SB1645eng 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB1645 Engrossed LRB099 07238 HAF 27338 b

AN ACT concerning regulation.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Public Utilities Act is amended by adding Section 8-201.6 as follows:

(220 ILCS 5/8-201.6 new)

Sec. 8-201.6. Waiver of deposit; victims of domestic violence. For the purposes of this Section, "domestic violence" means abuse by a family or household member, as "abuse" and "family or household members" are defined in Section 103 of the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986.

A utility shall waive the utility's initial credit and deposit requirements for a period of 60 days for a residential customer or applicant who is a victim of domestic violence. To be eligible for the waiver under this Section, the domestic violence must be certified by treating medical personnel, law enforcement personnel, a State's Attorney, the Attorney General, or a domestic violence shelter. The certification letter must be printed on the certifying entity's letterhead or accompanied by a letter on the certifying entity's letterhead that identifies the certifying individual.