Article - Family Law
Section 10-119.1 and 10-119.2
Annotated Code of Maryland
(1999 Replacement Volume)

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,

Chapter 491 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 1995
Section 14 Sections 13 and 14

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article 88A - Department of Human Resources

1A.

(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