Amendments for HB25-1234
House Journal, March 7
20 HB25-1234 be amended as follows, and as so amended, be referred to
21 the Committee of the Whole with favorable
22 recommendation:
23
24 Amend page 3, strike lines 16 through 21.
25
26 Page 3, lines 23 and 24, strike "ensuring the uninterrupted provision of
27 essential services,".
28
29 Page 3, strike line 27.
30
31 Strike pages 4 through 7.
32
33 Page 8, strike lines 1 through 27 and substitute:
34
35 "SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 26-1-109, add (10)
36 as follows:
37 26-1-109. Cooperation with federal government - grants-in-aid
38 - low income home energy assistance program - applications.
39 (10) Low-income home energy assistance program. (a) THE STATE
40 DEPARTMENT SHALL NOT REQUIRE AN APPLICANT TO PROVIDE THEIR
41 CITIZENSHIP OR IMMIGRATION STATUS ON ANY APPLICATION FOR
42 ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS, UNLESS THE INFORMATION IS REQUIRED AS A
43 CONDITION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR THE ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS.
44 (b) THE STATE DEPARTMENT SHALL NOT SHARE INFORMATION
45 RELATED TO THE CITIZENSHIP OR IMMIGRATION STATUS OF AN APPLICANT
46 FOR OR RECIPIENT OF ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS WITH ANY FEDERAL LAW
47 ENFORCEMENT AGENCY, UNLESS DISCLOSURE OF THE INFORMATION IS
48 REQUIRED BY LAW OR COURT ORDER.
49 (c) IF THE STATE DEPARTMENT DENIES AN INDIVIDUAL'S
50 APPLICATION FOR ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS DUE TO INSUFFICIENT OR
51 INCOMPLETE DOCUMENTATION, THE STATE DEPARTMENT SHALL:
52 (I) PROVIDE NOTICE TO THE APPLICANT WITHIN SEVEN CALENDAR
53 DAYS THAT THEIR APPLICATION HAS BEEN DENIED DUE TO INSUFFICIENT OR
54 INCOMPLETE DOCUMENTATION; AND
1 (II) INCLUDE, AS PART OF THE NOTICE PROVIDED PURSUANT TO
2 SUBSECTION (10)(c)(I) OF THIS SECTION, A DEADLINE BY WHICH THE
3 APPLICANT MAY CORRECT OR COMPLETE THEIR APPLICATION, WHICH
4 DEADLINE MUST BE NO LESS THAN SIXTY DAYS AFTER THE DATE THE
5 APPLICANT WAS SENT THE NOTICE, BUT NO LATER THAN JUNE 15 OF THE
6 CALENDAR YEAR IN WHICH THE INDIVIDUAL SUBMITTED THEIR
7 APPLICATION TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT.
8 (d) (I) WHEN THE STATE DEPARTMENT DENIES AN INDIVIDUAL'S
9 APPLICATION FOR ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS DUE TO INSUFFICIENT OR
10 INCOMPLETE DOCUMENTATION, THE STATE DEPARTMENT SHALL NOTIFY
11 THE INVESTOR-OWNED PUBLIC UTILITY OF WHICH THE INDIVIDUAL IS A
12 CUSTOMER THAT THE INDIVIDUAL'S APPLICATION IS PENDING REVIEW.
13 (II) WHEN AN INVESTOR-OWNED PUBLIC UTILITY RECEIVES THE
14 NOTICE FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION
15 (10)(d)(I) OF THIS SECTION, THE INVESTOR-OWNED PUBLIC UTILITY SHALL
16 PLACE A DISCONNECTION HOLD ON THE UTILITY SERVICE PROVIDED TO THE
17 CUSTOMER, WHICH DISCONNECTION HOLD MUST BE IN EFFECT FOR NO LESS
18 THAN SIXTY DAYS OR UNTIL THE INVESTOR-OWNED PUBLIC UTILITY
19 RECEIVES NOTICE THAT THE CUSTOMER'S APPLICATION FOR ASSISTANCE
20 PAYMENTS HAS BEEN APPROVED.
21 (e) AS USED IN THIS SECTION, UNLESS CONTEXT OTHERWISE
22 REQUIRES, "INVESTOR-OWNED PUBLIC UTILITY" MEANS A RETAIL ELECTRIC
23 UTILITY OR RETAIL GAS UTILITY OPERATING IN THE STATE AND REGULATED
24 BY THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION, CREATED IN SECTION 40-2-101,
25 AND DOES NOT INCLUDE A COOPERATIVE ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION OR
26 MUNICIPALLY OWNED UTILITY.".
27
28 Page 9, strike lines 1 through 3.
29
30 Renumber succeeding section accordingly.
31
32
House Journal, March 14
44 Amendment No. 1, Energy & Environment Report, dated March 6, 2025,
45 and placed in member’s bill file; Report also printed in House Journal,
46 March 7, 2025.
47
48 Amendment No. 2, by Representative Joseph:
49
50 Amend printed bill, page 2, lines 5 and 6, strike "water, electricity, and
51 gas," and substitute "water and electricity,".
52
53 As amended, ordered engrossed and placed on the Calendar for Third
54 Reading and Final Passage.
55
Senate Journal, March 27
After consideration on the merits, the Committee recommends that HB25-1234 be
amended as follows, and as so amended, be referred to the Committee of the Whole with
favorable recommendation.
Amend reengrossed bill, page 2, strike lines 4 through 11.
Page 3, strike lines 1 through 20 and substitute:
"(a) Ensuring access to affordable energy assistance is vital for the
well-being of Colorado households with low-income. Many residents,
especially those facing financial hardship, rely on assistance programs like the
Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) to help cover essential utility
costs. It is crucial that these programs are accessible to all eligible individuals
to promote fairness and equity.
(b) Protecting the privacy of individuals applying for or receiving
energy assistance is essential. The disclosure of personal information, including
citizenship or immigration status, to federal law enforcement agencies can deter
vulnerable populations from seeking assistance. Safeguarding personal
information is necessary to ensure that individuals feel secure in applying for
energy assistance without fear of discrimination or unintended consequences.
(c) In order to ensure that applicants are not unduly harmed by delays
or denials of assistance, it is important to provide sufficient time for individuals
to address any application deficiencies. Setting clear deadlines for submitting
required documentation and fixing any application deficiencies will help
applicants navigate the process of applying for assistance without unnecessary
barriers.
(d) Furthermore, utility service disconnections should be paused during
the application process for energy assistance while an individual's application
is pending or in review. This measure is crucial to prevent utility shutoffs for
applicants who may be eligible for assistance but are awaiting a final
determination on their application.
(2) Therefore, the general assembly finds and declares that protecting
the rights and privacy of applicants for low-income energy assistance,
promoting equitable access to that assistance, and ensuring protections against
utility disconnections during the application process are fundamental to the
well-being of all Coloradans.".
Page 5, strike lines 4 through 7 and substitute "CUSTOMER, WHICH
DISCONNECTION HOLD MUST BE IN EFFECT FOR NO MORE THAN SIXTY DAYS OR
FOR LESS THAN SIXTY DAYS IF THE INVESTOR-OWNED PUBLIC UTILITY RECEIVES
NOTICE DURING THE SIXTY-DAY HOLD THAT THE CUSTOMER'S APPLICATION FOR
ASSISTANCE HAS BEEN APPROVED OR DENIED.".
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