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(d) Records pertaining to recipients of home heating assistance under a contract awarded under this section are confidential and not subject to disclosure under AS 40.25.100 — 40.25.220. (e) An organization that receives a contract under this section shall provide an appeals process to applicants for or recipients of home heating assistance covered by the contract awarded under this section. The appeals process must be the same as the method available under AS 47.25.624, except that the decision reached shall be considered a recommended decision to the department. Within 30 days after receiving a recommended decision, the department shall review the recommended decision and issue a decision accepting or rejecting the recommended decision. If the department rejects the recommended decision, the department shall independently review the record and issue its final decision. The final decision of the department on the matter is appealable to the courts of this state. (f) If the department establishes a regional Alaska heating program and awards a contract to provide home heating assistance under this section, (1) a person applying for home heating assistance under AS 47.25.621 — 47.25.626 in the region of the state covered by the regional Alaska heating program may obtain home heating assistance from the department only through the organization designated by the department to serve the region; (2) the department may require the contractor (A) to operate and administer the contract in a manner consistent with the organization's federally approved energy assistance grant and plan; or (B) to apply the provisions of AS 47.25.623 to determine eligibility for home heating assistance to a person for whom assistance may be paid under the contract or may allow the contractor to use other criteria to determine that eligibility. Article 5. Food Stamp Program. Sec. 47.25.975. Food stamp program. (a) The department is authorized to implement the food stamp program. (b) Householders determined by the department to be eligible for assistance under the food stamp program may obtain food stamp allotments; however, under regulations adopted by the department, a householder may receive all or part of the value of the food stamp allotment in the form of a wage subsidy under AS 47.27.025(e) if (1) the householder is a member of a family eligible for the Alaska temporary assistance program under AS 47.27; and (2) the department determines that the wage subsidy authorized under this subsection would aid the householder in the successful completion of the family self-sufficiency plan under AS 47.27.030. (c) Food stamp allotments, other than a wage subsidy authorized under (b) of this section, shall be used to purchase food from retail food stores that have been approved for participation in the food stamp program. Eligible households living in certain remote areas shall be permitted to purchase certain items of hunting and fishing equipment for the purpose of procuring food for the household, except firearms, ammunition, and other explosives, in accordance with regulations that the Secretary of Agriculture adopts.