(a) The Family Investment Administration is established within the
Department of Human Resources. All of the powers, duties, and
responsibilities provided for the Social Services Administration in the
following programs are transferred to the Family Investment
Administration: the Family Investment Program and related cash benefit
programs; public assistance to adults; emergency assistance; food
stamps; and medical assistance eligibility determinations. References
to the "Social Services Administration", "State Department", or
"State Administration" in the laws of this State that concern these
programs are deemed to mean the Family Investment Administration.
(b) The Secretary of Human Resources shall appoint an Executive Director of
Family Investment with the approval of the Governor. The Executive
Director shall be the head of the Family Investment Administration and
shall hold office at the pleasure of the Secretary of Human Resources.
All powers, duties, and responsibilities that pertain to programs
transferred to the Family Investment Administration and the personnel
who administer them which are provided in the laws of this State for
the State Director of Social Services are transferred to the Executive
Director of Family Investment.
(c) The exercise of all authority, duties, and functions vested in the
Family Investment Administration or the Executive Director of Family
Investment under this article or any other law of this State shall be
subject to the authority of the Secretary of Human Resources as set
forth in Article 41 of this Code or elsewhere in the laws of this
State.
(d) The Executive Director of Family Investment shall:
(1) Develop a comprehensive process to:
(i) Systematically analyze cash assistance payment errors;
(ii) Formulate strategies, including improvements in the eligibility
determination process, to reduce the errors; and
(iii) Monitor implementation of the strategies;
(2) Require each local department of social services to submit annual plans
that contain measurable objectives, including objectives for
participation in work activities, to meet the goals of the family
investment program; and
(3) Monitor the success of the local departments of social services in
achieving the objectives of the plans.
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