HB 2115: Public assistance programs; transferring certain programs to the Department of Human Services; effective date. - Oklahoma

Floor (House) → Floor (Senate) · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill was amended during its passage from the House to the Senate floor. The primary changes involve shifting administrative responsibility for the Energy Conservation Assistance Fund from the Oklahoma Department of Commerce to the Department of Human Services, adjusting grant eligibility criteria, and modifying loan terms for the Energy Conservation Assistance Loan Fund. These changes affect how funds are distributed, who qualifies for assistance, and how loans are repaid.

Scope change

The bill's scope shifted from Commerce Department administration to Human Services Department administration for grant programs, while maintaining Commerce Department oversight for loan programs.

ADMINISTRATIVE_RESPONSIBILITY

Responsibility for the Energy Conservation Assistance Fund moved from the Oklahoma Department of Commerce to the Department of Human Services for disbursement and implementation.

Responsibility for the Energy Conservation Assistance Loan Fund remained with the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, but repayment terms were modified to allow deferral until property sale or transfer.

The Oklahoma Department of Commerce retained oversight for the Weatherization Revolving Fund, with modifications to references and effective date provisions.

ELIGIBILITY

Grant eligibility requirements were modified to require energy audits and set a $3,000 maximum grant amount with income limits based on 125% of federal poverty guidelines.

ENFORCEMENT

Added provisions requiring contractors to be nonprofit community action agencies or experienced nonprofit entities, with monitoring and audit requirements for compliance.

House Committee Substitute → HB2115 (5-05-25) (THOMPSON) FS FA1.PDF · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill transfers responsibility for administering energy conservation and weatherization programs from the Oklahoma Department of Commerce to the Department of Human Services. It also codifies a new section in the Oklahoma Statutes and reorganizes how certain programs are managed and funded.

Scope change

The scope of the bill shifted from Commerce Department administration to Human Services Department administration for weatherization and energy conservation programs.

SCOPE

Administrative responsibility for energy conservation assistance programs moved from the Oklahoma Department of Commerce to the Department of Human Services.

New section codified in Title 56 of the Oklahoma Statutes to organize the transfer of programs and responsibilities.

REQUIREMENT

Requirements for grant eligibility and property qualifications remain largely the same, but now administered through Human Services.

FISCAL

Federal program funds including Weatherization Assistance Program and Emergency Solutions Grants Program are now received and managed by the Department of Human Services.

TIMELINE

Effective date provisions added for the transfer of powers, duties, funds, and personnel between departments.

TECHNICAL

Minor formatting and markup changes throughout the document, including page number updates and section headers.

Proposed Committee Substitute (full committee) 2 → House Committee Substitute · 1 edit

MINOR

The bill was revised to change its title from 'Proposed Committee Substitute' to 'Committee Substitute' and updated the page reference number. The substantive content of the bill remains unchanged, with no modifications to funding amounts, eligibility criteria, program requirements, or enforcement mechanisms.

TECHNICAL

Changed the bill title from 'Proposed Committee Substitute' to 'Committee Substitute' and updated the requirement number from 13072 to 13195.

Proposed Committee Substitute (full committee) 1 → Proposed Committee Substitute (full committee) 2 · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was amended to update the request number from 13062 to 13072 across multiple pages, remove a line about declaring an emergency, and add a new provision allowing loan repayment deferral beyond ten years. These changes streamline administrative tracking and extend the repayment timeline for weatherization assistance loans.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on weatherization assistance programs, but the new provision extends the maximum repayment period for loans from an unspecified limit to ten years before requiring repayment.

TECHNICAL

Request number updated from 13062 to 13072 throughout the document for administrative tracking purposes.

REQUIREMENT

Removed the declaration of emergency provision, which was previously included in the bill text.

TIMELINE

Added a new provision stating that loans may remain unpaid for up to ten years before repayment becomes required, extending the repayment deferral period.

Engrossed → Proposed Committee Substitute (full committee) 1 · 1 edit

MINOR

The bill was completely rewritten from scratch by the committee, replacing the original text with new language that maintains the same core purpose of providing energy conservation assistance. The substantive policy content appears largely unchanged, with the committee version primarily serving as a formal amendment document rather than introducing new policy provisions.

TECHNICAL

The entire bill text was replaced with a committee substitute version that contains the same policy provisions but formatted as a formal amendment document.

Amended And Engrossed → Engrossed · 7 edits · May 7, 2025

MODERATE

This amendment reorganizes HB 2115 by removing the original title page and replacing it with a new bill structure that clarifies the roles of the Department of Human Services and the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. The changes consolidate energy assistance programs under the Department of Human Services while maintaining oversight by the Department of Commerce, and update statutory references to align with current laws.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include clearer authority for the Department of Human Services to administer energy conservation grants and loans, with the Department of Commerce providing oversight and funding management.

SCOPE

Removed the original bill title page and replaced it with a new structure that clearly designates the Department of Human Services as the primary administrator of energy assistance programs.

ELIGIBILITY

Added specific eligibility requirements including that properties must be the applicant's homestead and not income-producing, with grants limited to $3,000 and income eligibility set at 125% of federal poverty guidelines.

REQUIREMENT

Mandated that energy audits must be performed before grants are issued and that contractors must be nonprofit community action agencies experienced with weatherization programs.

FISCAL

Updated references to the Energy Conservation Assistance Fund and Weatherization Revolving Fund to clarify their relationship and administrative oversight.

ENFORCEMENT

Added provisions for the Department of Human Services to monitor and audit contractors, requiring completion and inspection of all work before payment.

TIMELINE

Extended loan repayment terms with provisions for deferral until property sale or transfer, and automatic 10-year extensions if the owner remains in the residence.

TECHNICAL

Corrected formatting and statutory references to align with current Oklahoma Code titles and sections.

Introduced → Amended And Engrossed · 6 edits · May 7, 2025

MODERATE

This bill was completely rewritten from its original version. The original bill focused on creating a Commerce Board and modifying the Department of Commerce's structure. The new version transfers specific federal program responsibilities (Weatherization Assistance, Community Services Block Grant, Emergency Solutions Grants) from the Department of Commerce to the Department of Human Services, including all associated powers, duties, records, assets, and personnel.

Scope change

The bill's scope shifted from establishing a Commerce Board and modifying Commerce Department operations to transferring specific federal assistance programs from Commerce to Human Services.

SCOPE

Removed provisions creating the Oklahoma Department of Commerce Board, defining Board membership, appointment procedures, and Board duties.

Added authority for the Department of Human Services to administer three federal programs: Weatherization Assistance Program, Community Services Block Grant, and Emergency Solutions Grants Program.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirements for transferring all powers, duties, records, assets, fund balances, and personnel from Commerce to Human Services, with employee consent required for transfers.

Added requirement for creating a transition team consisting of representatives from Human Services, Commerce, community action agencies, and executive directors to coordinate the transfer.

Added requirement for Department of Human Services to fulfill federal requirements necessary to receive program funds from the United States government.

DEFINITION

Removed original definitions related to Commerce Board, Chief Executive Officer, and Economic Information System; added new definitions related to federal program administration.

Public assistance programs; transferring certain programs to the Department of Human Services; effective date.

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