Home Table of Contents

§ 5-5A-09. Assistance for seniors to enroll in energy assistance programs

West's Annotated Code of MarylandHuman ServicesEffective: October 1, 2022

West's Annotated Code of Maryland
Human Services (Refs & Annos)
Title 5. Public Assistance (Refs & Annos)
Subtitle 5a. Energy Assistance Program (Refs & Annos)
Effective: October 1, 2022
MD Code, Human Services, § 5-5A-09
§ 5-5A-09. Assistance for seniors to enroll in energy assistance programs
Currentness
Uniform redetermination process
(a)(1) The Office shall develop a uniform redetermination process to assist eligible energy customers who are at least 65 years old in enrolling in energy assistance programs.
(2) The redetermination process developed under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be updated annually.
Duties of local administering agencies
(b) The redetermination process shall require local administering agencies to:
(1) have an accessible location to receive eligible energy customers' applications according to the Office's contractual or program requirements; and
(2) establish a policy reflecting reasonable accommodations for applicants who are homebound or request accommodation, including by:
(i) arranging for a home visit; or
(ii) allowing an individual to apply on the behalf of an eligible energy customer.
Notice of redetermination process
(c) The Office shall provide notice of the redetermination process to all eligible energy customers and include with the notice an addressed envelope with prepaid postage.
Duties of Office
(d) In addition to the notice required under subsection (c) of this section, the Office shall:
(1) require yearly verification of status for each customer that qualifies for the redetermination process;
(2) allow an eligible energy customer 45 days to respond to a request for additional information; and
(3) maintain records organized by county, including records on the number of households during the previous year:
(i) that were eligible for redetermination;
(ii) whose notice of the redetermination process was verified and returned; and
(iii) that were reenrolled in the redetermination process.
Prohibited from requiring new application if eligibility has not changed
(e) The Office may not require a new application for a current energy customer whose eligibility has not changed from the previous year.
Reporting requirements
(f) On or before December 1 each year, the Office shall report, in accordance with § 2-1257 of the State Government Article, to the General Assembly on the information collected under subsection (d)(3) of this section.
Regulations
(g) The Department shall adopt regulations to implement this section.

Credits

Added by Acts 2022, c. 665, § 2, eff. Oct. 1, 2022; Acts 2022, c. 666, § 2, eff. Oct. 1, 2022.
MD Code, Human Services, § 5-5A-09, MD HUMAN SERV § 5-5A-09
Current through legislation effective through April 25, 2024, from the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly. Some statute sections may be more current, see credits for details.
End of Document