FORTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE

FIRST SPECIAL SESSION

October 10, 2005

Madam President:

    Your CONFERENCE COMMITTEE, to whom has been referred

HOUSE BILL 8, as amended

has had it under consideration and reports same with the following recommendation:

    1. The following house appropriations and finance committee amendments be APPROVED:

         Nos. 1, 2 and 3.

    2. The following senate finance committee amendments be APPROVED:

         Nos. 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6.

    3. The following senate finance committee amendments be DISAPPROVED:

         Nos. 4, 7, 8, 9 and 10.

and that the bill be amended further as follows:

    4. On page 2, between lines 6 and 7, insert the following new section:

    "Section 2. DISCONNECTION OF UTILITY SERVICE--PROHIBITION--LIMITED TIME.--A utility company shall not discontinue or disconnect service to a residential customer for any billing cycle from November 15 through March 15 for nonpayment if the customer meets the qualifications for the low income home energy assistance program. The utility company shall report the customer's need for assistance to the human services department and the department shall take immediate action to mitigate the problem.".

    5. On page 2, lines 14 and 15, strike the money amount and insert in lieu thereof "two million five hundred thousand dollars ($2,500,000)".

    6. On page 2, strike lines 20 through 22 and insert in lieu thereof the following new paragraphs:

             "(4) two million five hundred thousand dollars ($2,500,000) to the public education department for increased heating costs for public schools;

             (5) two million five hundred thousand dollars ($2,500,000) to the public education department for increased school transportation costs for public schools;

             (6) three million five hundred thousand dollars ($3,500,000) to the higher education department for increased heating costs of public post-secondary educational institutions, to be distributed to each institution on a pro rata basis of the difference between fiscal year 2005 actual expenditures for that item and the fiscal year 2006 projections of expenditures as of October 5, 2005; and

             (7) two million dollars ($2,000,000) to the state fire marshal to be divided among the volunteer and predominantly volunteer fire departments to be used for increased fuel and heating costs; provided that the distribution shall be based on ten percent of each department's current-year distribution from the fire protection fund.".

    7. On page 3, before line 1, insert the following new section: 

    "Section 4. SEVERABILITY.--If any part or application of this act is held invalid, the remainder or its application to other situations or persons shall not be affected.".

    8. Renumber the succeeding section accordingly.

                               Respectfully submitted,

                               _____________________________

                               Joseph A. Fidel

                               _____________________________

                               John Arthur Smith

                               _____________________________

                               Carroll H. Leavell

Adopted____________________ Not Adopted_____________________

          (Chief Clerk) (Chief Clerk)

                  Date ______________