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<section article="ghu" article_name="Human Services" number="5-5A-07" title_number="5" title_name="Public Assistance" subtitle_number="5A" subtitle_name="Energy Assistance Program">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Office shall:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>carry out an energy emergency crisis intervention program to prevent low–income households, including the near poor, the elderly, households with children, and those on fixed incomes from experiencing danger to health or survival as a result of an energy emergency;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>establish intake procedures for those experiencing an energy emergency;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>establish guidelines for the income and program eligibility of applicants; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>identify local public or private agencies to administer the crisis intervention program.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <level label="i">
        <text>The Office shall make payments to fuel vendors and utility vendors that have provided service to persons qualifying for the crisis intervention program.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The amount of assistance shall be based on need.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Office shall carry out one or more fuel and utility assistance programs to make payments on behalf of qualified households to defray fuel and utility costs.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <level label="i">
        <text>The Office shall determine program and income eligibility guidelines.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The Office shall enroll in any fuel and utility assistance program any household with an individual who meets the financial eligibility requirements established by the Department for a recipient of:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>Temporary Assistance for Needy Families;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>Supplemental Security Income; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="4">
          <text>means–tested Veterans Affairs benefits.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The amount of assistance shall be based on need.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
