42 U.S.C. § 8622 : US Code - Section 8622: Definitions

Search 42 U.S.C. § 8622 : US Code - Section 8622: Definitions

As used in this subchapter:
(1) The term "emergency" means -
(A) a natural disaster;
(B) a significant home energy supply shortage or disruption;
(C) a significant increase in the cost of home energy, as
determined by the Secretary;
(D) a significant increase in home energy disconnections
reported by a utility, a State regulatory agency, or another
agency with necessary data;
(E) a significant increase in participation in a public
benefit program such as the food stamp program carried out
under the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.), the
national program to provide supplemental security income
carried out under title XVI of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 1381 et seq.), or the State temporary assistance for
needy families program carried out under part A of title IV of
the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), as determined
by the head of the appropriate Federal agency;
(F) a significant increase in unemployment, layoffs, or the
number of households with an individual applying for
unemployment benefits, as determined by the Secretary of Labor;
or
(G) an event meeting such criteria as the Secretary, in the
discretion of the Secretary, may determine to be appropriate.
(2) The term "energy burden" means the expenditures of the
household for home energy divided by the income of the household.
(3) The term "energy crisis" means weather-related and supply
shortage emergencies and other household energy-related
emergencies.
(4) The term "highest home energy needs" means the home energy
requirements of a household determined by taking into account
both the energy burden of such household and the unique situation
of such household that results from having members of vulnerable
populations, including very young children, individuals with
disabilities, and frail older individuals.
(5) The term "household" means any individual or group of
individuals who are living together as one economic unit for whom
residential energy is customarily purchased in common or who make
undesignated payments for energy in the form of rent.
(6) The term "home energy" means a source of heating or cooling
in residential dwellings.
(7) The term "natural disaster" means a weather event (relating
to cold or hot weather), flood, earthquake, tornado, hurricane,
or ice storm, or an event meeting such other criteria as the
Secretary, in the discretion of the Secretary, may determine to
be appropriate.
(8) The term "poverty level" means, with respect to a household
in any State, the income poverty line as prescribed and revised
at least annually pursuant to section 9902(2) of this title, as
applicable to such State.
(9) The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of Health and
Human Services.
(10) The term "State" means each of the several States and the
District of Columbia.
(11) The term "State median income" means the State median
income promulgated by the Secretary in accordance with procedures
established under section 1397a(a)(6) of this title (as such
procedures were in effect on August 12, 1981) and adjusted, in
accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary, to take
into account the number of individuals in the household.