Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1. To provide for certain unanticipated obligations of the commonwealth, to provide for an alteration of purpose for current appropriations, to provide for certain other activities and projects, and to meet certain requirements of law, the sums set forth in section 2A are hereby appropriated from the general fund unless specifically designated otherwise herein, for the several purposes and subject to the conditions specified herein, and subject to the provisions of law regulating the disbursement of public funds for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2001. The sums appropriated in section 2A shall be in addition to any amounts previously appropriated and made available for the purposes of said items.

NO SECTION 2.

SECTION 2A.

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

7004-1000

For a one-time state supplement to the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program for the purpose of assisting low income elders, working families and other households with the purchase of heating oil, propane and natural gas; provided, that funds from this item shall not be expended until all federal funds available for the purpose have been expended for the purpose; provided further, that all assistance awarded by said program shall be expended in the following order of priority: (1) all eligible households not previously awarded assistance by said federal program; (2) working families with incomes between 175 and 200 per cent of the federal poverty level; and (3) households previously awarded federally-funded assistance in fiscal year 2001; provided further, that the department may increase the maximum assistance for which a household is eligible to reflect the need of such household; and provided further, that any supplemental federal funds allocated to said program received during fiscal year 2001 shall be expended prior to any expenditures from this item

$12,000,000

OFFICE OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND BUSINESS REGULATION.

Division of Energy Resources.

7006-1004

For the operation of a one-time program to improve the supply of #2 heating oil stocks in the commonwealth and to reduce the risk of supply disruptions between October 1, 2000 and June 30, 2001; provided, that this program shall be available only to wholesale and retail distributors of #2 heating oil having actual or constructive possession of at least 10,000 barrels of storage capacity in the commonwealth, and who agree to purchase and resell #2 heating oil according to regulations to be promulgated by the division of energy resources in exchange for maintaining minimum inventories; provided further, that the regulations shall include prohibitions on the distribution outside of the commonwealth of any #2 heating oil held in the minimum inventories under the one-time program; provided further, that net revenues received by eligible wholesalers and retailers of #2 heating oil, from the sale of heating oil purchased pursuant to the program shall be divided evenly between the commonwealth and relevant wholesalers or retailers of #2 heating oil; provided further, that the commonwealth shall have no further obligations beyond the amount appropriated herein for the program; provided further, that the division of energy resources shall promulgate emergency regulations for the implementation of the program within 21 days of the effective date of this act; and provided further, that the division may make payments to the wholesale and retail distributors pursuant to the regulations for the purposes of this program

$5,000,000

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon its passage.

Approved November 9, 2000.