OLR Bill Analysis

sHB 5724

AN ACT CONCERNING ENERGY SCARCITY AND SECURITY.

SUMMARY:

This bill requires the Office of Policy and Management (OPM) to conduct a petroleum sensitivity study of state agencies. The study must include a statewide assessment and inventory of state departments and agencies and their activities and corollary resource requirements concerning petroleum use. OPM must report the study findings to the Energy and Technology Committee by November 1, 2008.

The bill also requires OPM to establish a pilot program to provide grants to at least five municipalities to develop and plan responses to energy scarcity and cost increases. The plans may include, but not be limited to, the heating and cooling of public buildings, transportation, vital services and food supplies. No grant can exceed $ 50,000.

The bill establishes a task force to study energy scarcity and sustainability. The task force must conduct scenario planning for long-term petroleum and natural gas scarcity, steep price increases, and supply disruptions. The study must examine price and scarcity impacts of natural gas and petroleum on the economy, food supply, transportation, education, health and emergency response. It can address other issues.

The Senate president pro tempore and the House speaker must each appoint two members to the task force and the majority and minority leaders of the House and Senate must appoint one member each. All of the members can be legislators. All appointments must be within 30 days of the bill's passage. Any vacancy must be filled by the appointing authority. The speaker and the president pro tempore must select the chairpersons of the task force from among its members. The chairpersons must schedule the first meeting of the task force within 60 days of the bill's passage. OPM's administrative staff must serve as the task force's administrative staff.

EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage for the OPM study and task force provisions, July 1, 2008 for the municipal grant program

BACKGROUND

Legislative History

The House referred the bill (File 209) to the Appropriations Committee, which reported a substitute that eliminated a $ 200,000 appropriation to OPM in FY 09 for the grant program.

COMMITTEE ACTION

Energy and Technology Committee

Joint Favorable

Appropriations Committee

Joint Favorable Substitute