Whereas, this legislation provides financial assistance to help with home heating costs; and

Whereas, it is in the winter months that this assistance is crucial; 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,

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 30-A MRSA §4995 is enacted to read:

§4995.__Maine Heating Fuel Assistance Program

The Maine Heating Fuel Assistance Program is established to provide reimbursement to taxpayers for heating fuel costs.__ The authority shall administer the program as provided in this subchapter.__Reimbursement must be at 45__on each dollar spent for home heating fuel for the months of December to March.

1.__Definitions.__As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.

A.__"Claimant" means a person who has filed a claim under this section, who was domiciled in the State, whose household income is within 150% of the federal poverty guidelines and who paid heating fuel costs to heat that domicile during the year for which relief is requested.__ If 2 or more persons from the same household meet the qualifications under this paragraph, each person may apply on the basis of the amount of heating fuel costs paid by that person.

2.__Readability; application; instructions.__The application form and instructions used by claimants under this section must have a readability score, as determined by a recognized instrument for measuring adult literacy levels, equivalent to no higher than a grade 6 reading level.