PRINTER'S NO. 202
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
219
Session of
2017
INTRODUCED BY LEACH AND FARNESE, JANUARY 26, 2017
REFERRED TO EDUCATION, JANUARY 26, 2017
AN ACT
Establishing a lending program in Commonwealth libraries for
electricity meters; creating a grant; and making an
appropriation.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Electricity
Meter Lending Program Act.
Section 2. Purpose.
The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
(1) There is an increasing need for the deployment of
innovative technologies that help residents of this
Commonwealth to shift or reduce their power consumption and
costs.
(2) It is the intent of this act to expand electricity
meter use and provide an expense-free and effortless way for
residents to discover the amount of electricity used by plug-
in appliances throughout the home.
(3) It is the intent of this act to encourage consumers
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to become more informed energy users and make decisions that
will reduce energy consumption, as well as encourage
residents to consider newer high-efficiency appliances.
Section 3. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Electricity meter." An electronic device that measures the
amount of electrical energy of a household appliance in kilowatt
hours.
"Grant." A grant issued under the program established under
this act.
"Library." A local public library that receives funding from
the Commonwealth.
"Office." The Office of Commonwealth Libraries within the
Department of Education of the Commonwealth.
"Program." The Electricity Meter Lending Program established
under this act.
Section 4. Electricity Meter Lending Program.
(a) Establishment.--There is established the Electricity
Meter Lending Program within the office. The purpose of the
program is to provide grants to libraries to provide electricity
meters to lend to the public.
(b) Eligibility.--A library that receives funding from the
Commonwealth is eligible to apply for a grant to purchase
electricity meters and lend the electricity meters to the
public. A municipality in which a library is located may also
apply for a grant for the library. The office, in its
discretion, shall determine the amount of a grant award to a
library. The office shall consider the population of the
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library's service area and may establish additional criteria for
awarding the grants.
(c) Requirements.--A library receiving a grant must use the
money to purchase electricity meters and comply with the
provisions of section 5. The office shall monitor and verify
fulfillment of all of the requirements under this act.
Section 5. Electricity meter lending.
(a) Electricity meter lending.--A library receiving a grant
shall offer electricity meters for loan to the public.
(b) Program materials.--The office shall provide and a
library receiving a grant shall make available to the public all
of the following materials:
(1) Simple operating instructions for electricity
meters.
(2) Information on how to calculate the cost of using
any appliance based on the reading on the device.
(3) Energy conservation information.
(c) Training.--At least one employee of a library receiving
a grant shall be knowledgeable about the electricity meter.
(d) Procedures.--A library shall establish procedures for
the lending of electricity meters to the public.
Section 6. Administration.
(a) Enforcement.--The office shall enforce repayment of a
grant for a library that does not comply with the provisions of
this act, to include use of all lawful collection procedures and
the use of private collection agencies.
(b) Appeals.--The provisions of this act shall be subject to
2 Pa.C.S. Ch. 5 Subch. A (relating to practice and procedure of
Commonwealth agencies).
Section 7. Rules and regulations.
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The office may promulgate rules and regulations to administer
and enforce this act.
Section 8. Appropriation.
The sum of $40,000, or as much thereof as may be necessary,
is appropriated to the office for the fiscal year July 1, 2017,
to June 30, 2018, to carry out the provisions of this act.
Section 9. Effective date.
This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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