46-741. Neighbors helping neighbors fund; definition

A. A neighbors helping neighbors fund is established to provide eligible recipients with assistance in paying utility bills, conserving energy and weatherization. The department shall administer the fund. The department shall coordinate this assistance with its low income energy assistance program and its weatherization assistance program.

B. Eligible recipients are individuals who have a household income at or below one hundred twenty-five per cent of the poverty level or individuals who are sixty years of age or older or persons with disabilities and who have a household income at or below one hundred fifty per cent of the poverty level. For the purposes of this subsection, the poverty level is as determined by the United States office of management and budget and reported in the federal register.

C. Beginning July 1, 1993, the director shall provide the use of neighbors helping neighbors fund monies to designated community action or other agencies currently providing energy assistance services to individuals who are eligible under subsection B of this section to receive assistance under this article.

D. Monies in the neighbors helping neighbors fund do not revert to the state general fund.

E. An amount of not more than two per cent of the neighbors helping neighbors fund monies may be used by the department and an amount of not more than eight per cent of the fund monies may be used by the agencies to reimburse them for their administrative costs in providing services under this article.

F. On or before October 15 of each year, the director shall submit a report to the appropriate legislative committees that includes summaries of total monies collected and distributed under this article and such other information as the legislative committees request.

G. For purposes of this section, " utility" means a person who transmits, sells, delivers or furnishes electricity, water, gas or telecommunication services for public use.