(a)      The Office shall maintain liaison with the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Maryland county and city offices concerned with energy programs, citizen groups, and all other agencies of the State, federal, county, and municipal governments. The Office shall consult with and advise these local groups on their energy assistance programs and shall work at all levels of government to administer and implement the Energy Assistance Program Act. In addition, the Office shall establish liaison with all utility and major fuel vendors in the State and shall seek their advice when developing and implementing the program.

      (b)      The Office shall collect and assemble pertinent information and data available from other departments and agencies of the State and federal governments and shall disseminate information in the interest of energy assistance. The Office shall adopt the following information collection and dissemination procedures:

            (1)      Identification of all utility vendors and major fuel vendors within the State, followed by efforts to obtain their voluntary cooperation with the Energy Assistance Program.

            (2)      A State information service that utilizes a toll free telephone number to provide the public with program information and the location of the nearest local energy assistance office.

            (3)      A mechanism for monitoring the effectiveness of the energy assistance program to determine if eligible households are aware of and have access to the local program offices.

      (c)      (1)      The Office may employ professional, technical, clerical, stenographic, and other personnel to carry out its duties and functions.

            (2)      Except as otherwise provided by law, the employees of the Energy Assistance Program shall be subject to the provisions of the State Personnel and Pensions Article.

      (d)      In the performance of its duties, the Office is authorized and empowered to make and enter into contracts and to assume those functions necessary to carry out the provisions of this subheading that are not inconsistent with this or other acts. The Office may make and enter into contracts to have such studies and research activities as may be necessary and proper, and is authorized to pay the cost thereof out of funds which may be appropriated to the Office.