HB418 Summary

• Authorizes the Alabama Commission on Higher Education to establish and administer a utility guarantor program for recent college graduates establishing new residences in Alabama to be closer to their employers.

• Eligible participants must be Alabama public or private college/university graduates offered full-time positions within 60 months of graduation and establishing a new domicile within the state within 30 days of application or currently in the process of doing so.

• Program recipients receive vouchers for each utility (electricity, natural gas, water, sewage, or trash collection) that waive deposit requirements and remain valid for one use only.

• Program reimburses utilities for recipient payment defaults but ceases future vouchers for that utility type; however, vouchers remain honored with utilities where the recipient is in good standing.

• Effective date is the first day of the third month following passage and gubernatorial approval; the Commission may adopt rules to implement the program.