READ FIRST TIME 02/11/11.   

     AN ACT Relating to authorizing public utility districts to request voluntary contributions to assist low-income customers with payment of water and sewer bills; and amending RCW 54.52.010.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1   RCW 54.52.010 and 2007 c 132 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) A public utility district may include along with, or as part of, its regular customer billings((,)) a request for voluntary contributions to assist qualified low-income residential customers of the district in paying their electricity bills. All funds received by the district in response to such requests shall be (((1))) (a) transmitted (((a))) (i) to the grantee of the department of ((community, trade, and economic development)) commerce which administers federally funded energy assistance programs for the state in the district's service area or (((b))) (ii) to a charitable organization within the district's service area; or (((2))) (b) retained by the district. All such funds shall be used solely to supplement assistance to low-income residential customers of the district in paying their electricity bills. The grantee, charitable organization, or district is responsible to determine which of the district's customers are qualified for low-income assistance and the amount of assistance to be provided to those who are qualified.
     (2) A public utility district may include with or as part of its regular customer billings, a request for voluntary contributions to assist qualified low-income residential customers of the district in paying their water and sewer bills. All funds received by the district as a result of these requests shall be transmitted to a charitable organization within the district's service area or retained by the district and distributed solely to assist qualified low-income residential customers in paying their water and sewer bills. The charitable organization or district is responsible for determining which of the district's customers are qualified to receive low-income assistance and the amount of assistance provided to qualified customers.