A-1775

Sponsored by: Assemblyman WAYNE P. DEANGELO District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex), Assemblyman RAJ MUKHERJI District 33 (Hudson), Assemblyman ROBERT J. KARABINCHAK District 18 (Middlesex), Senator GORDON M. JOHNSON District 37 (Bergen), Senator JOSEPH P. CRYAN District 20 (Union)

Co-Sponsored by: Assemblyman Danielsen, Assemblywomen Murphy, McKnight, Lopez, Assemblyman Benson, Assemblywoman Jasey, Assemblymen Mejia, Stanley, Assemblywoman Mosquera, Senators Cruz-Perez, Greenstein, Assemblyman Conaway, Assemblywoman Chaparro, Assemblyman Spearman and Assemblywoman Park

STATEMENT

As reported, this bill requires the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to establish a schedule of days and hours of operation, a toll-free telephone number, and a downloadable application on its Internet website to facilitate the receipt of benefits under the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The bill requires the DCA to prepare and annually update a handbook containing the governing policies and eligibility requirements for LIHEAP and to provide training sessions about the program on a quarterly basis.

Under the bill, all employees of agencies designated by the DCA to obtain, review, and process applications for LIHEAP benefits would be required to read and adhere to the handbook and the supervisors of these agencies who oversee LIHEAP work would be required to attend the quarterly training sessions. An agency that fails to substantially comply with these requirements may be disqualified by the DCA from serving as a designated LIHEAP agency.