(a) The Secretary of Human Services or designee may accept applications on an ongoing basis beginning on April 1, 2010. The Secretary or designee may establish by rule the procedure for accepting applications and determining eligibility under this subsection.

(b) No qualified applicant shall be penalized through a reduction of benefits for a late-filed application, except that such applicant shall not receive benefits for any period prior to the month of application.

(c) The Secretary of Human Services or designee shall process applications and related tasks, including assisting households in applying and providing required information, and locating and contacting fuel suppliers certified under section 2607 of this title. (Added 1995, No. 158 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. May 10, 1996; amended 1999, No. 59, § 5, eff. June 1, 1999; 2009, No. 1 (Sp. Sess.), § E.324.2; 2009, No. 88 (Adj. Sess.), § 5, eff. April 29, 2010.)