An Act To Provide an Energy Emergency Relief Fund To Provide Assistance for Home Heating Fuel Costs for Residents of This State, for Gasoline Costs for Service Providers and for Heating Fuel for Health Care Services Providers

Emergency preamble. Whereas,  acts of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and

Whereas,  this legislation needs to take effect before the expiration of the 90-day period in order to provide assistance in purchasing home heating fuel to residents during the current heating season; and

Whereas,  in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,

Sec. 1. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.

MAINE STATE HOUSING AUTHORITY

Energy Emergency Relief Fund

Initiative: Provides funds to supplement low-income home heating fuel programs, to supplement mileage reimbursement for service providers, including, but not limited to, those in meals on wheels programs and to supplement reimbursement for heating fuel for health care services providers, including, but not limited to, nursing homes, residential care facilities and community-based residential services providers.

GENERAL FUND	2005-06	2006-07
All Other	$5,000,000	$0
GENERAL FUND TOTAL	$5,000,000	$0

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this Act takes effect when approved.

SUMMARY

This bill provides funds to supplement low-income home heating fuel programs, to supplement mileage reimbursement for service providers, including, but not limited to, those in the meals on wheels program and to supplement reimbursement for heating fuel for health care services providers, including, but not limited to, nursing homes, residential care facilities and community-based residential services providers.