Bill Text: MI SB0240 | 2019-2020 | 100th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Human services: services or financial assistance; water rate affordability program and fund; create. Amends 1939 PA 280 (MCL 400.1 - 400.119b) by adding secs. 14m, 14n, 14o, 14p & 14q. TIE BAR WITH: SB 0241'19, HB 4432'19
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 9-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-03-21 - Referred To Committee On Environmental Quality [SB0240 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2019-SB0240-Introduced.html
SENATE BILL No. 240
March 21, 2019, Introduced by Senators ALEXANDER, CHANG, GEISS, WOJNO, IRWIN, HERTEL, ANANICH and MOSS and referred to the Committee on Environmental Quality.
A bill to amend 1939 PA 280, entitled
"The social welfare act,"
(MCL 400.1 to 400.119b) by adding sections 14m, 14n, 14o, 14p, and
14q.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 14m. As used in this section and sections 14n to 14q:
(a) "Eligible customer" means a provider's customer whose
household income does not exceed 200% of the federal poverty
guidelines or who meets any of the following requirements:
(i) Has received assistance from a state emergency relief
program within the past year.
(ii) Receives food assistance under the federal Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program administered by the state.
(iii) Receives medical assistance administered under this act.
(iv) Receives any other form of federal or state public
assistance.
(b) "Low-income water residential affordability program" means
the low-income water residential affordability program created in
section 14n.
(c) "Nonaffordability application" means a form that the
department must develop to trigger an income eligibility review for
the low-income water residential affordability program. The
nonaffordability application must include the option of
authorization for release of the customer's information to the
provider.
(d) "Provider" means any water and sewerage system that
provides water or sewerage service in this state.
(e) "Task force" means the task force created in section 14p.
Sec. 14n. (1) The low-income water residential affordability
program is created within the department to address reduction or
retiring of water and sewerage bill arrearages and to ensure that
an eligible customer's monthly water and sewerage bill is based on
the eligible customer's household income. The department shall
develop and administer the low-income water residential
affordability program created under this act.
(2) Not later than 30 days after the department receives a
signed nonaffordability application, the department shall complete
an income eligibility review to determine if the individual meets
the eligibility requirement for the low-income water residential
affordability program. The department shall determine eligibility
for the low-income water residential affordability program using
the same process by which it determines eligibility for cash
assistance under this act. The department shall immediately notify
the provider it has begun the eligibility review and that the
provider shall not pursue shutoff during the review. The department
shall send notification to the applicant and the provider about the
results of the eligibility review promptly once that review is
completed.
(3) In addition to any other verification of income accepted
by the department, the department may accept a federal income tax
return as documentation of income. When applicable, the department
must use publicly available information regarding standard benefit
amounts for supplemental security income and temporary assistance
for needy families. An applicant has no obligation to provide
confirmation of the amount of benefits he or she receives from
supplemental security income and temporary assistance to needy
families.
(4) If, upon the department's determination of the
individual's household income, the department finds that the
individual is an eligible customer, the department shall provide
that information, as well as the eligible customer's household
income, to that eligible customer's provider. Upon receipt of the
information from the department under this subsection, the eligible
customer's provider shall charge the eligible customer a rate that
is affordable based on the eligible customer's household income as
determined by the department. Alternatively, the department may
provide a subsidy to the eligible customer based on the
department's determination of the eligible customer's household
income.
(5) The department shall inform the individual of the
determination of whether or not he or she is an eligible customer.
If the individual is an eligible customer, the department shall
provide him or her with information regarding the low-income water
residential affordability program and the rate to be charged by the
provider.
Sec. 14o. (1) Each provider shall give notice to its customers
regarding the availability of the low-income water residential
affordability program and the process to apply for that program.
The notice required under this subsection must be given to each
customer in writing at least 1 time per year and by posting on the
provider's website.
(2) The department must inform all persons receiving services
from the department regarding the availability of the low-income
water residential affordability program and the process to apply
for that program.
Sec. 14p. (1) Not later than 30 days after the effective date
of the amendatory act that added this section, the department shall
create a low-income water residential affordability program task
force.
(2) The department director shall appoint members of the task
force that include, but are not limited to, representatives of
providers and water and sewerage customer advocacy groups.
(3) The task force shall do all of the following:
(a) Discuss, and advise the department on, best practices for
administering the low-income water residential affordability
program.
(b) By no later than March 1, 2020, create a plan for the low-
income water residential affordability program that is based on
household income, that addresses water and sewerage bill
arrearages, and that includes, but is not limited to, funding and
coordination of voluntary check-off contributions with providers.
This plan shall be implemented by the department no later than
October 1, 2020.
Sec. 14q. (1) The low-income water residential affordability
program fund is created within the state treasury.
(2) The state treasurer may receive money or other assets from
any source for deposit into the fund, including, but not limited
to, money received from a voluntary checkoff on water and sewerage
bills as provided in the water shutoff protection act. The state
treasurer shall direct the investment of the fund. The state
treasurer shall credit to the fund interest and earnings from fund
investments.
(3) Money in the fund at the close of the fiscal year shall
remain in the fund and shall not lapse to the general fund.
(4) The department shall be the administrator of the fund for
auditing purposes.
(5) The department shall expend money from the fund, upon
appropriation, only for 1 or more of the following purposes:
(a) Administration of the low-income water residential
affordability program.
(b) Providing of a subsidy to eligible customers as determined
necessary by the department.
Enacting section 1. This amendatory act takes effect 90 days
after the date it is enacted into law.
Enacting section 2. This amendatory act does not take effect
unless Senate Bill No. 241
of the 100th Legislature is enacted into law.
