Bill Text: PA HB2476 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Providing for Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program eligibility, allocation of funds and resources; imposing duties on the Department of Public Welfare; and providing for compliance and fraud prevention procedures and for performance audit and allocation of appropriations.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 30-5)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-04-29 - Referred to HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES [HB2476 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2009-HB2476-Introduced.html

  

 

    

PRINTER'S NO.  3676

  

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

  

HOUSE BILL

 

No.

2476

Session of

2010

  

  

INTRODUCED BY HARKINS, HORNAMAN, FABRIZIO, McGEEHAN, BRADFORD, BRENNAN, CALTAGIRONE, CARROLL, CAUSER, CONKLIN, D. COSTA, DALEY, DePASQUALE, HUTCHINSON, KORTZ, HARHAI, HALUSKA, GRUCELA, GOODMAN, GIBBONS, FREEMAN, LONGIETTI, MAHONEY, MANN, McILVAINE SMITH, MILLER, MURT, PARKER, PAYTON, YUDICHAK, SIPTROTH, SANTONI, SAINATO AND READSHAW, APRIL 29, 2010

  

  

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, APRIL 29, 2010  

  

  

  

AN ACT

  

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Providing for Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program

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eligibility, allocation of funds and resources; imposing

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duties on the Department of Public Welfare; and providing for

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compliance and fraud prevention procedures and for

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performance audit and allocation of appropriations.

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The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

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hereby enacts as follows:

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Section 1.  Short title.

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This act shall be known and may be cited as the Home Energy

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Assistance in Time of Need (HEAT ON) Act.

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Section 2.  Definitions.

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The following words and phrases when used in this act shall

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have the meanings given to them in this section unless the

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context clearly indicates otherwise:

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"Budget billing."  The proration of an estimated 12-month

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projection of the cost of household heating based on weather,

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energy costs and occupancy adjusted over time as required for

 


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changes in assumptions versus actual experience.

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"Customer assistance program."  A plan or program sponsored

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by a public utility for the purpose of providing universal

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service and energy conservation, as defined by 66 Pa.C.S. § 2202 

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(relating to definitions) or 2803 (relating to definitions), in

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which customers make monthly payments based on household income

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and household size and under which customers must comply with

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certain responsibilities and restrictions in order to remain

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eligible for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program.

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"Department."  The Department of Public Welfare of the

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Commonwealth.

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"Hardship fund."  A fund that provides cash assistance to

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utility customers with utility bill payment as defined in 52 Pa.

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Code §§ 54.72 (relating to definitions) and 62.2 (relating to

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definitions).

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"Income."  The types of income used in determining

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eligibility for LIHEAP as provided in the State Plan for the

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applicable fiscal year.

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"Independent charitable organization."  An organization

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approved as a charitable organization under section 501(c)(3) of

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the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (Public Law 99-514, 26 U.S.C.

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§ 501(c)(3)).

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"Leveraged resources."  Any LIHEAP funding resource as

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defined in section 2607A of the Low-Income Home Energy

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Assistance Act of 1981 (Public Law 97-35, 42 U.S.C. § 8621 et

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seq.).

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"Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program" or "LIHEAP."  A

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federally funded program that provides financial assistance in

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the form of cash and crisis grants to low-income households for

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home energy bills and is administered by the Department of

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Public Welfare.

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"Participating energy vendor."  An agent or company that

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directly distributes home heating energy or services, including

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emergency energy or services, in exchange for payment.

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"Plan year."  The Federal LIHEAP fiscal year.

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"Poverty level."  The poverty level published by the United

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States Department of Health and Human Services and used by the

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Department of Public Welfare in determining eligibility for

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LIHEAP.

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"State Plan."  The State Plan for LIHEAP prepared by the

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Department of Public Welfare as required by section 2605(c) of

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the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 (Public Law

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97-35, 42 U.S.C. § 8621 et seq.).

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Section 3.  Eligibility.

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(a)  Income verification.--The department shall verify the

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income of LIHEAP applicants by requiring income documentation

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from applicants. Utilities shall use department verification of

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LIHEAP applicant approval as confirmation for enrollment

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eligibility in a customer assistance program.

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(b)  Qualifications for LIHEAP.--A notice of termination to a

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customer of a public utility shall be sufficient proof of a

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crisis for a customer with the requisite income level to receive

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a LIHEAP crisis grant from the department or its designee.

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(c)  Energy vendor participation.--As a condition of

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receiving LIHEAP funds, all participating energy vendors must

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provide eligible applicants budget billing over 12 months. In

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the event a budget customer of a deliverable fuel vendor not

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regulated by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission accepts

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LIHEAP funds but fails to adhere to an existing vendor budget

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agreement, the vendor may terminate the budget agreement and

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require predelivery payment for energy for the balance of the

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program year. Participation by a deliverable fuel customer in a

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budget or automatic delivery plan shall not disqualify the

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customer from receiving LIHEAP crisis benefits. The department

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shall require all participating energy vendors to establish an

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annual outreach plan component for all prior year LIHEAP

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recipients to receive current year LIHEAP application

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notification.

