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An Act To Enable Seniors To Remain in Their Homes
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  5 MRSA §13073-C  is enacted to read:
§ 13073-C. Home Weatherization and Repair for Seniors Program
 
1.  Program established; administration.     The Home Weatherization and Repair for Seniors Program, referred to in this section as "the program," is established within the department to assist low-income residents of the State 65 years of age or older by facilitating housing improvements that allow them to remain in their homes safely, independently and comfortably as they age. The housing improvements include but are not limited to weatherization and improvements to meet the standards of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, to replace substandard fixtures and hardware and to reduce ongoing maintenance and heating costs. All funds received for this program must be deposited into the Home Weatherization and Repair for Seniors Fund established by subsection 3.
 
2.  Eligibility.     Only residents of the State 65 years of age or older eligible for the Low-income Home Energy Assistance Program administered through the United States Department of Health and Human Services are eligible for assistance under the program.
 
3.  Home Weatherization and Repair for Seniors Fund created.     The Home Weatherization and Repair for Seniors Fund, referred to in this section as "the fund," is established to provide funding for the program. The fund is a dedicated, nonlapsing fund, and all revenues deposited in the fund remain in the fund and must be disbursed in accordance with subsection 4.
 
4.  Distribution of the fund.     The department shall disburse money from the fund to a statewide network that provides weatherization and home repair services, including but not limited to repairs to meet the standards of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, to replace substandard fixtures and hardware and to reduce ongoing maintenance and heating costs, to low-income residents of the State.
 
5.  Reporting.     A member of the network who receives money from the fund in accordance with subsection 4 shall report annually to the department on the use of the money, including the number of houses improved, the number of residents in those houses and the amounts of other funds leveraged.
Sec. 2. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.
 
ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, DEPARTMENT OF
 
Home Weatherization and Repair for Seniors Program
 
Initiative: Provides funds for the statewide Home Weatherization and Repair for Seniors Program.

GENERAL FUND	2015-16	2016-17	
All Other	$750,000	$750,000	
			
GENERAL FUND TOTAL	$750,000	$750,000	

SUMMARY
This bill establishes the Home Weatherization and Repair for Seniors Program in the Department of Economic and Community Development to assist low-income seniors in remaining in their homes. It also establishes the Home Weatherization and Repair for Seniors Fund and appropriates money to the fund. The department is required to disburse money from the fund to a statewide network that provides weatherization and home repair services, including but not limited to repairs to meet the standards of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, to replace substandard fixtures and hardware and to reduce ongoing maintenance and heating costs, to low-income residents of the State.