103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
SB0197

 

Introduced 1/31/2023, by Sen. Sue Rezin

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
New Act
5 ILCS 100/5-45.34 new
30 ILCS 105/5.990 new

    Creates the Home Heating Relief Act of 2023. Requires the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to create, as soon as practicable, a Home Heating Rebate Program to provide rebates to households that use natural gas or propane gas for heating purposes and that have a median household income between 200% and 400% of the poverty guidelines updated periodically in the Federal Register by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Provides that eligible households shall receive the rebates as soon as practicable after implementation of the program. Requires the Department to, by rule, establish qualifications for program participation which may include requirements that apply under the Energy Assistance Act and other requirements. Provides that rebates provided under the program shall be funded through appropriations made from the Home Heating Rebate Relief Fund created under the Act. Requires the State Comptroller to direct and the State Treasurer to transfer $500,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Home Heating Rebate Relief Fund to provide rebates to qualifying households for State fiscal years 2023 and 2024. Provides that any funds left over at the end of the second month following implementation of the program may be awarded to certain qualifying first-time small business owners as determined by the Department. Requires the Department to adopt emergency rules in accordance with the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to implement the program. Amends the State Finance Act to include the Home Heating Rebate Relief Fund as a special fund. Effective immediately.


LRB103 00102 KTG 45103 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB0197LRB103 00102 KTG 45103 b

1    AN ACT concerning public aid.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Home
5Heating Relief Act of 2023.
 
6    Section 5. Legislative finding. The General Assembly finds
7that the State should do more in addition to the Illinois Low
8Income Home Energy Assistance Program to help offset some of
9the high energy prices during the winter months of 2023.
 
10    Section 10. Home Heating Rebate Program.
11    (a) As soon as practicable, the Department of Commerce and
12Economic Opportunity shall create a Home Heating Rebate
13Program to provide rebates to households that use natural gas
14or propane gas for heating purposes and that have a median
15household income between 200% and 400% of the poverty
16guidelines updated periodically in the Federal Register by the
17U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under the
18authority of 42 U.S.C. 9902(2). Eligible households shall
19receive the rebates as soon as practicable after
20implementation of the program. The Department shall, by rule,
21establish qualifications for program participation, which may
22include requirements that apply under the Energy Assistance

 

 

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1Act and other requirements.
2    (b) Rebates provided under the program shall be funded
3through appropriations made from the Home Heating Rebate
4Relief Fund created under Section 15. The State Comptroller
5shall direct and the State Treasurer shall transfer
6$500,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Home Heating
7Rebate Relief Fund to provide rebates to qualifying households
8for State fiscal years 2023 and 2024. Any funds left over at
9the end of the second month following implementation of the
10Home Heating Rebate Program may be awarded to certain
11qualifying first-time small business owners as determined by
12the Department.
13    (c) The Department shall adopt emergency rules in
14accordance with the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to
15implement the Home Heating Rebate Program.
 
16    Section 15. Home Heating Rebate Relief Fund. The Home
17Heating Rebate Relief Fund is created as a special fund in the
18State treasury. The Fund shall consist of any moneys deposited
19into the Fund as provided under subsection (b) of Section 10.
20Moneys in the Fund shall be expended for the Home Heating
21Rebate Program as provided under Section 10 and for no other
22purpose. All interest earned on moneys in the Fund shall be
23deposited into the Fund.
 
24    Section 20. The Illinois Administrative Procedure Act is

 

 

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1amended by adding Section 5-45.34 as follows:
 
2    (5 ILCS 100/5-45.34 new)
3    Sec. 5-45.34. Emergency rulemaking; Home Heating Rebate
4Program. To provide for the expeditious and timely
5implementation of the Home Heating Rebate Program authorized
6under the Home Heating Relief Act of 2023, emergency rules
7implementing the Home Heating Rebate Program may be adopted in
8accordance with Section 5-45 by the Department of Commerce and
9Economic Opportunity. The adoption of emergency rules
10authorized by Section 5-45 and this Section is deemed to be
11necessary for the public interest, safety, and welfare.
12    This Section is repealed one year after the effective date
13of this amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly.
 
14    Section 25. The State Finance Act is amended by adding
15Section 5.990 as follows:
 
16    (30 ILCS 105/5.990 new)
17    Sec. 5.990. The Home Heating Rebate Relief Fund.
 
18    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
19becoming law.