Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status for SB0197

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.

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