Minnesota Session Laws - 1991, Regular Session

  

                         Laws of Minnesota 1991 

                        CHAPTER 297-S.F.No. 1466 
           An act relating to energy; creating an advisory task 
          force on low-income energy assistance to establish an 
          energy assistance foundation; directing the pollution 
          control agency to make certain recommendations. 
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
    Section 1.  [ADVISORY TASK FORCE ON LOW-INCOME ENERGY 
ASSISTANCE.] 
    Subdivision 1.  [DUTIES.] The advisory task force on 
low-income energy assistance shall study the establishment of an 
energy assistance foundation that may: 
    (1) be a nonprofit foundation under section 501(c)(3) of 
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended through December 
31, 1990; 
    (2) provide emergency energy assistance covering all 
heating sources, including at least natural gas, electricity, 
fuel oil, propane, and wood to households that are eligible for 
assistance under the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 
1981, United States Code, title 42, sections 8621 to 8629, as 
amended; 
    (3) solicit funds for low-income energy assistance programs 
from various sources, including the Leveraging Incentive Program 
established under the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 
1981, United States Code, title 42, sections 8621 to 8629, as 
amended; 
    (4) monitor and evaluate contributions and expenditures; 
and 
    (5) submit an annual report to the appropriate committees 
of the legislature that set forth funds received and 
distributions made. 
    Subd. 2.  [MEMBERSHIP; ADMINISTRATION.] The task force 
consists of three representatives of energy assistance 
providers, three representatives of utilities or other fuel 
suppliers with a minimum of one utility representative from a 
utility with a primary service area outside of the seven-county 
metropolitan area, one representative from an existing fuel 
fund, one representative of the state office of economic 
opportunity, one representative of the department of public 
service, two consumers served by low-income energy assistance 
programs, and two legislators.  The governor shall appoint the 
nonlegislative task force members.  The subcommittee on 
committees of the senate committee on rules and administration 
shall appoint one member of the senate, and the speaker shall 
appoint one member of the house of representatives.  The 
commissioner of jobs and training shall provide staff and 
administrative support to the task force.  The task force shall 
meet at the times and places it may designate.  It shall select 
a chair, vice-chair, and other officers from its membership.  
Except as described in this section, the task force is governed 
by Minnesota Statutes, section 15.059, subdivision 6, except 
that the members may not collect a per diem.  The task force 
shall report its findings and recommendations to the chairs of 
the senate committee on energy and public utilities and the 
house of representatives committee on energy by January 1, 1992. 
    Sec. 2.  [REFRIGERATION EQUIPMENT AND SYSTEMS; TRAINING AND 
LICENSING RECOMMENDATIONS.] 
    The pollution control agency shall by January 1, 1992, make 
recommendations to the legislature on methods for the use, 
recapture, and recycling of CFCs and appropriate training 
provisions for persons engaged in the installation or repair of 
refrigeration equipment and systems that use CFC refrigerants.  
The agency shall consult with contractors and representatives of 
these installations and repair workers before making these 
recommendations. 
    Presented to the governor May 30, 1991 
    Signed by the governor June 3, 1991, 4:24 p.m.