Bill

Bill > A1960


NJ A1960

NJ A1960
Directs certain unclaimed electric, gas, and water public utility deposits in Unclaimed Utility Deposits Trust Fund and societal charge revenues to be paid to Statewide nonprofit public utility assistance organizations meeting certain eligibility criteria.


summary

Introduced
01/11/2022
In Committee
06/20/2022
Crossed Over
06/16/2022
Passed
Dead
01/08/2024

Introduced Session

2022-2023 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 also makes changes to the existing 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 to receive trust fund monies, an assistance organization designated by the Board of Public Utilities must provide electric, gas, and water public utility payment assistance to qualified ratepayers and have a network of at least 200 partner organizations, a board of directors with at least five public utility representatives, and an on-site customer service call center providing access to assistance in at least 150 languages. The bill also directs the Board of Public Utilities to allocate $25 million from the societal benefits charge to fund the issuance of grants to help pay the electric, gas, and water bills of households seeking temporary assistance from a qualified assistance organization.

Committee Categories

Business and Industry, Transportation and Infrastructure

Sponsors (6)

Last Action

Received in the Senate, Referred to Senate Economic Growth Committee (on 06/20/2022)

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