There is within the Department of Health and Human Services the Office of Child and Family Services. The office must be a separate, distinct administrative unit that is not integrated in any way as a part or function of any other administrative unit of the department. The office is equal in organizational level and status with other major organizational units within the department or its successors. The office is under the immediate and full supervision of the commissioner or the chief officer of whatsoever unit succeeds the department. [PL 2023, c. 405, Pt. A, §71 (AMD).]

It is the intent of this Part that the office function as a central office administrative unit of the department and that the powers, duties, authority and responsibility of the office may not be delegated, decentralized or assigned to regional, local or other units of the department, except as provided in this section and section 6108. Regarding any portion of this Part and Part 2 that relate to provision of services directly to eligible people through staff employed subject to the Civil Service Law by the department or other organizational units of State Government, the office may carry out its powers and duties through regional or other administrative units of the department or State Government. [PL 2023, c. 405, Pt. A, §71 (AMD).]

Regarding any portion of this Part and Part 2 that relate to development, execution and monitoring of agreements, the office shall carry out its powers and duties directly with public or private, nonprofit agencies without acting through other administrative units of the department as intermediaries, except as provided in section 6108. Functions relating to agreements do not require the approval of any other unit of the department, except as the office is responsible and accountable to the commissioner and except as provided by section 6108. [PL 2023, c. 405, Pt. A, §71 (AMD).]

The office is the sole agency of State Government responsible for administration of this Part and Part 2 subject to the direction of the commissioner. The office shall fully coordinate with appropriate state agencies and fully utilize existing support services. [PL 2013, c. 368, Pt. CCCC, §6 (AMD).]