SB 384 — AN ACT CONCERNING THE LOW-INCOME ENERGY ADVISORY BOARD.

Substitute Senate GeneralBill Assembly File No.

350384 FebruaryPublic Session,Act 2024 Substitute Senate Bill No.

38424-37 Senate,AN AprilACT 9,CONCERNING 2024THE TheLOW-INCOME CommitteeENERGY onADVISORY EnergyBOARD. and Technology reported through SEN.

NEEDLEMAN of the 33rd Dist., Chairperson of the Committee on the part of the Senate, that the substitute bill ought to pass.

AN ACT CONCERNING THE LOW-INCOME ENERGY ADVISORY BOARD.

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(9)(10) a designee of the NorwichIndependent PublicConnecticut Utility;Petroleum Association;

(10)(11) atwo designeerepresentatives of thewater Independentcompanies Connecticutas sSB384defined /in Filesection25-32a, No.designated by theConnecticut Water WorksAssociation;

350 1 sSB384 File No.

350 Petroleum Association;

(11) two representatives of water companies as defined in section 25-32a, designated by the Connecticut Water Works Association;

(13) theSubstitute executiveSenate directorBill ofNo. the Center for Children's Advocacy;

384 the executive director of the Center for Children's Advocacy;

(c) The Low-Income Energy and Water Advisory Board may advise and assist the Office of Policy and Management, the Department of Social Services and the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection in the planning, development, implementation and coordination of water-assistance-related programs and policies, including programs and policies to alleviate the impact of utility rates, and shall make recommendations to the General Assembly regarding the availability and implementation of heating and water assistance programs that benefit low-income and moderate-income households, sSB384Public /Act File No.

35024-37 2 sSB384of File4 Substitute Senate Bill No.

350384 including, but not limited to, the Connecticut Low Income Household Water Assistance Program.

(4) how to make energy assistance and energy efficiency programs more accessible and feasible for tenants in rental housing units, including, but not limitedPublic to,Act howtoNo. best secure landlordpermissionfor such services;

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350and (5) coordination efforts to best improve boiler and furnace replacement programs.] Not later than [January 1, 2016] October 15, 2024, and biennially thereafter, the Low-Income Energy and Water Advisory Board shall report such recommendations, in accordance with section 11-4a, to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to energy, appropriations and human services.

ThisApproved actMay shall21, take2024 effectPublic asAct followsNo. and shall amend the following sections:

Section24-37 14 Julyof 1,4 2024 16a-41b Sec.

2 July 1, 2024 16a-41a(g) ET Joint Favorable Subst.

sSB384 / File No.

350 4 sSB384 File No.

350 The following Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are prepared for the benefit of the members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and explanation and do not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose.

In general, fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of informational sources, including the analyst’s professional knowledge.

Whenever applicable, agency data is consulted as part of the analysis, however final products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.

OFA Fiscal Note State Impact:

None Municipal Impact:

None Explanation This bill redesignates the “Low-Income Energy Advisory Board” as the “Low-Income Energy and Water Advisory Board.” It relatedly broadens the scope of the advice and assistance it may provide to state agencies and adds reporting requirements resulting in no fiscal impact to the state.

The Out Years State Impact:

None Municipal Impact:

None sSB384 / File No.

350 5 sSB384 File No.

350 OLR Bill Analysis sSB 384 AN ACT CONCERNING THE LOW-INCOME ENERGY ADVISORY BOARD.

SUMMARY This bill redesignates the “Low-Income Energy Advisory Board” as the “Low-Income Energy and Water Advisory Board.” It relatedly broadens the scope of the advice and assistance it may give state agencies and adds reporting requirements.

More specifically, the bill requires the board to make recommendations to the General Assembly on the availability and implementation of heating and water assistance programs that benefit low-income and moderate-income households, including the Connecticut Low Income Household Water Assistance Program.

It also requires the board to come together and work out recommendations to improve the availability,administration,andimplementationofheating and water assistance programs (particularly those created to benefit low-income households) by coordinating and optimizing existing energy efficiency, water conservation, and energy assistance programs.