(a) Establishment of Statewide Weatherization and Energy Conservation Policy Council.--A Statewide Weatherization and Energy Conservation Policy Council is hereby created and shall have the responsibility of advising the Department of Community and Economic Development on matters of policy related to the development and implementation of this program. The council shall establish bylaws governing its activities and shall assume all responsibilities associated with the existing Policy Advisory Council required by the Department of Energy. Members of the council shall be appointed by the Secretary of the Department of Community and Economic Development.

(b) Approval of Statewide plan.--In accordance with 10 CFR § 440.14 (relating to State plans), the council shall review the Statewide plan each year and shall advise the Department of Community and Economic Development on suggested changes to the Statewide plan prior to the expenditure of any funds under this section.

(c) Members of council.--Council membership shall be in accordance with 10 CFR § 440.17 (relating to policy advisory council).

(d) Annual report to General Assembly.--The Statewide Weatherization and Energy Conservation Policy Council shall submit an annual report to the General Assembly on or before September 30 of each year summarizing and evaluating the expenditure of funds under this section during the previous State fiscal year. Such a report shall include, but not be limited to, a summary of program and administrative expenditures, the number of households served, the average investment per home, an estimate of energy savings, the number of applicants and any other relevant information the council deems appropriate. All such information shall be by county, where appropriate. In addition, the report shall contain recommendations to the General Assembly for improvements in the weatherization program.

(e) Coordination of activities.--Activities supported under this act shall be coordinated with other Federal, State, local and privately funded programs in order to avoid duplication of effort and promote integration with other conservation and energy assistance programs. Such coordination shall include, but not be limited to, the establishment, by interagency agreement or otherwise, of a joint policy advisory council to ensure that energy assistance and weatherization assistance benefits are delivered in an effective manner.

(f) Administrative and program efficiency.--All administrative and programmatic requirements shall be streamlined to the greatest extent possible and shall be structured so as to reinforce the quality and productivity of conservation work performed.

(g) Energy education.--A portion of the allocation to each subgrantee may be utilized for energy education, which shall include the instruction and demonstration in the home, at the time the work is performed, of behavior and skills necessary to effectively utilize and preserve the energy conservation measures involved and adopt sound conservation practices in daily lifestyle, as well as the provision of written educational materials and the development of instructional aids and followup.

(h) Deleted by 2012, Oct. 24, P.L. 1308, No. 164, § 5, imd. effective.

(i) Advance payment.--All funds shall be disbursed to subgrantees and their subcontractors in a timely fashion so as to promote continuity and productivity of program and staff.

(j) Deleted by 2012, Oct. 24, P.L. 1308, No. 164, § 5, imd. effective.

(k) Reallocation of funds.--In order to ensure the maximum utilization of all funds, the Department of Community and Economic Development shall evaluate subgrantee performance. Such funds which may be more effectively used by other subgrantees, as determined by the Department of Community and Economic Development, shall be reallocated, forthwith, to other subgrantees able to utilize the funds during the contract period.

(l) Quality control monitoring and evaluation.--The Department of Community and Economic Development shall institute regulations, procedures and studies to the following ends:

(m) Audit.--The Legislative Budget and Finance Committee shall conduct a performance audit of the Pennsylvania Weatherization Program as administered prior to the effective date of this act by the Department of Community Affairs. The committee shall conduct such inquiries as it deems necessary, including, but not limited to, obtaining interviews with provider agencies and program recipients, with administrators within the Department of Public Welfare,¹ the Department of Community Affairs,² the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission and the Weatherization Policy Advisory Council of the Department of Community Affairs, and with such other persons and entities as it deems necessary. The committee shall present to the General Assembly findings and recommendations for programmatic improvements within one year of the effective date of this act.