North Carolina § 143B-344 - 48. Legislative findings and purpose.

§ 143B-344. 48. Legislative findings and purpose.

The General Assembly finds that: Maintaining the general health, welfare, and prosperity of the people of this State requires that all citizens receive essential levels of heat and electric service regardless of their economic circumstances. Serving the State's most vulnerable citizens, its low-income elderly, persons with disabilities, families with children, high residential energy users, and households with a high-energy burden, is a priority. Conserving energy benefits all citizens and the environment. Ensuring proper payment to public utilities and other entities providing energy services actually rendered is a responsibility of this State. Declining federal low-income energy assistance funding necessitates a State response to ensure the continuity and further development of energy assistance and related policies and programs in this State. Current energy assistance policies and programs have benefited North Carolina citizens and should be continued with the modifications provided in this Part. The General Assembly declares that it is the policy of this State that weatherization, replacement of heating and cooling systems, and other energy-related assistance programs be utilized to increase the energy efficiency of dwellings owned or occupied by low-income persons, reduce their total residential expenditures, and improve their health and safety. The State shall utilize all appropriate and available means to fund the Weatherization Assistance Program for Low-Income Families and the Heating/Air Repair and Replacement Program under G.S. 143B-344.46, and any other energy-related assistance program for low-income persons while, to the extent possible, identifying and utilizing sources of funding to achieve the objectives of this Part. History (2006-206, s. 2; 2009-446, s. 2(a); 2013-360, s. 15.22(j).) Editor's Note. - Session Laws 2009-446, s. 2(a), effective August 7, 2009, recodified Part 34A of Article 3 of Chapter 143B as Part 21 of Article 10 of Chapter 143B , and G.S. 143B-216.72A through 143B-216.72C were recodified as G.S. 143B-472.121 through 143B-472.123, respectively. Session Laws 2013-360, s. 15.22(j), effective July 1, 2013, provides: "Part 21 of Article 10 of Chapter 143B of the General Statutes, G.S. 143B-472.121 through 143B-472.123, is recodified as Part 34 of Article 7 of Chapter 143B of the General Statutes, G.S. 143B-344.48 through G.S. 143B-344.50." This section was formerly codified as G.S. 143B-216.72A, which was recodified as former G.S. 143B-472.121 by Session Laws 2009-446, s. 2(a), effective August 7, 2009. It was further recodified as this section by Session Laws 2013-360, s. 15.22(j), effective July 1, 2013. Session Laws 2013-360, s. 15.22(a), provides: "The State Energy Office is hereby transferred from the Department of Commerce to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. This transfer shall have all of the elements of a Type I transfer, as defined in G.S. 143A-6." Session Laws 2013-360, s. 15.22(g), provides: "The programs administered under the North Carolina Energy Assistance Act for Low-Income Persons, being the Weatherization Assistance Program for Low-Income Families and the Heating/Air Repair and Replacement Program, and any other energy-related assistance program for the benefit of low-income persons in existing housing, are transferred from the Department of Commerce to the State Energy Office in the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The transfer under this subsection shall have all of the elements of a Type I transfer, as defined in G.S. 143A-6." Session Laws 2013-360, s. 15.22(q), provides: "The Revisor of Statutes may conform names and titles changed by this section, and may correct statutory references as required by this section, throughout the General Statutes. In making the changes authorized by this section, the Revisor may also adjust subject and verb agreement and the placement of conjunctions." Pursuant to this authority, a reference in subsection (b) to "G.S. 108A-70.30" has been changed to "G.S. 143B-344.46" at the direction of the Revisor of Statutes. Session Laws 2013-360, s. 1.1, provides: "This act shall be known as the 'Current Operations and Capital Improvements Appropriations Act of 2013.'" Session Laws 2013-360, s. 38.2, provides: "Except for statutory changes or other provisions that clearly indicate an intention to have effects beyond the 2013-2015 fiscal biennium, the textual provisions of this act apply only to funds appropriated for, and activities occurring during, the 2013-2015 fiscal biennium." Session Laws 2013-360, s. 38.5, is a severability clause.