SR 148 — UTILITIES: Creates the Utility Assistance Coordination Task Force to study and make recommendations regarding coordination of utility assistance programs in the state.

SLS 26RS-2771 ORIGINAL Regular Session ENROLLED SENATE RESOLUTION NO.

148 BY SENATORSENATORS BARROW UTILITIES.AND ALLAIN A RESOLUTION To create the Utility Assistance Coordination Task Force to study and make recommendations regarding coordination of utility assistance programs in the state.

Creates the Utility Assistance Coordination Task Force to study and make recommendations regarding coordination of utility assistance programs in the state.

A RESOLUTION To create the Utility Assistance Coordination Task Force to study and make recommendations regarding coordination of utility assistance programs in the state.

and WHEREAS, Louisiana had approximatelysixty-two million three hundred seventy thousand five hundred dollars in fundingavailablefundingavailablethroughLIHEAP throughin LIHEAPinfiscal fiscalyear2024year2024 and served a total of ninety-three thousand six hundred forty-five households;

and PageWHEREAS, 1multiple ofenergybill 5assistance SLSprograms 26RS-2771may ORIGINALoperate SRsimultaneously, NO.including LIHEAP, utility-sponsored assistance, nonprofit fuel funds, crisis assistance, arrearage management, and related customer support programs, and coordination among program administrators may improve access, reduce duplication, and better reduce household energy burdens;

148and WHEREAS,WHEREAS,publicandprivatepartnersworkinghand-in-handcouldhelpLouisiana multiplehouseholds energymore billeasilyidentifyavailable assistanceassistance, programsreduce maybarriers operateto simultaneously,access, includingimprove LIHEAP,the utility-sponsoredtimeliness assistance,and nonprofiteffectiveness fuelof funds,assistance crisisdelivery, assistance,and arrearagemanagement,andrelatedcustomersupportprograms,andcoordinationamongbymaximize programthe administratorsimpact mayof improvefederal, access,state, reduce duplication, and betterlocal reduceassistance householdresources; energy burdens;

and WHEREAS,publicandprivatepartnersworkinghandinWHEREAS,nationalguidancerecommendscoordinationinprogramdesign,intake, handcouldhelpLouisianaPage households1 more easilyidentifyavailable assistance, reduce barriers to access, improve the timeliness and effectiveness of assistance4 delivery,SR andNO. maximize the impact of federal, state, and local assistance resources;

and148 WHEREAS,nationalguidancerecommendscoordinationinprogramdesign,intake,ENROLLED customerdatacollection,benefitinteractionreview,leveragingadministrativeresources,and regular communication among policymakers and program administrators;

and WHEREAS,athoroughreviewofLouisiana'sutilityassistancelandscapewouldhelp identifyopportunities to improveoutreach,streamlinereferrals,reducedisconnections,improve andoutreach,streamlinereferrals,reducedisconnections,and strengthen the effectiveness of available public, private, and charitable assistance.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall consider and make recommendations concerning all of the following matters:

(3)(3)Opportunitiesto Opportunitiesreduceunnecessaryduplication, toaddress reduceunnecessaryduplication,addressgapsingaps assistance,in andassistance,and improve interactions among bill assistance, arrearage management, disconnection prevention, and related energy assistance programs.

(4) Opportunities to improve access to assistance for vulnerable households, includingseniors,personswithdisabilities,householdswithyoungchildren,andhouseholds Pagefacing 2acute ofenergy 5burdens. SLS 26RS-2771 ORIGINAL SR NO.

148 facing acute energy burdens.

(1) One member of the Senate appointed bytheby the chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and International Affairs.

(3)Page One2 member appointed by the secretaryof the Department of Conservation4 andSR Energy.NO.

148 ENROLLED (3) One member appointed by the secretaryof the Department of Conservation and Energy.

(14) One member appointed bythe Louisiana Association of United Ways.Way.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task forceshall conveneits firstmeetingnofirst meetingno later than September 1, 2026, at the call of the chairman of the Louisiana Public Service PageCommission, 3or ofhis 5designee, SLSand, 26RS-2771at ORIGINALits SRfirst NO.meeting, the members shall elect a chairman, vice chairman, and anyother officers the task force deems necessary.

148BEITFURTHERRESOLVEDthattheLouisianaPublic Commission,ServiceCommission or his designee, and, at its first meeting, the members shall electprovide aadministrative chairman,support viceto chairman, and anyother officers the task forceforce. deems necessary.

BEITFURTHER RESOLVEDthattheLouisianaPublicServiceCommission shall provide administrative support to the task force.

BEPage IT3 FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall submit a written report of its4 findingsSR andNO. recommendations no later than March 1, 2027, to the Louisiana Public Service Commission, the House Committee on Commerce, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and International Affairs, the Louisiana Housing Corporation, and the David R.

148 ENROLLED BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall submit a written report of its findings and recommendations no later than March 1, 2027, to the Louisiana Public Service Commission, the House Committee on Commerce, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and International Affairs, the Louisiana Housing Corporation, and the David R.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the secretary of the Louisiana Public Service Commission, the secretary of the Department of ConservationandEnergy, theexecutivedirectoroftheLouisianaHousingCorporation,and eachentitywithappointmentauthorityunderthisResolution,includingEntergyCorporation, Cleco Power LLC, Southwestern Electric Power Company, Atmos Energy Corporation, DeltaNorthLouisianaGasCompany,DeltaNorthLouisianaGasCompany,LLC, LLC,DeltaSouth DeltaLouisiana SouthGas LouisianaGasCompany,LLC,Company,LLC, the AssociationAssociationofLouisianaElectricCooperatives, ofthe Louisiana ElectricCooperatives,theLouisianaEnergyPowerEnergyPowerAuthority,the Authority, the Association of Community Action Partnership, the Louisiana Council on Aging Directors Association, and the Louisiana Association of United Ways.Way.

PagePRESIDENT 4OF ofTHE 5SENATE SLSPage 26RS-27714 ORIGINALof SR4 NO.

148 The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part of the legislative instrument, were prepared bySenate Legislative Services.

The keyword, summary, and digest do not constitute part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent.

[R.S.

1:13(B) and 24:177(E)] DIGEST SR 148 Original 2026 Regular Session Barrow CreatestheUtilityAssistanceCoordinationTaskForcetostudyandmakerecommendations regarding coordination of utility assistance programs in the state.

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