STATE OF NEW JERSEY
219th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2020 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman GABRIELA M. MOSQUERA
District 4 (Camden and Gloucester)
Assemblyman WAYNE P. DEANGELO
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
Assemblywoman ANNETTE QUIJANO
District 20 (Union)
Assemblywoman SHAVONDA E. SUMTER
District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)
Assemblyman GARY S. SCHAER
District 36 (Bergen and Passaic)
Assemblywoman PAMELA R. LAMPITT
District 6 (Burlington and Camden)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblymen McKeon, Benson, Assemblywomen Jasey, Vainieri Huttle, Assemblyman Danielsen, Assemblywoman McKnight, Assemblymen Chiaravalloti and Coughlin
SYNOPSIS
Provides $21 minimum annual energy assistance to qualified families.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act concerning energy assistance and supplementing Title 44 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Notwithstanding the provisions of any law, rule or regulation to the contrary, every household in the State that is eligible to receive low-income home energy assistance benefits issued under the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), established pursuant to Pub.L. 97-35, Title XXVI (42 U.S.C. s.8621 et seq.) shall receive a minimum annual energy assistance payment of $21. This annual payment shall be disbursed in accordance with the provisions of the LIHEAP program. Any costs associated with increasing LIHEAP payments shall first be charged to the unexpended balance of federal funds available for the LIHEAP program, to the extent permitted by federal law and regulation.
2. The Commissioner of Community Affairs, shall adopt, pursuant to the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), such rules and regulations as may be necessary to implement this act.
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill provides that every household in the State that is eligible to receive benefits under the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) shall receive a minimum annual energy assistance payment of $21.
The bill requires this annual energy assistance payment to be disbursed in accordance with the provisions of the LIHEAP program. The bill provides that any costs associated with increasing LIHEAP payments must first be charged to the unexpended balance of federal funds available for the LIHEAP program, to the extent permitted by federal law and regulation. The bill authorizes the Commissioner of Community Affairs to adopt rules and regulations to implement the bill.