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(d)  Notice of eligibility.--The department shall work with

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all participating energy vendors in verifying an applicant's

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eligibility for any energy assistance, including, but not

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limited to, customer assistance programs and hardship funds.

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(e)  Nondiscrimination.--The department shall not

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discriminate in any aspect of Federal LIHEAP funding resource

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administration on the basis of energy type used as the primary

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source of home heating. Households using regulated utility

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services for home heating shall receive full and timely crisis

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and cash grants in accordance with 66 Pa.C.S. § 1406 (relating

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to termination of utility service).

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Section 4.  Allocation of funds.

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(a)  General rule.--The department shall implement the State

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Plan to utilize available funds to assist eligible households to

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meet the costs of home heating energy and shall make payments

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only as specified in an approved State Plan or as otherwise

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provided by law. The department shall not seek to alter energy

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pricing of any fuel type nor attempt to negotiate or condition

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participation of any energy vendor in the LIHEAP program based

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on the vendor's energy pricing.

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(b)  Allocation.--The annual LIHEAP fiscal year projected

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budget shall conform to Federal guidelines in effect at the time

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and shall utilize allocated Federal funds as follows:

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(1)  Adjustments within spending guideline maximums shall

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be made as needed, but shall not exceed 100% of available

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Federal funds in any fiscal year.

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(2)  Of the funds available to the Commonwealth, a

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reasonable amount of crisis funds based on data from prior

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years shall be reserved until May 31 of each program year by

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the department for energy crisis intervention. The program

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for which funds are reserved by this subsection shall be

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administered by public or nonprofit entities which have

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experience in administering energy crisis programs under the

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Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 (Public Law

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97-35, 42 U.S.C. § 8621 et seq.), with experience in

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assisting low-income individuals in the area to be served,

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the capacity to undertake a timely and effective energy

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crisis intervention program and the ability to carry out the

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program in local communities. The program for which are

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reserved under this subsection shall:

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(i)  No later than 48 hours after a household applies

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for energy crisis benefits, provide some form of

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assistance that will resolve the energy crisis if the

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household is eligible to receive such benefits.

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(ii)  No later than 18 hours after a household

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applies for crisis benefits, provide some form of

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assistance that will resolve the energy crisis if the

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household is eligible to receive the benefits and is in a

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life-threatening situation.

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(iii)  Require each entity that administers the

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program:

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(A)  To accept applications for energy crisis

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benefits at sites that are geographically accessible

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to all households in the area to be served by such

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entity.

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(B)  To provide to low-income individuals who are

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physically infirm the means:

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(I)  to submit applications for energy crisis

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benefits without leaving their residences; or

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(II)  to travel to the sites at which such

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applications are accepted by such entity.

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Section 5.  Leveraged resources.

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(a)  Procedure.--The department shall utilize all programs

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and resources to maximize Federal LIHEAP funding by establishing

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a procedure for each plan year in accordance with the following:

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(1)  The department shall provide for certification of

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the sources and amount of all resources that may be leveraged

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from public and private sector records for the applicable

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plan year and inclusion of the data in the State Plan.

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(2)  The department shall use all of the following in the

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application for the incentive program for leveraging non-

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Federal resources and request for approval of such for

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additional leveraged Federal LIHEAP funding:

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(i)  Customer assistance program-related and recorded

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resources in application.

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(ii)  Discounts or credits for monthly billing and

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arrearage forgiveness provided through utilities'

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customer assistance programs. Sources for leveraged

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resources shall include reduced utility residential

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tariff rates, utility operating funds, waived late

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payment charges, security deposit fees and reconnection

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fees which shall be documented by the Pennsylvania Public

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Utility Commission as sources of leveraged resources.

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(iii)  Cash grant assistance from any nongovernmental

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source and utility credits for LIHEAP recipients to

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assist in the payment of:

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(A)  Home heating costs.

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(B)  The repair of home heating equipment and/or

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excavation costs to repair gas lines.

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(C)  Home weatherization materials and

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installation.

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(iv)  The value of private nonutility delivered fuel

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vendor bulk fuel donations, as reported to the department

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by private nonutility fuel vendors, hardship funds and

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other social service agencies and utility company

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resources.

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(v)  Community-based independent charitable

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organization cash grants.

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(vi)  Donations or in-kind contributions provided by

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rural electric cooperatives and independent charitable

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organizations. The source of funds includes:

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(A)  Cooperative member and director

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contributions.

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(B)  Electric cooperative matching funds.

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(C)  Funds from a federation of independent

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charitable organizations.

