Amendment ID: S2829-114-R1

Redraft Amendment 114

Access to air conditioning and relief from oppressive heat

Mr. Montigny moves that the proposed new draft be amended by inserting after section 91 the following section:-

“SECTION 91A. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the executive office of housing and livable communities, in consultation with the department of public health, shall study whether to apply for funding to include cooling assistance in the application to the United States Department of Health and Human Services for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. The study shall include, but not be limited to: (i) the number of households that could qualify for cooling assistance, including the number of qualifying households that reside in heat islands; (ii) the potential health impacts of offering cooling assistance including, but not limited to, the impact on the rate of heat related illness and effect on individuals suffering from chronic illnesses; and (iii) whether offering cooling assistance would impact the ability of the state to offer heating assistance. The secretary of housing and livable communities shall report the findings of this study and a recommendation for any actions taken pursuant to this section to the clerks of the senate and house of representatives, the senate and house committees on ways and means, the joint committee on telecommunications, utilities and energy and the joint committee on housing not later than January 1, 2025.”.