The division of old age assistance created in the Department of Institutions and Agencies by the act entitled “An act to provide for the protection, welfare of and financial assistance to aged needy residents of the State of New Jersey, providing for the administration thereof and prescribing penalties for the violation thereof,” approved March sixteenth, one thousand nine hundred and thirty-six, is hereby continued.

Said division shall be in charge of a qualified expert who shall be appointed by and receive the compensation fixed by the commissioner, with the approval of the State board, subject to appropriations made therefor. As director of the division of old age assistance, such qualified expert shall be responsible for the investigation, determination and supervision of old age assistance furnished under this chapter. Said division shall prescribe a uniform system of records and accounts in relation to old age assistance to be kept by the county welfare board, and shall supervise the administration of old age assistance by said county welfare board to the end that there may be throughout the State a uniform standard of records and methods of treatment of aged needy persons, based upon their individual needs and circumstances and with due regard to varying living conditions and costs of living. The said division shall prescribe rules and regulations, supplementing sections 44:7-14 to 44:7-16 of this Title, whereby reimbursement to the county and State may be effected, so far as possible, for assistance extended to any person, from the assets, estate or responsible relatives of such person. Said division shall prescribe, subject to the approval of the commissioner, a form of application, the manner and form of all reports and records, and such additional rules and regulations as are necessary and proper for carrying out the provisions of this chapter and shall prepare and furnish to the Federal Government or agency thereof such reports and records as may be required for securing Federal aid.

Said division shall, in co-operation and association with the Civil Service Commission, require adequate personnel standards for all county welfare boards, as county bureaus of old age assistance, in the manner following: The division shall, by appropriate rule and regulation, establish and maintain standards appropriate to a modern personnel system on a merit basis for all positions and for the application of correct business principles in the creation and abolition of positions, the classification of authorized positions on the basis of the duties and responsibilities of the incumbents, the development, adoption and the administration of equitable compensation schedules for each class of positions, the selection, certification, appointment, regulation and tenure of persons holding such positions, and such other standards for a merit system of personnel administration as may lawfully be required by the Federal Social Security Board for approval of a State public-assistance plan. All rules and regulations promulgated by the division relating to such personnel matters shall, with respect to those county welfare boards, which now or may hereafter operate under the provisions of Title 11, Civil Service, be subject to the jurisdiction and approval of the Civil Service Commission. The division shall, so far as may be practicable utilize the existing facilities and services of the Civil Service Commission in the preparation and conduct of examinations and such other matters as the commission may in its discretion find appropriate. All rules and regulations made by the State division under this chapter shall be binding upon the county welfare boards, as county bureaus of old age assistance.

The division of old age assistance shall have power, with the approval of the commissioner and the State board, to enter into reciprocal agreements with the appropriate public agencies in other States whereby the benefits of this chapter may be extended to New Jersey residents living in other States or to residents of other States living in New Jersey, on a reciprocal basis, and shall have power to waive the eligibility requirement stated in section 44:7-5d as to any case or cases coming within the purview of reciprocal agreements made pursuant hereto.

The director of old age assistance shall have the same powers of subpoena as are granted to the directors of welfare under the provisions of section 44:7-20 of this Title, but the consent of the county welfare boards shall not be essential to the exercise of these powers by the director of old age assistance.

Amended by L.1938, c. 361, p. 902, s. 3, eff. July 1, 1938; L.1940, c. 186, p. 553, s. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1940.