AB 111 — Authorizes the Division of Welfare and Supportive Services of the Department of Health and Human Services to use money in the Fund for Energy Assistance and Conservation to assist certain low-income households in paying for Internet service. (BDR 58-641)

EXEMPT (Reprinted with amendments adopted on April 17, 2017) FIRST REPRINT A.B.

111 A SSEMBLY BILLB NOILLN .O.

111–ASSEMBLYMAN111–ASSEMBLYMEN THOMPSON PREFILED; FEBRUARY 7, 2017 ____________ Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services SUMMARY—Authorizes the Division of Welfare and Supportive Services of the Department of Health and Human Services to use money in the Fund for Energy Assistance and Conservation to assist certain low- income households in paying for Internet service.

ARAUJO , C ARRILLO , DALY, FUMO , MILLER AND NEAL PREFILED FEBRUARY 7, 2017 ____________ JINT S PONSORS :

SENATORS CANCELA AND SEGERBLOM ____________ Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services SUMMARY—Authorizes the Division of Welfare and Supportive Services of the Department of Health and Human Services to use money in the Fund for Energy Assistance and Conservation to assist certain low- income households in paying for Internet service.

universalExisting energylaw chargerequires ofcertain 3.30customers millsof onan eachelectric thermor ofgas naturalutility gasto purchasedpay foraa consumption in this State and 0.39 mills on each kilowatt-hour of electricityelectricityfor purchased for consumption in this State.

(NRS 702.160) Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada collects the universal energy charge and, after deducting its administrative charge, deposits the remaining money collected for the universal energy charge in the Fund for Energy Assistance and ofConservation. the money in the Fund to be distributed to the Division of Welfare andrcent Supportive Services of the Department of Health and Human Services for programs to assist certain low-income households in paying for natural gas and electricity.

(NRS 702.260)702.160, The702.170, remaining702.250) 25Existing percentlaw ofrequires the75 moneypercent inSupportive theServices Fund must be distributed to the Housing Division of the Department of BusinessHealth and IndustryHuman for programs of energy conservation, weatherization and energy efficiency for certain Division of Welfare and Supportive Services to use money from the Fund the distributed to the Division to pay for programs to assist certain low-income households in paying for Internetnatural service.gas and electricity.

-(NRS *AB111*702.260) –The 2remaining –25 Existingpercent lawof providesthe thatmoney certainin personsthe whoFund aremust exemptbe fromdistributed payingto the universalHousing energyDivision chargeof arethe notDepartment eligibleof toBusiness receiveand assistanceIndustry fromfor the- Division*AB111_R1* of– for2 – programs of energy conservation, weatherization orand energy efficiency.efficiency for certain low-income households.

(NRS 702.270) Section 12 of this bill specifiesauthorizes that a person who is exempt from paying the universalDivision energyof chargeWelfare isand notSupportive eligibleServices to receiveuse assistancemoney from the DivisionFund ofhouseholds Welfare and Supportive Services in paying for Internet service.

THESection PEOPLE2 OFalso THEprovides STATEthat OFthe NEVADA,amount REPRESENTEDof INassistance SENATEreceived ANDby ASSEMBLY,a DOhousehold ENACTto ASpay FOLLOWS:for Internet service must:

(1) equal the lowest cost available for Internet service in the area that the Internet service is being provided;

and (2) exclude any costs for cable or satellite television service, including, without limitation, joint packages that provide Internet service with cable or Existing law provides that certain persons who are exempt from paying the universal energy charge are not eligible to receive assistance from the Division of Welfare and Supportive Services for utility service or from the Housing Division for energy conservation, weatherization or energy efficiency.

Section 1 of this bill specifies that a person who is exempt from paying the universal energy charge is Services in paying for Internet service.the Division of Welfare and Supportive THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

The Division - *AB111_R1* – 3 – may use not more than 5 percent of the money distributed to it pursuant to this section for its administrative expenses.

- *AB111* – 3 – (c) Pay for program design.

(a) Shall, to the extent practicable, determine the amount of assistance that the household will receive for natural gas and electricity by determining the amount of assistance that is sufficient to reduce the percentage of the household’s income that is spent on natural gas ,and [and] electricity and Internet service to the median percentage of household income spent on natural gas , [and] electricity and Internetelectricity service statewide.

(b) May adjust the amount of assistance that the household will receive for natural gas and electricity based upon such factors as:

(3) The type of energy or Internet service that the household uses;

and (4) Any other factor which, in the determination of the Division, may make the household particularly vulnerable to increases in the cost of natural gas , [or] electricity [.] or Internetelectricity. service.

- *AB111_R1* – 4 – 7.

TheIf Divisiona shallhousehold adoptis regulationseligible to carryreceive outassistance andin enforcepaying thefor provisionsInternet ofservice pursuant to this sectionsection, andthe NRSDivision 702.250.shall determine the amount of such assistance to:

(a) Be equal to the lowest cost available for Internet service in the area that such Internet service is being provided.

(b) Exclude any costs for cable or satellite television service or for joint packages that provide Internet service with cable or satellite television service.

The Division shall adopt regulations to carry out and enforce the provisions of this section and NRS 702.250.

[8.] 9.

- *AB111* – 4 – (b) Identify and implement appropriate delivery systems to distribute money from the Fund and to provide other assistance pursuant to this section;

(f)(e) EngageDevelop ina annualprocess planningfor andmaking evaluationchanges processesto withsuch theprograms; Housing Division as required by NRS 702.280.

9.and (f) Engage in annual planning and evaluation processes with the Housing Division as required by NRS 702.280.

For the purposes of this section, “eligible household” includes, without limitation:

of this section, “eligible household” (a) A tenant of a manufactured home park or mobile home park subject to the provisions of NRS 704.905 to 704.960, inclusive;

H - *AB111**AB111_R1*