House File 303 - Introduced
HOUSE FILE
BY WHITAKER
Passed House, Date Passed Senate, Date
Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays
Approved
A BILL FOR
1 An Act providing for the establishment of an energy affordability
2 program for the benefit of residential consumers of propane.
3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
4 TLSB 1096HH 83
5 rn/nh/14
PAG LIN
1 1 Section 1. Section 101C.3, subsection 8, Code 2009, is
1 2 amended to read as follows:
1 3 8. The council shall develop programs and projects and
1 4 enter into agreements for administering such programs and
1 5 projects as provided in this chapter, including programs to
1 6 enhance consumer and employee safety and training, provide for
1 7 research and development of clean and efficient propane
1 8 utilization equipment, inform and educate the public about
1 9 safety and other issues associated with the use of propane,
1 10 and develop programs and projects that provide assistance to
1 11 persons who are eligible for the low=income home energy
1 12 assistance program. The programs and projects developed shall
1 13 include programs to enhance consumer and employee safety and
1 14 training; provide for research and development of clean and
1 15 efficient propane utilization equipment; inform and educate
1 16 the public about safety and other issues associated with the
1 17 use of propane; and provide assistance to persons who are
1 18 eligible for the low=income home energy assistance program,
1 19 including the establishment of a propane energy affordability
1 20 program as provided in section 216A.105. The programs and
1 21 projects shall be developed to attain equitable geographic
1 22 distribution of their benefits to the fullest extent
1 23 practicable. The costs of the programs and projects shall be
1 24 paid with funds collected pursuant to section 101C.4. The
1 25 council shall coordinate its programs and projects with
1 26 propane industry trade associations and others as the council
1 27 deems appropriate to provide efficient delivery of services
1 28 and to avoid unnecessary duplication of activities. Issues
1 29 concerning propane that are related to research and
1 30 development, safety, education, and training shall be given
1 31 priority by the council in the development of programs and
1 32 projects.
1 33 Sec. 2. NEW SECTION. 216A.105 PROPANE ENERGY
1 34 AFFORDABILITY PROGRAM.
1 35 The division shall develop an energy affordability program,
2 1 in coordination with the Iowa propane education and research
2 2 council, to be administered by the division. The objective of
2 3 the program shall be to enhance the ability of low=income
2 4 individuals who qualify for assistance pursuant to the federal
2 5 low=income home energy assistance program and who purchase and
2 6 utilize propane as their primary residential heat source to
2 7 avoid the loss of essential heat. The program shall establish
2 8 fill requirement limitations applicable to retail propane
2 9 dispensers and retail propane marketers in this state, in
2 10 relation to both the minimum amount of propane an individual
2 11 may be required to purchase and the amount by which that
2 12 minimum may be increased by a retail propane dispenser or
2 13 retail propane marketer within a specified timeframe. The
2 14 program shall also establish mechanisms to enhance propane
2 15 consumer education regarding the availability of financial
2 16 assistance through the low=income home energy assistance
2 17 program and the weatherization assistance program. The
2 18 program shall develop notification procedures and response
2 19 protocols applicable to individuals who are unable to purchase
2 20 propane under the minimum fill dollar value limitations
2 21 established under the program and who face the loss of
2 22 essential heat between November 1 and April 1.
2 23 EXPLANATION
2 24 This bill directs the division of community action agencies
2 25 of the department of human rights to develop and administer an
2 26 energy affordability program, in coordination with the Iowa
2 27 propane education and research council. The bill states that
2 28 the purpose of the program is to enhance the ability of
2 29 low=income individuals who qualify for assistance pursuant to
2 30 the federal low=income home energy assistance program (LIHEAP)
2 31 and who purchase propane as their primary residential heat
2 32 source to avoid the loss of essential heat. The bill requires
2 33 the program to specify fill requirement limitations applicable
2 34 to retail propane dispensers and retail propane marketers in
2 35 this state, concerning both the minimum amount of propane an
3 1 individual may be required to purchase and the amount by which
3 2 that minimum may be increased by a retail propane dispenser or
3 3 retail propane marketer within a specified timeframe. The
3 4 bill provides that the program shall also establish mechanisms
3 5 to enhance propane consumer education regarding the
3 6 availability of financial assistance through LIHEAP and the
3 7 weatherization assistance program, and develop procedures and
3 8 protocols applicable to individuals who are unable to purchase
3 9 propane under the minimum fill dollar value limitations and
3 10 who face the loss of essential heat between November 1 and
3 11 April 1.
3 12 LSB 1096HH 83
3 13 rn/nh/14