Bill

Bill > A2840


NJ A2840

NJ A2840
Directs certain unclaimed water utility deposits in Unclaimed Utility Deposits Trust Fund be paid to Statewide nonprofit utility assistance organizations meeting certain eligibility criteria.


summary

Introduced
02/20/2020
In Committee
02/20/2020
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
01/11/2022

Introduced Session

2020-2021 Regular Session

Bill Summary

This bill requires that unclaimed property from water public utilities in the Unclaimed Utility Deposits Trust Fund (trust fund) be paid to a Statewide nonprofit public utility assistance organization (assistance organization) meeting certain criteria. The bill makes certain clarifying changes to the requirement that unclaimed property from electric and gas public utilities in the trust fund and, as added by the bill, water public utilities, are to be paid to an assistance organization meeting identical criteria. Under the bill, in order to be eligible to receive trust fund monies, an assistance organization designated by the Board of Public Utilities is required to provide electric, gas, and water public utility payment assistance to qualified ratepayers and having: 1) a network of no less than 200 partner organizations that collectively have a physical presence in every county in this State providing secure, online or in-person grant application access; 2) a board of directors comprised of not less than five electric or gas public utility representatives; and 3) an on-site customer service call center providing access to assistance offered in a minimum of 150 languages.

AI Summary

This bill requires that unclaimed property from water public utilities in the Unclaimed Utility Deposits Trust Fund be paid to a Statewide nonprofit public utility assistance organization (assistance organization) meeting certain criteria. The bill makes clarifying changes to the requirement that unclaimed property from electric and gas public utilities in the trust fund be paid to an assistance organization meeting identical criteria. To be eligible, the assistance organization must have a network of at least 200 partner organizations with a physical presence in every county, a board of directors with at least 5 electric or gas public utility representatives, and an on-site customer service call center providing assistance in at least 150 languages. The organization must use the funds to provide temporary financial assistance to qualified ratepayers having difficulty paying their electric, gas, or water utility bills.

Committee Categories

Transportation and Infrastructure

Sponsors (3)

Last Action

Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Hearing (13:45 1/27/2021 Registration Form) (on 01/27/2021)

bill text


bill summary

Loading...

bill summary

Loading...
Loading...