HSB 568 (LSB 5443XD (5) 83)

SENATE/HOUSE FILE _____

BY  (PROPOSED DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RIGHTS BILL)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to the provision of deliverable fuels to customers eligible for the federal low-income home energy assistance program, and including effective date provisions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  216A.105  Deliverable fuels access for low-income home energy assistance program customers —— rulemaking authority.
   1.  The rulemaking authority of the division shall apply to all deliverable fuel vendors regarding the provision of service to low-income home energy assistance program customers.
   2.  The division shall adopt rules governing contracts and agreements with deliverable fuel vendors in order to protect the rights of persons who heat their homes with deliverable fuels and who are eligible for the federal low-income home energy assistance program. This section shall be narrowly construed to confer rulemaking authority strictly with respect to customer access to deliverable fuels from November 1 to April 1 annually.
   3.  For the purposes of this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
   a.  “Deliverable fuel” means propane or any other heating fuel sold or delivered within this state for home heating purposes.
   b.  “Deliverable fuel vendor” means a retail propane dispenser, retail propane marketer, or a retail dispenser or marketer of a deliverable fuel other than propane.
   c.  “Propane”, “retail propane dispenser”, and “retail propane marketer” mean the same as defined in section 101C.2.
    Sec. 2.  EFFECTIVE UPON ENACTMENT.  This Act, being deemed of immediate importance, takes effect upon enactment.
EXPLANATION
   This bill confers rulemaking authority upon the division of community action agencies of the department of human rights with respect to ensuring access by customers eligible for the federal low-income home energy assistance program to deliverable fuels for home heating purposes. The bill provides that the division shall adopt rules governing contracts and agreements with deliverable fuel vendors in order to protect the rights of eligible persons who heat their homes with deliverable fuels. The rulemaking authority is to be narrowly construed to apply strictly to customer access to deliverable fuels from November 1 to April 1 annually.
   The bill takes effect upon enactment.