SB4068 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB102 26171 KTG 35780 b

102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
SB4068

Introduced 2/7/2022, by Sen. Sue Rezin

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act
5 ILCS 100/5-45.21 new
30 ILCS 105/5.970 new

Creates the Home Heating Relief Act of 2022. Requires the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to create, as soon as practicable, a Home Heating Rebate Program to provide rebates to households that use natural gas or propane gas for heating purposes and that have a median household income between 200% and 400% of the poverty guidelines updated periodically in the Federal Register by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Provides that eligible households shall receive the rebates as soon as practicable after implementation of the program. Requires the Department to, by rule, establish qualifications for program participation which may include requirements that apply under the Energy Assistance Act and other requirements. Provides that rebates provided under the program shall be funded through appropriations made from the Home Heating Rebate Relief Fund created under the Act. Requires the State Comptroller to direct and the State Treasurer to transfer $500,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Home Heating Rebate Relief Fund to provide rebates to qualifying households for State fiscal years 2022 and 2023. Provides that any funds left over at the end of the second month following implementation of the program may be awarded to certain qualifying first-time small business owners as determined by the Department. Requires the Department to adopt emergency rules in accordance with the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to implement the program. Amends the State Finance Act to include the Home Heating Rebate Relief Fund as a special fund. Effective immediately.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning public aid.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Home Heating Relief Act of 2022.

Section 5. Findings. The General Assembly finds that:

(1) Nearly half of U.S. households that heat with natural gas are projected to spend 30% more than they did last winter on average, according to the Winter Fuels Outlook 2021 report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The 41% that heat with electricity are expected to spend 6% more. Propane users will spend 54% more this winter, while heating oil users could see bills go up 43%, according to the report.

(2) Energy prices were up 29.3%, according to the December 2021 consumer price index from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Furthermore, fuel oil is roughly 40% more expensive than last year, electricity is up 6.3%, and natural gas market prices rose by more than 24%.

(3) These scenarios are tough on household budgets as families deal with inflation. The State should do more in addition to the Illinois Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program to help offset some of these high energy prices during the winter months of 2022.

Section 10. Home Heating Rebate Program.

(a) As soon as practicable, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall create a Home Heating Rebate Program to provide rebates to households that use natural gas or propane gas for heating purposes and that have a median household income between 200% and 400% of the poverty guidelines updated periodically in the Federal Register by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under the authority of 42 U.S.C. 9902(2). Eligible households shall receive the rebates as soon as practicable after implementation of the program. The Department shall, by rule, establish qualifications for program participation, which may include requirements that apply under the Energy Assistance Act and other requirements.

(b) Rebates provided under the program shall be funded through appropriations made from the Home Heating Rebate Relief Fund created under Section 15. The State Comptroller shall direct and the State Treasurer shall transfer $500,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Home Heating Rebate Relief Fund to provide rebates to qualifying households for State fiscal years 2022 and 2023. Any funds left over at the end of the second month following implementation of the Home Heating Rebate Program may be awarded to certain qualifying first-time small business owners as determined by the Department.

(c) The Department shall adopt emergency rules in accordance with the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to implement the Home Heating Rebate Program.

Section 15. Home Heating Rebate Relief Fund. The Home Heating Rebate Relief Fund is created as a special fund in the State treasury. The Fund shall consist of any moneys deposited into the Fund as provided under subsection (b) of Section 10. Moneys in the Fund shall be expended for the Home Heating Rebate Program as provided under Section 10 and for no other purpose. All interest earned on moneys in the Fund shall be deposited into the Fund.

Section 20. The Illinois Administrative Procedure Act is amended by adding Section 5-45.21 as follows:

(5 ILCS 100/5-45.21 new)

Sec. 5-45.21. Emergency rulemaking; Home Heating Rebate Program. To provide for the expeditious and timely implementation of the Home Heating Rebate Program authorized under the Home Heating Relief Act of 2022, emergency rules implementing the Home Heating Rebate Program may be adopted in accordance with Section 5-45 by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. The adoption of emergency rules authorized by Section 5-45 and this Section is deemed to be necessary for the public interest, safety, and welfare.

This Section is repealed one year after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly.

Section 25. The State Finance Act is amended by adding Section 5.970 as follows:

(30 ILCS 105/5.970 new)

Sec. 5.970. The Home Heating Rebate Relief Fund.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.