appropriating money for supplemental energy assistance;
requiring an annual report; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes,
chapter 216C.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

new text begin [216C.391] SUPPLEMENTAL ENERGY ASSISTANCE FUND.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Account established. new text end

new text begin (a) A supplemental energy assistance fund account
is created in the special revenue fund in the state treasury. Money in the account is
appropriated to the commissioner to expand the number of Minnesota households that
receive energy assistance under LIHEAP and make the program available year-round.
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new text begin (b) For purposes of this section, "LIHEAP" means the low-income home energy assistance
program under United States Code, title 42, sections 8621 to 8630, and administered by the
department.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Use of funds. new text end

new text begin (a) Money in the account may be used for:
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new text begin (1) crisis grants to households who received a LIHEAP primary heat grant from federal
funds but did not receive the maximum crisis grant amount while federal funds allocated
for crisis grants were available;
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new text begin (2) primary heat and crisis grants to eligible households who did not receive LIHEAP
primary heat and crisis grants from federal funds allocated for crisis grants;
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new text begin (3) grants to support outreach; and
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new text begin (4) administration of this section.
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new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Eligibility. new text end

new text begin (a) All Minnesota residents earning up to 60 percent of the state
median income are eligible for grants under this section.
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new text begin (b) When making grants under this section, the commissioner must prioritize providing
energy assistance to a greater number of households, rather than to increase grant amounts
to households that already received LIHEAP during the current year.
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new text begin (c) Funds may be used for emergency heating system repair or replacement.
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new text begin (d) When available, federal LIHEAP funding must be used for all primary heat and crisis
grants to eligible households.
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new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Application period. new text end

new text begin The commissioner must accept grant applications for
supplemental energy assistance year-round.
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new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Reporting. new text end

new text begin (a) Beginning December 31, 2023, and annually thereafter until
December 31, 2029, the commissioner of commerce must publish a report regarding the
state supplemental energy assistance funding under this section for the previous program
year from October 1 to September 30. The report must include:
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new text begin (1) number of households served;
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new text begin (2) average household primary heat benefit;
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new text begin (3) average household crisis benefit;
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new text begin (4) of the households served, the:
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new text begin (i) average income;
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new text begin (ii) average utility bill and total energy costs;
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new text begin (iii) income by percentage of poverty;
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new text begin (iv) number of households that include a person over 60;
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new text begin (v) number of households that include a disabled person;
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new text begin (vi) number of households that include a child under six; and
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new text begin (vii) number of households served by race or ethnicity; and
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new text begin (5) for each household category in clause (4), provide as a statewide total the:
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new text begin (i) average household primary heat benefit;
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new text begin (ii) average household crisis benefit;
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new text begin (iii) average income;
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new text begin (iv) average utility bill and total energy costs; and
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new text begin (v) income by percentage of poverty.
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new text begin (b) The information under paragraph (a), clauses (1) to (4), must be reported on a
statewide and county-by-county basis.
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new text begin (c) The commissioner must submit the report to the chairs and ranking minority members
of the legislative committees having jurisdiction over energy and make the report public on
the Department of Commerce website.
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new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Expiration. new text end

new text begin This section expires January 1, 2030.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION; SUPPLEMENTAL ENERGY ASSISTANCE FUNDING.
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new text begin (a) $100,000,000 in fiscal year 2024 is appropriated from the general fund to the
commissioner of commerce for deposit in the supplemental energy assistance fund account
in the special revenue fund under Minnesota Statutes, section 216C.391, subdivision 1. This
is a onetime appropriation and is available until June 30, 2029.
new text end

new text begin (b) Of the amount appropriated in paragraph (a):
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new text begin (1) up to ten percent may be used to administer the supplemental program under
Minnesota Statutes, section 216C.391, including up to 2.5 percent for the Department of
Commerce. The remaining amount allocated under this clause may be used for administrative
costs incurred by service providers; and
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new text begin (2) up to eight percent may be used for outreach and assistance to households in
completing grant applications under this section. Organizations that have the ability to
conduct outreach to underserved communities and populations must be prioritized for
outreach funding, and may include current service providers and other organizations.
new text end