The Commissioner of Consumer Protection is authorized to do all things necessary to apply for, qualify for and accept any federal funds made available or allotted under any federal act for any projects, programs or activities which may be established by federal law, for any of the purposes, or activities related thereto, of any provisions of the general statutes administered by said commissioner, and said commissioner shall administer any such funds allotted to the department in accordance with federal law. The commissioner may enter into contracts with the federal government concerning the use and repayment of such funds under any such federal act, the prosecution of the work under any such contract and the establishment of, and disbursement from, a separate account in which federal and state funds estimated to be required for plan preparation or other eligible activities under such federal act shall be kept. Said account shall not be a part of the General Fund of the state or any subdivision of the state.