# Idaho Code § 56-203: 56-203 POWERS OF STATE DEPARTMENT > Idaho · Statutes · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_ID_T56_C2_S56-203 ## Section - **Citation:** Idaho Code § 56-203 - **Heading:** 56-203 POWERS OF STATE DEPARTMENT - **Jurisdiction:** Idaho - **Kind:** Statutes - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** Idaho Code / Title 56 / Chapter 2 / Section 56-203 ## Text 56-203. Powers of state department. The state department shall have the power to: (1) Enter into contracts and agreements with the federal government through its appropriate agency or instrumentality whereby the state of Idaho shall receive federal grants-in-aid or other benefits for public assistance or public welfare purposes under any act or acts of congress heretofore or hereafter enacted; (2) Cooperate with the federal government in carrying out the purposes of any federal acts pertaining to public assistance or welfare services, and in other matters of mutual concern; (3) Cooperate with county governments and other branches of government and other agencies, public or private, in administering and furnishing public welfare services; (4) Enter into reciprocal agreements with other states relative to the provisions of public assistance and welfare services to residents and nonresidents; (5) Initiate and administer public assistance and social services for persons with physical or mental disabilities; (6) Establish such requirements of residence for public assistance under this chapter as may be deemed advisable, subject to any limitations imposed in this chapter, including the requirements of lawful presence pursuant to section 67-7903, Idaho Code; (7) Define persons entitled to medical assistance in such terms as will meet requirements for federal financial participation in medical assistance payments; (8) Accept the legal custody of children committed to it by district courts of this state under the child protective act, to provide protective supervision as defined therein, to place children for adoption when such children are in the legal custody of the state department and are legally available for adoption, and to exercise consent to adoption when the authority to do so is vested in the department by court order or legally authorized parental relinquishment; (9) Determine the amount, duration and scope of care and services to be purchased as medical assistance on behalf of needy eligible individuals; (10) Manage and operate the southwest Idaho treatment center at Nampa, Idaho; and (11) Manage and operate state hospital north at Orofino, Idaho; state hospital south at Blackfoot, Idaho; and state hospital west at Nampa, Idaho. History: [56-203, added 1941, ch. 181, sec. 3, p. 379; am. 1945, ch. 109, sec. 3, p. 165; am. 1959, ch. 241, sec. 1, p. 523; am. 1961, ch. 217, sec. 2, p. 346; am. 1963, ch. 325, sec. 1, p. 936; am. 1966 (2nd E.S.), ch. 11, sec. 2, p. 28; am. 1967, ch. 373, sec. 15, p. 1071; am. 1967 (1st E.S.), ch. 5, sec. 2, p. 23; am. 1972, ch. 44, sec. 6, p. 67; am. 1973, ch. 161, sec. 1, p. 306; am. 2010, ch. 235, sec. 44, p. 583; am. 2011, ch. 102, sec. 2, p. 261; am. 2022, ch. 60, sec. 2, p. 184; am. 2025, ch. 275, sec. 1, p. 1166.] ## Nearby sections - [Idaho Code § 56-201 56-201 DEFINITIONS.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_ID_T56_C2_S56-201.md) - [Idaho Code § 56-202 56-202 DUTIES OF DIRECTOR OF STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND WELFARE.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_ID_T56_C2_S56-202.md) - [Idaho Code § 56-203 56-203 POWERS OF STATE DEPARTMENT.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_ID_T56_C2_S56-203.md) - [Idaho Code § 56-203A 56-203A AUTHORITY OF DEPARTMENT TO ENFORCE CHILD SUPPORT — SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT SERVICES.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_ID_T56_C2_S56-203A.md) - [Idaho Code § 56-203B 56-203B PAYMENT OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE FOR CHILD CONSTITUTES DEBT TO DEPARTMENT BY PARENTS — LIMITATIONS — DEPARTMENT SUBROGATED TO RIGHTS.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_ID_T56_C2_S56-203B.md) - [Idaho Code § 56-203C 56-203C POWERS OF DEPARTMENT.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_ID_T56_C2_S56-203C.md) - [Idaho Code § 56-203D 56-203D SET-OFF PROCEDURE FOR CHILD SUPPORT DEBT.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_ID_T56_C2_S56-203D.md) - [Idaho Code § 56-203E 56-203E LOTTERY PRIZE SET-OFF PROCEDURE FOR SUPPORT DEBT.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_ID_T56_C2_S56-203E.md) - [Idaho Code § 56-203F 56-203F REGISTRATION OF FOREIGN SUPPORT ORDERS.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_ID_T56_C2_S56-203F.md) - [Idaho Code § 56-204A 56-204A SERVICES FOR CHILDREN.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_ID_T56_C2_S56-204A.md) - [Idaho Code § 56-204B 56-204B TEMPORARY SHELTER CARE.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_ID_T56_C2_S56-204B.md) - [Idaho Code § 56-205 56-205 ISSUANCE OF SNAP BENEFITS.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_ID_T56_C2_S56-205.md) - [Idaho Code § 56-205A 56-205A SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM INTEGRITY MEASURES.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_ID_T56_C2_S56-205A.md) - [Idaho Code § 56-207 56-207 OLD-AGE ASSISTANCE.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_ID_T56_C2_S56-207.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_ID_T56_C2_S56-203. 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