50-09-02. Duties of the state agency

50-09-02. Duties of the state agency

The state agency shall:

1. Take such action and adopt rules as may become necessary to entitle the state to

receive funds from the federal government under title IV-A.

2. Supervise the administration of temporary assistance for needy families throughout the

state of North Dakota.

3. Take such action, give such directions, and adopt rules as may be necessary or

desirable to carry out the provisions of this chapter, including the adoption and

application of suitable standards and procedure to ensure appropriate treatment of all

applicants for temporary assistance for needy families.

4. Cooperate with the federal government in matters of mutual concern pertaining to

temporary assistance for needy families, including the adoption of such methods of

administration as are found by the state agency to be appropriate for the efficient

operation of the plan for such assistance.

5. Provide such qualified employees and representatives as may be necessary.

6. Prescribe the form of and print and supply to the human service zones blanks for

applications, reports, and such other forms as it may deem necessary and advisable.

7. Have authority to establish and maintain personnel standards on a merit basis for

personnel employed by the state and the human service zone.

8. Make such reports in such form and containing such information as the federal

government from time to time may require.

9. Make any determinations respecting title IV-A not expressly reserved to the federal

government under federal law.

10. Determine if the terms of any waiver of federal requirements, pertaining to the aid to

families with dependent children program, submitted to the federal government before

August 22, 1996, are consistent with the requirements of title IV-A.

11. Determine the expenditures that constitute qualified state expenditures for purposes of

this chapter.

12. Determine the costs that constitute administrative costs for purposes of this chapter.

13. Determine in any case if assistance provided will be funded through qualified state

expenditures, funds made available from the federal government under title IV-A, or a

combination thereof.

14. Assist recipients of temporary assistance for needy families, in a form and manner

determined appropriate by the state agency, but which need not be uniform among

families or among counties.

15. Administer all funds appropriated or made available to it for the purpose of carrying out

the provisions of this chapter.

16. Act as the official agency of the state in the administration of the child support

enforcement program and medical support enforcement program in conformity with

title IV-D. In administering the child support enforcement and medical support

enforcement programs, the state agency may contract with any public or private

agency or person to discharge the state agency's duties.

17. Take actions and adopt rules necessary to entitle the state to receive funds from the

federal government under the child care and development block grant [42 U.S.C. 9858

et seq.], as amended.

18. Have authority to establish a program for families that include both a minor child and

an incapacitated parent of that minor child, using no federal funds derived from

temporary assistance for needy families block grant funds, which otherwise functions

in substantially the form and manner of the temporary assistance for needy families

program.

19. For purposes of section 674(e)(2) of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 674(e)(2)],

approve families, outside of the jurisdiction of the state of North Dakota, for placement

of children for adoption.

20. Act as the official agency of the state in the administration of child and family services

in conformity with title IV-B and to direct and supervise human service zone

administration of that program, unless otherwise directed or determined by the state

agency.

. 674(e)(2)],

approve families, outside of the jurisdiction of the state of North Dakota, for placement

of children for adoption.

20. Act as the official agency of the state in the administration of child and family services

in conformity with title IV-B and to direct and supervise human service zone

administration of that program, unless otherwise directed or determined by the state

agency.

21. Act as the official agency of the state in the administration of federal payments for

foster care and adoption assistance in conformity with title IV-E and to direct and

supervise human service zone administration of that program, unless otherwise

directed or determined by the state agency.

22. Provide, upon request and insofar as staff resources permit, technical assistance

concerning the requirements of title IV-B and title IV-E to courts within this state,

including tribal courts, and to state's attorneys and tribal prosecutors within this state.

23. Make training available to state's attorneys and assistant state's attorneys who are

willing to collaborate with colleagues in other counties on petitions to terminate

parental rights.