The bill establishes an "Intervenor Compensation Program" within the Public Utilities Commission and the Energy Facility Siting Board to provide financial assistance to intervenors who experience significant financial hardship while participating in commission or board proceedings. The program will offer grants of up to $50,000 to cover legal fees, expert witness fees, and other reasonable costs associated with these proceedings. Funding for this program will come from an "intervenor compensation special fund," which is required to maintain a minimum balance of $300,000, supported by annual appropriations from the General Assembly.

The bill outlines specific terms and definitions related to the program, including what constitutes "compensation," "expert witness fees," and "other reasonable costs." It establishes eligibility criteria for applicants, requiring them to demonstrate significant financial hardship and provide necessary documentation in their intervention requests.

Grantees must submit a detailed report on the use of grant funds within thirty days of receiving a written order, and the funds must be used exclusively for proceedings before the commission, prohibiting their use for appeals of final commission decisions. The legislation includes enforcement measures for any breaches of these conditions, such as the potential repayment of awarded funds and restrictions on future funding eligibility until compliance is achieved. Additionally, any remaining excess funds after the proceedings must be returned to the intervenor special compensation fund.

Statutes affected:
2727: 42-98-17