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(D)  Heating system materials and supplies

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donated by building and supply companies to LIHEAP

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recipients.

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(vii)  Programs administered by municipalities that

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provide home heating assistance to low-income households.

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(viii)  Any other resource not prohibited by Federal

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law.

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(b)  Allocation of grant funds.--Any leveraging incentive

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grant award shall be used to maintain or increase benefits to

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LIHEAP households.

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Section 6.  Public participation and legislative oversight.

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In accordance with section 2605(b)(12) of the Low-Income Home

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Energy Assistance Act of 1981 (Public Law 97-35, 42 U.S.C. §

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8624(b)(12)), the department shall provide for timely public

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participation in the development of a State Plan as follows:

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(1)  In accordance with section 2605(a)(2) of the Low-

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Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 (42 U.S.C. §

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8624(a)(2)), public hearings on each fiscal year LIHEAP

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proposed State Plan shall be held as scheduled by the

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Secretary of Public Welfare, notice of which shall be

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published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin in a timely manner.

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(2)  (i)  A LIHEAP advisory committee shall advise the

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Secretary of Public Welfare on the administration of the

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LIHEAP block grant, including a review of the proposed

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plan and recommendations on the final plan.

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(ii)  Members of the advisory committee shall be

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appointed by the Secretary of Public Welfare and

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represent the following:

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(A)  Consumer and advocacy interests.

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(B)  Participating energy vendors.

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(C)  Other concerned citizens of this

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Commonwealth.

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(iii)  In addition to the members provided for in

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subparagraph (ii), the advisory committee shall include:

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(A)  The chairman and the minority chairman of

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the Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure

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Committee of the Senate or their designees.

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(B)  The chairman and the minority chairman of

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the Public Health and Welfare Committee of the Senate

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or their designees.

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(C)  The chairman and the minority chairman of

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the Consumer Affairs Committee of the House of

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Representatives or their designees.

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(D)  The chairman and the minority chairman of

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the Health and Human Services Committee of the House

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of Representatives or their designees.

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(iv)  One member shall serve as the chairman of the

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advisory committee. The position of chairman shall change

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annually and the same member shall not serve as chairman

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more than once in any four-year period. For the purpose

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of selecting a chairman, the position shall revolve

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annually among representatives of the consumer and

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advocacy interests, energy vendors, concerned citizens

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and legislative members.

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(3)  Copies of the proposed State Plan, including a copy

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of public comments received, shall be forwarded to the

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chairman and minority chairman of the Consumer Protection and

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Professional Licensure Committee of the Senate, the chairman

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and minority chairman of the Public Health and Welfare

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Committee of the Senate, the chairman and minority chairman

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of the Consumer Affairs Committee of the House of

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Representatives and the chairman and minority chairman of the

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Health and Human Services Committee of the House of

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Representatives for review and comment 60 days prior to final

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plan submission to the Department of Health and Human

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Services. Copies of the plan shall be available for public

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review and comment at all county assistance offices.

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Section 7.  Monitoring and audit.

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(a)  Monitoring.--In accordance with section 2605(b)(10) of

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the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 (Public Law

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97-35, 42 U.S.C. § 8624(b)(10)), the department shall implement 

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fiscal control and fund accounting procedures to assure the

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proper disbursement of funds, which include monitoring payments

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and an annual audit of State Plan expenditures.

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(b)  Audit.--In accordance with section 2605(e) of the Low-

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Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 (42 U.S.C. § 8624(e)),

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the department shall submit annually to a financial and

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compliance audit in accordance with the standards of the

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Comptroller General of the United States. A copy of the audit

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shall be submitted within 30 days after completion of the audit

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to the Governor, the Secretary of the Senate and Chief Clerk of

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the House of Representatives. The department shall make the

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audit report available to the public on a timely basis.

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(c)  Department action.--In the event the department uncovers

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any false, misleading or inaccurate statement by applicants,

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participating energy vendors or State employees, the department

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shall notify the State Inspector General or appropriate law

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enforcement agency.

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Section 8.  Performance audit and allocation.

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(a)  Performance audit.--The Legislative Budget and Finance

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Committee shall conduct a performance audit on the use of the

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LIHEAP weatherization assistance program moneys for fiscal years

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July 1, 2006, through June 30, 2009, and submit to the General

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Assembly a report based on the audit within one year of the

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effective date of this act.

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(b)  Allocation.--Commencing with fiscal year 2010-2011, the

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allocation of LIHEAP moneys appropriated to the Department of

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Community and Economic Development for the weatherization

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assistance program shall be based on the findings of the audit

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performed pursuant to subsection (a). Any money allocated but

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not utilized for the weatherization assistance program during

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the program year shall be returned to the department and used

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for LIHEAP assistance grants.

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Section 20.  Effective date.

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This act shall take effect immediately.

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