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Assurance 11 The State agrees to permit and cooperate with Federal investigations undertaken in accordance with section 2608. Assurance 12 The State agrees to provide for timely and meaningful public participation in the development of the plan described in subsection (c). Assurance 13 The State agrees to provide an opportunity for a fair administrative hearing to individuals whose claims for assistance under the plan described in subsection (c) are denied or are not acted upon with reasonable promptness.

Assurance 14 The State agrees to cooperate with the Secretary with respect to data collecting and reporting under section 2610. Assurance 15 The State agrees to (beginning in fiscal year 1992) provide, in addition to such services as may be offered by State Departments of Public Welfare at the local level, outreach and intake functions for crisis situations and heating and cooling assistance that is administered by additional State and local governmental entities or community-based organizations (such as community action agencies, area agencies on aging and not-for-profit neighborhood-based organizations), and in states where such organizations do not administer functions as of September 30, 1991, preference in awarding grants or contracts for intake services shall be provided to those agencies that administer the low-income weatherization or energy crisis intervention programs. * This assurance is applicable only to states and to territories whose annual regular LIHEAP allotments exceed $200,000. Neither territories with annual allotments of $200,000 or less nor Indian tribes/tribal organizations are subject to Assurance 15. Assurance 16 The State agrees to use up to 5 percent of such funds, at its option, to provide services that encourage and enable households to reduce their home energy needs and thereby the need for energy assistance, including needs assessments, counseling, and assistance with energy vendors, and to report to the Secretary concerning the impact of such activities on the number of households served, the level of direct benefits provided to those households, and the number of households that remain unserved.