Whereas, heating oil prices are expected to rise more than 30% this winter due to supply restrictions imposed by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, and increased demand for oil by Asian and South American economies; and

Whereas, the United States Department of Commerce, National Weather Service, has predicted that the winter of 1999-2000 will be colder in the northeastern portion of the United States than was the case during the previous 2 winters; and

Whereas, the federal Low-income Home Energy Assistance Program, LIHEAP, that provides financial assistance to eligible low-income households to assist in paying winter heating costs will provide Maine with virtually the same level of funding for the winter of 1999-2000 as was provided during the winters of 1997-98 and 1998- 99; and

Whereas, a colder winter in 1999-2000 will cause low-income households receiving LIHEAP benefits that burn fuel oil for their heat to need greater amounts of oil to maintain an indoor temperature comparable to last winter; and

Whereas, a colder winter will cause more low-income households to apply for LIHEAP assistance this winter than applied during the winter of 1998-99; and

Whereas, the available LIHEAP funding for Maine is likely to be insufficient to provide benefits to all eligible applicants without emergency supplementary funding from the State during the winter heating season, leaving many low-income Maine families at risk of hypothermia and the health and safety consequences of inadequate heat; and

Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. Appropriation. The following funds are appropriated from the General Fund to carry out the purposes of this Act.

1999-00