PUBLIC LAW 105-285—OCT. 27, 1998 112 STAT. 2757 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."; (3) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (5) as paragraphs (2) through (6), respectively; and (4) by inserting before paragraph (2) (as redesignated in paragraph (3)) the following: "(1) The term 'emergency means— "(A) a natural disaster; "(B) a significsint 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 progrsim 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 unemplo)ment, 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.". (b) CONSIDERATIONS. —Section 2604(g) of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 (42 U.S.C. 8623(g)) is amended by striking the last two sentences and inserting the following: "In determining whether to make such an allotment to a State, the Secretary shall take into account the extent to which the State was affected by the natural disaster or other emergency involved, the availability to the State of other resources under the program carried out under this title or any other program, and such other factors as the Secretary may find to be relevant. Not later than Notification. 30 days after making the determination, but prior to releasing an allotted amount to a State, the Secretary shall notify Congress of the allotments made pursuant to this subsection.". SEC. 305. STATE ALLOTMENTS. Section 2604 of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 (42 U.S.C. 8623) is amended— (1) in subsection (b)(1), by striking "the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands." and inserting "and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. "; (2) in subsection (c)(3)(B)(ii), by striking "application" and inserting "applications"; (3) by striking subsection (f);
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