AN ACT CONCERNING THE FUEL OIL CONSERVATION BOARD.

This bill makes several changes regarding the Fuel Oil Conservation Board (FOCB), which helps develop and implement plans for fuel oil conservation programs. The programs are funded by the growth in revenues from the petroleum products tax, which is transferred into a separate General Fund account.

1. removes the board from the comptroller's office, where it is currently located for administrative purposes only;

2. requires the board to enter into a written grant contract with the comptroller regarding the conditions under which funds from the account are expended;

3. requires that a third party selected by the attorney general review, rather than audit, the board's activities every two years;

4. requires that the first review be completed by July 1, 2009 (under current law the next audit must be completed by July 1, 2010);

5. requires the third party to report on whether the funds activities conform with state laws and generally accepted practices governing nonprofit corporation operations (the law requires the board to be organized as a nonprofit); and

6. requires that the account be used to pay the third party.

The bill requires that the single state audit of the board be submitted in a report to the Environment and Energy and Technology committees, in addition to the review. It also makes minor and technical changes.

PA 09-1 transfers $ 5 million of the Fuel Oil Conservation account's existing balance to the General Fund and bars an FY 09 transfer of petroleum products tax revenue to fund the account. SB 828, An Act Concerning State Revenue, would preclude such transfers in FY 10 and FY 11.

Yea

Nay

(02/26/2009)