221 - Legislative findings and objectives.

§  221.  Legislative findings and objectives. 1. The legislature finds  and declares  that  a  significant  percentage  of  the  state's  senior  citizens live at or below the poverty level. In many cases, energy costs  reach  or  exceed thirty percent of household income. These factors make  energy conservation efforts on behalf of low income elderly crucial. The  legislature further finds that energy conservation  programs  have  been  under-utilized  by  such  citizens  because  of  such factors as reduced  mobility, social and physical isolation, and the complexity of the  maze  of services available.    2.  The  legislature therefore declares that a pilot program to assist  such citizens to conserve energy should be implemented by the office  in  conjunction  with  county offices for the aging. The legislature further  declares that such  a  program  will  further  the  energy  conservation  objectives  of  the state and should be partially supported by petroleum  overcharge restitution funds.