An Act To Improve the Low-income Home Energy Assistance Program (AFTER DEADLINE)
Maine Legislature, Session 130, LD 2006
Committee: Labor and Housing
Sponsors: LaROCHELLE, CUDDY, GERE, PEBWORTH, ROEDER, TALBOT ROSS, TEPLER

Legislative Document
No. 2006
H.P. 1492
House of Representatives, March 2, 2022
An Act To Improve the Low-income Home Energy Assistance 
Program
(AFTER DEADLINE)
(EMERGENCY)
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
205.
Received by the Clerk of the House on February 28, 2022.  Referred to the Committee on 
Labor and Housing pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to Joint Rule 
401.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative LaROCHELLE of Augusta.
Cosponsored by Representatives: CUDDY of Winterport, GERE of Kennebunkport, 
PEBWORTH of Blue Hill, ROEDER of Bangor, TALBOT ROSS of Portland, TEPLER of 
Topsham.
Emergency preamble.  Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, the price of home heating fuel has increased dramatically over the past year; 
and
Whereas, there have been significant delays in providing Low-income Home Energy 
Assistance Program funds and processing and approving applications in a timely manner 
has been a challenge; and
Whereas, it is essential to the health and safety of the elderly, the disabled and the 
most vulnerable in our State that the State provide funds to help speed the application 
process and provide emergency assistance; and
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore,
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  Payments or assistance not considered income or resources for any 
purpose under state law. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary unless 
enacted in express limitation of this section, the amount of any home energy assistance 
payments or allowances provided directly to, or indirectly for the benefit of, a household 
under this Act may not be considered income or resources of that household or any member 
of that household for any purpose under any state law, including any law relating to 
taxation, food stamps, public assistance or welfare programs.
Sec. 2.  Fund created. The Maine State Housing Authority shall create the Low-
income Home Energy Assistance Program Administrative Efficiency Fund.  This fund 
must be used for the purpose of increasing the capacity to accept and process applications 
in a timely manner for the current heating season.  This may include but is not limited to 
the hiring of temporary workers, purchasing technology or contracting with a 3rd party.  
The fund may also be used for providing resources to establish a long-term system to 
efficiently process Low-income Home Energy Assistance Program applications in future 
years.
Sec. 3.  Unused funds. Any balance remaining of the funds provided in section 5 at 
the end of the fiscal year may be carried over to the next fiscal year for the same purpose.
Sec. 4.  Working group.  The Maine State Housing Authority shall convene a working 
group to investigate ways to improve and increase the efficiency of the Low-income Home 
Energy Assistance Program administered through the United States Department of Health 
and Human Services. The working group must include representatives of community action 
programs and the Department of Health and Human Services; one or more individuals who 
have used the program; fuel providers; organizations that advocate for low-income to 
moderate-income households, economic justice or improved government operations; and 
any other individual or organization that the Maine State Housing Authority or the working 
group determines to be beneficial to the purposes of the working group. 
The working group shall investigate how to reduce both the waiting times for 
application appointments and the time required to approve applications.  These 
investigations must include solutions using technology and the possibility of online 
applications and improving staffing levels and the ability to access information such as 
income information already on file with the Department of Health and Human Services. 
The working group also shall examine the practices of other states in the administration of 
their low-income home energy assistance programs. 
The working group shall provide a report no later than September 15, 2022 regarding 
how it plans to improve efficiency and reduce waiting times to the Joint Standing 
Committee on Labor and Housing.
Sec. 5.  Appropriations and allocations.  The following appropriations and 
allocations are made.
MAINE STATE HOUSING AUTHORITY
Low-income Home Energy Assistance Program Administrative Efficiency Fund
Initiative:  Provides funding for the purpose of increasing the capacity to accept and process 
applications in a timely manner.
GENERAL FUND
2021-22
2022-23
All Other
$2,000,000
$0
__________
__________
GENERAL FUND TOTAL
$2,000,000
$0
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation 
takes effect when approved.
SUMMARY
This bill provides funding of $2,000,000 to the Maine State Housing Authority to 
improve application waiting and approval times for the Low-income Home Energy 
Assistance Program administered through the United States Department of Health and 
Human Services.  It requires the Maine State Housing Authority to create the Low-income 
Home Energy Assistance Program Administrative Efficiency Fund.  It also requires the 
Maine State Housing Authority to convene a working group to investigate ways to improve 
and increase the efficiency of the Low-income Home Energy Assistance Program.  The 
working group must report to the Joint Standing Committee on Labor and Housing no later 
than September 15, 2022.