SB 846
Department of Legislative Services
Maryland General Assembly
2021 Session
FISCAL AND POLICY NOTE
Enrolled - Revised
Senate Bill 846 (Senator Benson)
Finance Economic Matters
Home Energy Assistance - Critical Medical Needs Program - Power to the People
Pilot Program
This bill requires the Office of Home Energy Programs (OHEP), in coordination with the
United Way of Central Maryland and the Fuel Fund of Maryland, to establish the Power to
the People Pilot Program by July 1, 2022. The pilot program will expand access to the
Critical Medical Needs (CMN) Program and provide training for 2-1-1 Maryland United
Way Helpline intake specialists and case managers to serve as navigators. The Governor
must include in the fiscal 2023 and 2024 annual budget bill $80,000 to OHEP for the pilot
program. Funds must be used to hire specified staff. The bill takes effect July 1, 2021,
and terminates June 30, 2025.
Fiscal Summary
State Effect: General fund expenditures increase by $80,000 in FY 2023 and 2024 only
to reflect the mandated appropriation to the pilot program. Revenues are not affected. This
bill establishes a mandated appropriation in FY 2023 and 2024.
(in dollars) FY 2022 FY 2023 FY 2024 FY 2025 FY 2026
Revenues $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
GF Expenditure 0 80,000 80,000 0 0
Net Effect $0 ($80,000) ($80,000) $0 $0
Note:() = decrease; GF = general funds; FF = federal funds; SF = special funds; - = indeterminate increase; (-) = indeterminate decrease
Local Effect: None.
Small Business Effect: None.
 Analysis
Bill Summary: The United Way of Central Maryland must establish a screening intake
process to identify callers to the 2-1-1 Maryland United Way helpline who may be critical
medically vulnerable individuals. Intake specialists must (1) conduct basic screening to
determine whether the caller is a critical medically vulnerable individual; (2) assist critical
medically vulnerable individuals and their households with applications for energy
assistance; and (3) refer individuals who are unable to pay their utility bills to the Fuel Fund
of Maryland for additional cash assistance and community resources.
The Fuel Fund of Maryland must coordinate with OHEP and the United Way of Central
Maryland to assist critical medically vulnerable individuals with paying any remaining
balance owed on their electric, gas, or other energy source bills. The Fuel Fund of Maryland
must also provide additional cash assistance and community resources to critical medically
vulnerable individuals.
Current Law: The purpose of the CMN program is to reduce barriers to the energy
assistance application process for “critical medically vulnerable individuals” and their
households in obtaining State and federal financial assistance for their electric, gas, or other
energy source bills so that their service continues or is restored.
A “critical medically vulnerable individual” is an individual who:
 has a severe health condition that will be aggravated due to the termination or
noncontinuation of electric or gas service or needs the use of life-support equipment
as documented and certified in accordance with specified methods;
 has or will have their electric or gas service terminated for nonpayment; and
 is unable to complete the energy assistance applications under available energy
assistance programs.
The CMN program must facilitate assistance to critical medically vulnerable individuals
and their households in obtaining financial assistance through navigators. Navigators are
representatives from a medical facility or from a public or private assistance agency or
organization who are in personal contact with a critical medically vulnerable individual
and assist the individual in the energy assistance application process. OHEP must
determine qualifications and establish training requirements for navigators; it must train
navigators or facilitate the training of navigators by others.
Per Maryland regulations, OHEP must work with electric and gas companies to implement,
for critical medically vulnerable individuals (1) a medical hold on electric or gas service or
an expedited process to grant the extension of electric or gas service for those who will
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have services terminated and (2) an expedited process for the restoration of electric or gas
service for those who have had their electric or gas service terminated. OHEP must
establish a tracking system of the status of individuals who participate in the program and
adopt implementing regulations.
Maryland 2-1-1
The three-digit number 2-1-1 is established in statute as the primary information and
referral telephone number for health and human services in the State. 2-1-1 Maryland is a
private, nonprofit organization that maintains an information and referral service network
that is available to Maryland residents via telephone and Internet. 2-1-1 Maryland offers
24/7 guidance in accessing health, crisis, and social services.
State Expenditures: General fund expenditures increase by $80,000 in fiscal 2023 and
2024 to reflect the mandated appropriation to OHEP for the pilot program. Funds must be
used to hire specified staff: one full-time intake specialist and one full-time case manager
for the 2-1-1 Maryland United Way Helpline, as well as one part-time project coordinator
at the Fuel Fund of Maryland, as specified by the bill.
Additional Information
Prior Introductions: HB 938 of 2020 passed the House and Senate but was not enrolled.
Its cross file, SB 1024, passed the Senate on second reading with amendments, but no
further action was taken.
Designated Cross File: HB 969 (Delegate Carey) - Economic Matters.
Information Source(s): Department of Budget and Management; Department of Human
Services; Office of People’s Counsel; Department of Legislative Services
Fiscal Note History: First Reader - February 12, 2021
rh/jc Third Reader - March 22, 2021
Enrolled - April 6, 2021
Revised - Amendment(s) - April 6, 2021
Analysis by: Amberly Holcomb Direct Inquiries to:
(410) 946-5510
(301) 970-5510
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