CHAPTER 319o
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

Table of Contents

Sec. 17b-3. Commissioner of Social Services: Powers and duties.
Sec. 17b-7a. State-wide fraud early detection system. Regulations. Quarterly reports.
Sec. 17b-16. (Formerly Sec. 17-12t). Labor Department to provide information re federal earned income credit. Department of Social Services to promote greater utilization of federal earned income credit.

PART I
GENERAL PROVISIONS

      Sec. 17b-3. Commissioner of Social Services: Powers and duties. (a) The Commissioner of Social Services shall administer all law under the jurisdiction of the Department of Social Services. The commissioner shall have the power and duty to do the following: (1) Administer, coordinate and direct the operation of the department; (2) adopt and enforce regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, as are necessary to implement the purposes of the department as established by statute; (3) establish rules for the internal operation and administration of the department; (4) establish and develop programs and administer services to achieve the purposes of the department as established by statute; (5) contract for facilities, services and programs to implement the purposes of the department as established by statute; (6) process applications and requests for services promptly; (7) with the approval of the Comptroller and in accordance with procedures as may be specified by the Comptroller, make payments to providers of services for individuals who are eligible for benefits from the department as appropriate; (8) make no duplicate awards for items of assistance once granted, except for replacement of lost or stolen checks on which payment has been stopped; (9) promote economic self-sufficiency where appropriate in the department's programs, policies, practices and staff interactions with recipients; (10) act as advocate for the need of more comprehensive and coordinated programs for persons served by the department; (11) plan services and programs for persons served by the department; (12) coordinate outreach activities by public and private agencies assisting persons served by the department; (13) consult and cooperate with area and private planning agencies; (14) advise and inform municipal officials and officials of social service agencies about social service programs and collect and disseminate information pertaining thereto, including information about federal, state, municipal and private assistance programs and services; (15) encourage and facilitate effective communication and coordination among federal, state, municipal and private agencies; (16) inquire into the utilization of state and federal government resources which offer solutions to problems of the delivery of social services; (17) conduct, encourage and maintain research and studies relating to social services development; (18) prepare, review and encourage model comprehensive social service programs; (19) maintain an inventory of data and information and act as a clearing house and referral agency for information on state and federal programs and services; and (20) conduct, encourage and maintain research and studies and advise municipal officials and officials of social service agencies about forms of intergovernmental cooperation and coordination between public and private agencies designed to advance social service programs. The commissioner may require notice of the submission of all applications by municipalities, any agency thereof, and social service agencies, for federal and state financial assistance to carry out social services. The commissioner shall establish state-wide and regional advisory councils.

      (b) The Commissioner of Social Services 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 social service development, or any other projects, programs or activities which may be established by federal law, for any of the purposes or activities related thereto, 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.

      (c) The powers and duties enumerated in this section shall be in addition to and shall not limit any other powers or duties of the commissioner contained in any other law.

      (P.A. 93-262, S. 3, 87; P.A. 05-141, S. 1.)

      History: P.A. 93-262 effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 05-141 amended Subsec. (a) by adding new Subdiv. (7) re commissioner's authority to make payments to service providers and redesignating existing Subdivs. (7) to (19), inclusive, as Subdivs. (8) to (20), inclusive, effective June 24, 2005.

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      Sec. 17b-7a. State-wide fraud early detection system. Regulations. Quarterly reports. The Commissioner of Social Services shall develop a state-wide fraud early detection system. The purpose of such system shall be to identify, investigate and determine if an application for assistance under programs administered by the department, including, but not limited to, (1) the temporary family assistance program, (2) the food stamp program, (3) the child care subsidy program, or (4) the Medicaid program pursuant to Title XIX of the Social Security Act is fraudulent prior to granting assistance. The commissioner shall adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, for the purpose of developing and implementing said system. The commissioner shall submit quarterly reports concerning savings realized through the implementation of the state-wide fraud early detection system to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to human services and appropriations and the budgets of state agencies.

      (P.A. 95-194, S. 25, 33; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-2, S. 20, 165; P.A. 05-280, S. 3.)

      History: P.A. 95-194, S. 25 effective July 1, 1995; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-2 replaced a reference to aid to families with dependent children with temporary family assistance, effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 05-280 expanded fraud early detection system to "programs administered by the department, including, but not limited to" the programs listed in section, added child care subsidy program as new Subdiv. (3), redesignating existing Subdiv. (3) as Subdiv. (4), and added provision requiring commissioner to report quarterly on savings realized through implementation of fraud early detection system, effective July 1, 2005.

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      Sec. 17b-16. (Formerly Sec. 17-12t). Labor Department to provide information re federal earned income credit. Department of Social Services to promote greater utilization of federal earned income credit. The Labor Department, in cooperation with the Department of Social Services, shall provide information and assistance in obtaining, within available appropriations, the federal earned income credit established pursuant to 26 USC 32, to each applicant for or recipient of assistance from the department. The Labor Department, in cooperation with the Department of Revenue Services, shall promote the earned income credit program to recipients of benefits pursuant to section 17b-112. The Department of Social Services, in consultation with the Child Poverty Council, shall, within available appropriations, promote greater utilization of the federal earned income credit to municipalities, public and private employers, community-based organizations and other entities that have frequent contact with low-income families and shall enhance financial literacy and self-sufficiency programs. School and business partnership funds, private funds and other available funds may be used for purposes of this section.

      (P.A. 90-92, S. 1; P.A. 93-262, S. 1, 87; P.A. 95-194, S. 5, 33; P.A. 99-203, S. 2, 3; P.A. 05-244, S. 2.)

      History: P.A. 93-262 authorized substitution of commissioner and department of social services for commissioner and department of income maintenance, effective July 1, 1993; Sec. 17-12t transferred to Sec. 17b-16 in 1995; P.A. 95-194 added a provision requiring the Department of Social Services, in cooperation with the Department of Revenue Services, to promote the earned income credit program to recipients of time-limited benefits received pursuant to Sec. 17b-112, effective June 29, 1995; P.A. 99-203 required the Labor Department in cooperation with the Department of Social Services to provide information and assistance in obtaining the federal earned income credit, and required the Labor Department instead of the Department of Social Services in cooperation with the Department of Revenue Services to promote the earned income credit program to recipients of benefits pursuant to Sec. 17b-112, effective July 1, 1999, and applicable to income years commencing on or after January 1, 1999; P.A. 05-244 required Department of Social Services to promote greater utilization of federal earned income credit.

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