Senate Bill S6665

                                BILL NUMBER:S6665

TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the social services law, in relation
to the low-income home energy assistance program

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:  To ensure that the office of
temporary and disability assistance, in submitting the annual plan for
the low income home energy assistance program to the federal
government, will utilize the maximum reductions to income in
determining income eligibility.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends subdivision 1 of Section 97 of the social services
law to direct that, after January 1, 2015, the NYS Office of Temporary
and Disability Assistance (OTDA) shall utilize a definition of net
income in their annual LIHEAP plan which allows for the most expansive
deductions from gross income in order to retain eligibility under the
plan.

Section 2 provides the effective date of the legislation.

JUSTIFICATION:  The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
is a federally funded energy program intended to provide assistance to
low income households in meeting their immediate home energy needs. To
receive federal funding, each state must submit a State Plan for
              

approval to the United States Department of Health and human Services
(HHS) each year.

The federal government does not provide a set definition of "income"
under the LIHEAP program. New York currently utilizes a definition of
"income" which excludes certain deductions which are also used in
other state temporary assistance programs.

Other states use a threshold qualifier of "net income" with additional
deductions from gross income. Use of a similar standard in New York
would allow more individuals and families with slightly higher income
levels to qualify for HEAP. In extreme and long lasting winter weather
conditions many people are caught in situations where they are just
above the applicable income levels but are unable to qualify for
assistance. This can result in their power being shut off. As a
result, many have to resort to the potentially unsafe use of temporary
electric heaters or other methods of heat. This bill directs OTDA to
utilize the broadest possible number of income deductions, consistent
with federal eligibility standards in determining a qualifying income.
This will help insure that many people who are very close to the
current income standards will be eligible to receive existing help in
keeping their power on, especially during frigid Northeast winters.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: New bill.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:  None to the state. LIHEAP is a federally funded
block grant program.

EFFECTIVE DATE:  This act shall take effect immediately and apply to
NY State HEAP plans filed after this January 15, 2015.