HB5788 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB098 18358 KTG 53495 b

98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2013 and 2014
HB5788

Introduced , by Rep. Silvana Tabares

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

20 ILCS 105/4.15 new

Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. Requires the Department on Aging to establish a rebate program to assist homeowners aged 65 or older in the payment of their monthly water or sewer or combined water and sewer utility bills. Provides that to receive a rebate under the program, an eligible person must submit (i) a copy of his or her monthly water or sewer or combined water and sewer utility bill issued by a recognized utility service provider, (ii) an original or duplicate receipt acknowledging payment of the total monthly bill amount, and (iii) an application for a water or sewer or combined water and sewer utility rebate as prescribed by the Department. Provides that upon receipt of all application materials and following a final determination of eligibility, including verification that the applicant is the customer of record of the utility service provider, the Department shall issue a rebate check to the eligible applicant in an amount equal to 20% of the total bill amount. Grants the Department rulemaking authority. Prohibits the Department from imposing any income restrictions or requirements for purposes of eligibility under the rebate program. Defines utility service provider.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning State government.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Illinois Act on the Aging is amended by adding Section 4.15 as follows:

(20 ILCS 105/4.15 new)

Sec. 4.15. Water and sewer rebate program. The Department shall establish a rebate program to assist homeowners aged 65 or older in the payment of their monthly water or sewer or combined water and sewer utility bills. To receive a rebate under the program, an eligible person must submit (i) a copy of his or her monthly water or sewer or combined water and sewer utility bill issued by a recognized utility service provider, (ii) an original or duplicate receipt acknowledging payment of the total monthly bill amount, and (iii) an application for a water or sewer or combined water and sewer utility rebate as prescribed by the Department. Upon receipt of all application materials and following a final determination of eligibility, including verification that the applicant is the customer of record of the utility service provider, the Department shall issue a rebate check to the eligible applicant in an amount equal to 20% of the total bill amount. The Department may adopt any rules necessary to implement this Section, but shall not impose any income restrictions or requirements for purposes of eligibility under the rebate program established under this Section.

For purposes of this Section, "utility service provider" means the (i) municipally-owned water utility, combined water and sewer utility, or sewer utility or (ii) privately owned public water utility, sewer and water utility, or sewer utility from which a homeowner receives his or her water or sewer service.