Bill > S2140

Introduced Session

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 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.

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Christopher Bateman (R)*,  Bob Smith (D)*, 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Economic Growth Committee (on 03/16/2020)

Official Document