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SPONSOR: |
Rawson |
DATE TYPED: |
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HB |
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SHORT TITLE: |
Weatherization Assistance Program |
SB |
355 |
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ANALYST: |
Kehoe |
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APPROPRIATION
|
Appropriation
Contained |
Estimated
Additional Impact |
Recurring or
Non-Rec |
Fund Affected |
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FY03 |
FY04 |
FY03 |
FY04 |
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$1,000.0 |
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See Fiscal Impact Narrative |
Recurring |
General
Fund |
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|
|
|
(Parenthesis
( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
REVENUE
|
Estimated Revenue |
Subsequent Years Impact |
Recurring or
Non-Rec |
Fund Affected |
|
|
FY03 |
FY04 |
|
|
|
|
|
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See
Narrative |
Recurring |
Federal |
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|
|
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(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Revenue Decreases)
Duplicates House Bill 705
Department
of Finance and Administration (DFA)
Energy,
Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD)
Legislative
Files
SUMMARY
Synopsis
of Bill
Senate Bill 355
appropriates $1,000,000 from the general fund to the Department of Finance and
Administration for the purpose of funding the Weatherization Assistance Program
to increase the energy efficiency of homes occupied by low-income people,
reduce their total residential energy expenses and to improve their health and
safety.
Significant
Issues
The Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) is a
federal grant program administered by the U. S. Department of Energy (DOE) and
implemented and administered in
expects financial participation from the states
to supplement the program and increase the number of assisted households.
If enacted, Senate Bill 355 will provide $1
million in weatherization assistance funding from the general fund. It is expected DOE will provide an addition
$1.7 million for the program for fiscal years 2003-04, sufficient funding for
approximately 826 units. As of
Households with incomes at or below 125% of
poverty level are eligible for the program.
Priority for funding is given to the elderly, disabled and families with
children. Dwellings weatherized from
1992 to present are ineligible for assistance.
Work to be done in homes is determined through an energy audit approved
by DOE, are based on a cost-benefit analysis and the average cost per unit may
not exceed $2,568. Typically, weatherization
work includes weather-stripping and caulking of the exterior environment,
repair of broken windows, insulation, repair of furnaces or heating units,
installing carbon monoxide detectors, etc.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
The appropriation of $1,000.0 contained in this
bill is recurring. Any unexpended or
unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2004 shall revert to
the general fund.
During fiscal years 2001-02 DOE funding was $1.2
million and state funding was $1 million from the general fund; in fiscal year
2002-03 DOE funding was $1.7 million and state funding was $666.7 from
Severance Tax Bond funds. DOE funding
for 2003-04 is estimated to be $1.7 million.
In past years, funding for the weatherization program has been requested
by the Department of Finance and Administration as special appropriations,
until last year, when the appropriation was requested from Severance Tax Bond
funding.
LMK/prr