OLR Bill Analysis
AN ACT CONCERNING THE LOW-INCOME ENERGY ADVISORY BOARD.
This bill removes the voting privileges of the following members of the Low-Income Energy Advisory Board, or of their designees: the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management (OPM), the social services commissioner, and the chairperson of the Public Utilities Control Authority (the authority is the five commissioners of the Department of Public Utility Control—DPUC). It allows the DPUC chairperson to designate someone other than another DPUC commissioner to serve on the advisory board. The bill specifies that these three members are appointed ex officio.
The bill requires the board's members to annually elect a chairperson and a vice-chairperson from among its members; under current law the OPM secretary or his designee is the chairperson and there is no vice-chair person.
The bill eliminates OPM's explicit responsibility to provide notice of meetings to board members, provide space for the meetings, keep minutes, and publish the board's reports. It places the board in OPM for administrative purposes only.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2009
BACKGROUND
LOW-INCOME ENERGY ADVISORY BOARD
By law, the board must:
1. advise and assist OPM and the Department of Social Services in planning, development, implementing and coordinating programs and policies related to energy assistance and low-income weatherization assistance;
2. advise the DPUC on the impact of utility rates and policies; and
3. make recommendations to the legislature on legislation and plans subject to legislative approval to ensure affordable access to residential energy services for low-income residents.
COMMITTEE ACTION
Energy and Technology Committee
Joint Favorable Substitute
Yea |
21 |
Nay |
0 |
(03/10/2009) |