S 317

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1S.317
2 Introduced by Senators Heffernan and Williams
3 Referred to Committee on
4 Date:
5 Subject: Public service; health; weatherization; funding
6 Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to continue the
7 tax on the purchase of fossil fuels to fund the Home Weatherization Assistance
8 Program. It would expand the eligibility criteria to apply for Home
9 Weatherization Assistance Program grants. It also proposes to accelerate and
10 increase administrative and financial support of weatherization trade workforce
11 recruitment and training programs funded through the Home Weatherization
12 Assistance Program.
13    An act relating to weatherization funding and weatherization workforce
14    recruitment
15 It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
16 Sec. 1. FINDINGS
17    The General Assembly finds that:
18(1) In addition to the weatherization efforts provided under the current
19 Home Weatherization Assistance Program established in 33 V.S.A. chapter 25,
20 an increased pace of weatherization would benefit the health of Vermont
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1 citizens, the environment, and the economy. Accelerated weatherization
2 efforts will:
3(A) provide fuel cost savings and savings for the Low Income Home
4 Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the Home Heating Fuel Assistance
5 Program; and
6(B) increase job opportunities in the field of weatherization and
7 alternative heating systems by recruiting and training new applicants to the
8 industry.
9(2) Weatherization is a means for homeowners to protect the
10 environment and diminish the outflow of money to the fossil fuel industry.
11(3) Workforce availability remains a limiting factor in Vermont’s effort
12 to comply with required reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from the
13 building sector. Increasing wages while aggressively recruiting and training
14 new applicants can eventually help to overcome the workforce shortage.
15 Sec. 2. 33 V.S.A. § 2502 is amended to read:
16 § 2502. HOME WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
17***
18    (b) In addition, the Director shall supplement or supplant any federal
19 program with the State Home Weatherization Assistance Program.
20***
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1(3) The Director, in collaboration with the weatherization service
2 providers and other stakeholders, shall develop the State program so that it will
3 include:
4***
5(C) Establishing Program eligibility levels at 80 125 percent of the
6 area median income or 80 125 percent of the State median income, whichever
7 is higher. Subject to the priority under section 2608 of this title given to
8 participants in the Home Heating Fuel Assistance Program, the State program
9 shall, when weighing factors to assign priority to buildings or units eligible for
10 weatherization assistance, assign the greatest weight to those buildings and
11 units that require the highest energy usage.
12***
13(H) Collaborating with and, if necessary, contributing funds and
14 administrative support to local workforce and education partnerships, including
15 the Department of Economic Development Vermont Training Program, the
16 Department of Labor, the Vermont Energy Investment Corporation,
17 ReSOURCE’s Weatherization 101 training program, organizations
18 representing the interests of Vermont’s homeless population, recently
19 completed substance abuse rehabilitation clients, and high school career and
20 technical education programs.
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1(I) Administering salary increases to the installation crew and
2 technical staff of the Home Weatherization Assistance Program as follows: 15
3 percent beginning in fiscal year 2026, 15 percent beginning in fiscal year 2027,
4 and 15 percent beginning in fiscal year 2028.
5(J) Establishing a partnership with the energy efficiency utilities to
6 provide free weatherization services to eligible households with income less
7 than 125 percent of the county or State median income, whichever is greater.
8 The participating energy efficiency utilities shall comply with the salary
9 increases in subdivision (I) of this subdivision (b)(3). The Director shall
10 reimburse the utilities from funds in the Home Weatherization Assistance
11 Fund, provided that reimbursement is made within a limit of 10 percent of the
12 Fund.
13***
14 Sec. 3. 33 V.S.A. § 2503 is amended to read:
15 § 2503. FUEL TAX
16    (a)(1) There is imposed a tax on the retail sale of heating oil, propane,
17 kerosene, and other dyed diesel fuel delivered in Vermont, at the rate of $0.02
18 per gallon, until June 30, 2027.
19(2) There is imposed a gross receipts tax of 0.75 percent on the retail
20 sale of natural gas and coal.
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1(3) There is imposed a gross receipts tax of 0.5 percent on the retail sale
2 of electricity.
3***
4    (d) No tax under this section shall be imposed for any month ending after
5 June 30, 2029.
6 Sec. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE
7    This act shall take effect on passage.
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