The bill amends the Social Welfare Act to establish a Low-Income Water Residential Affordability Fund within the state treasury. This fund will receive money from various sources, and the state treasurer will manage its investments and interest earnings. The bill outlines specific allocations for the fund, including administrative costs, payments to the Department of Treasury, and disbursements to providers for income-based bill discounts, arrearage payments, and water loss mitigation programs. It also stipulates that payments from the fund are exempt from legal processes to collect debts and mandates that the department disburse funds to providers at least quarterly.

Additionally, the bill introduces a funding factor, initially set at $1.25 per month per retail water meter, which will increase annually and be adjusted based on the Consumer Price Index. Providers are required to include this funding factor on all water bills and remit collected funds to the state treasury. The bill also establishes reporting requirements for providers and mandates an annual report from a task force to the legislature. It allows for donations to the fund and designates contributors over $5,000 as "water affordability champions." The bill will only take effect if certain other bills from the legislature are enacted.

Statutes affected:
Substitute (S-2): 400.1, 400.119
Senate Introduced Bill: 400.1, 400.119