093_SB1066eng SB1066 Engrossed LRB093 08059 DRJ 08260 b 1 AN ACT in relation to energy. 2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 3 represented in the General Assembly: 4 Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the 5 Good Samaritan Energy Plan Act. 6 Section 5. Definitions. In this Act: 7 "Department" means the Department of Commerce and 8 Economic Opportunity. 9 "LIHEAP" means the energy assistance program established 10 under the Energy Assistance Act of 1989. 11 Section 10. Legislative findings. The General Assembly 12 finds that high electric and gas bill arrearages are a 13 serious problem for low-income utility consumers in Illinois, 14 often impeding access to service. The General Assembly also 15 finds that the inability to have electric or gas service 16 connected due to high arrearages is a threat to the health 17 and safety of many low-income households in Illinois. The 18 General Assembly further finds that eligibility for LIHEAP 19 does not alleviate the burden of high arrearages for 20 low-income utility consumers and is not enough to enable many 21 households to have electric or gas service connected. 22 Section 15. Good Samaritan Energy Trust Fund. The Good 23 Samaritan Energy Trust Fund is created as a special fund in 24 the State treasury. The Department shall administer the Fund. 25 The Department shall deposit moneys received from the 26 following sources into the Fund: 27 (1) Voluntary donations from individuals, 28 foundations, corporations, and other sources. 29 (2) Proceeds from fundraising events held for the SB1066 Engrossed -2- LRB093 08059 DRJ 08260 b 1 purpose of generating moneys for the Fund. 2 Section 20. Solicitation of contributions to Fund. The 3 Department may insert a fundraising letter requesting 4 voluntary contributions to the Fund in utility bills 2 times 5 each year to solicit contributions to the Fund. All public 6 utilities doing business in the State shall cooperate in 7 allowing the Department to insert fundraising solicitation 8 letters in their utility bills. 9 Section 25. Administration of Fund. The Department shall 10 administer the Good Samaritan Energy Trust Fund with the 11 advice and consent of the Low Income Energy Assistance Policy 12 Advisory Council established under the Energy Assistance Act 13 of 1989. Donations received for the Fund shall be made 14 available for the purpose of alleviating utility bill 15 arrearages for households determined eligible for LIHEAP. 16 Resources from the Fund shall be awarded to local area 17 agencies that have existing contracts with the Department to 18 administer LIHEAP in Illinois. 19 Section 30. Distribution of moneys from Fund. The 20 Department, with the advice and consent of the Low Income 21 Energy Assistance Policy Advisory Council, shall establish 22 priorities for the distribution of moneys from the Good 23 Samaritan Energy Trust Fund to low-income consumers to enable 24 them to pay gas or electric bill arrearages in order to have 25 household gas or electric utility service connected. 26 Low-income consumers who are unable to have their service 27 connected even with a LIHEAP grant shall be given preference. 28 Section 35. Annual report. On or before May 31 of each 29 year, beginning in 2005, the Department shall provide an 30 annual report to the General Assembly on the use and SB1066 Engrossed -3- LRB093 08059 DRJ 08260 b 1 effectiveness of the Good Samaritan Energy Trust Fund. The 2 report shall include the amount of money deposited into the 3 Fund, the amount of money allocated by the Fund for the 4 direct benefit of low-income consumers, the number of 5 low-income households served by the Fund, by county, and 6 recommendations for improving the operation and effectiveness 7 of the Fund. 8 Section 90. The State Finance Act is amended by adding 9 Section 5.595 as follows: 10 (30 ILCS 105/5.595 new) 11 Sec. 5.595. The Good Samaritan Energy Trust Fund. 12 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 13 becoming law.