HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2496        FILED ON: 1/16/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Mindy Domb and Steven Ultrino

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act providing for energy assistance during the summer months.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2496        FILED ON: 1/16/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

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An Act providing for energy assistance during the summer months.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Chapter 23B of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 24B the following section:-

Section 23C. The executive office of housing and livable communities, in coordination with the department of energy resources, shall, subject to appropriation, operate an annual extreme heat energy assistance program to provide assistance in paying the energy bills of residents of Massachusetts earning no greater than 150 per cent of the federal poverty guideline, as defined by the federal government, or no greater than 60 per cent of the state median income level, whichever is greater, and of residents who are already found eligible for the Low-income Home Energy Assistance Program, during the period of May 15 to September 30. Said program may be administered in coordination with the Low-income Home Energy Assistance Act, 42 United States Code sections 8621 et seq., or any successor acts thereto, subject to the following provisions:

(a) the executive office shall establish benefit rates and maximum benefits such that total benefits paid do not exceed the amount appropriated for this benefit; and

(b) the executive office shall use the same grantee agencies, similar applications and similar verification procedures as are used in the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, to the maximum extent possible. The executive office may also utilize a reasonable percentage of any funds appropriated, not exceeding 10 per cent of such funds, for administrative costs of the program.

SECTION 2. The executive office of housing and livable communities shall promulgate rules and regulations to implement the provisions of section 23C of chapter 23B of the general laws, as inserted by this act, no later than 6 months following the effective date of this act.