(a) The Agency of Human Services shall administer the Home Heating Fuel Assistance Program through an Office of Home Heating Fuel Assistance to be assigned within the Agency as determined by the Secretary, and to be headed by a Director appointed by the Secretary.

(b) The Secretary of Human Services shall adopt rules, pursuant to 3 V.S.A. chapter 25, necessary for the implementation of this chapter, or pursuant to any applicable federal laws or regulations.

(c) The Secretary shall engage in cost-effective purchasing practices to maximize the purchasing power of public funds used in connection with the Home Heating Fuel Assistance Program. Such practices shall include preseason purchases of fuel, fixed price agreements, automatic fuel delivery, and negotiations with fuel suppliers on behalf of Program beneficiaries for additional fuel price discounts. The practices authorized by this subsection shall be used in connection with all applicable fuels purchased by Program beneficiaries. The Secretary shall make available to Program recipients the list of fuel suppliers who have agreed to provide fuel discounts.

(d) [Repealed.]  (Added 1995, No. 158 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. May 10, 1996; amended 2001, No. 63, § 129a, eff. June 16, 2001; 2005, No. 93 (Adj. Sess.), § 38, eff. March 3, 2006; 2007, No. 172 (Adj. Sess.), § 13; 2013, No. 50, § E.324.4, eff. July 2, 2013; 2013, No. 89, § 17; 2017, No. 3, § 65, eff. March 2, 2017.)