BILL NUMBER: S4671
SPONSOR: JACKSON
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public authorities law, in relation to authorizing
the New York state energy research and development authority to develop
a temporary middle income home energy assistance program; to amend the
tax law, in relation to suspending sales and use taxes on home heating
fuels; making an appropriation therefor and providing for the repeal of
such provisions upon expiration thereof
 
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this bill is to authorize the New York State Energy and
Research Development Authority to develop a temporary middle income home
energy assistance program and suspend sales and use taxes on home heat-
ing fuels.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of this bill would amend the Public Authorities Law by adding
a temporary middle income home energy assistance program in conjunction
with the Department of Taxation and Finance for the purpose of assisting
households paying for home heating fuel.
Section 2 of this bill would modify the Tax Law to suspend state taxes
for home heating fuel until July 1, 2028 when purchases are made for
residential heating purposes.
Section 3 of this bill would establish a $3 million fund to be appropri-
ated to New York State Energy Research and Development Authority for the
purpose of supporting the temporary middle income home energy assistance
program.
Section 4 of this bill provides that the effective date shall take
effect immediately and shall expire and be deemed repealed April 1,
2028.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Due to inflation and the rising cost of heating oil, New York residents
are struggling to make ends meet and afford to heat their homes this
winter. Liberty Utilities located in Upstate New York warned their
customers that they will see an average increase of $150 a year due to
the rising price of heating oil and National Grid predicted that custom-
ers will pay about $263 more than last year which is a 39% increase.
Many New Yorkers simply cannot afford such an increase and will have to
make painful choices between paying for necessities like food or paying
for heat this winter. This is especially concerning for aging New York-
ers who are on a fixed income and residents in upstate New York who are
impacted by harsh winter weather conditions. This bill will help
middle-income New Yorkers who are not eligible for HEAP find financial
help to heat their households. The Middle-Income Home Energy Assistance
Program will also help Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed
(ALICE) families get the help they need to heat their homes this winter.
31% of households in New York State are ALICE households, which is twice
as many households that live below the federal poverty line.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-24: S.3136A - Referred to Finance.
2021-22: S.9574 - Referred to Finance.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be deemed
repealed April 1, 2028.

Statutes affected:
S4671: 1854 public authorities law, 1115 tax law