(a)  Except as otherwise provided for herein, the director of the department of human services is responsible for implementation of this chapter.

lawyer at desk

Ask a legal question, get an answer ASAP!
Click here to chat with a lawyer about your rights.

Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 40-5.2-27

  • Assistance: means cash and any other benefits provided pursuant to this chapter. See Rhode Island General Laws 40-5.2-8
  • Benefits: shall mean assistance received pursuant to this chapter. See Rhode Island General Laws 40-5.2-8
  • Department: means the department of human services. See Rhode Island General Laws 40-5.2-8
  • Director: means the director of the department of human services. See Rhode Island General Laws 40-5.2-8
  • Family: means : (i) A pregnant person from onset of pregnancy; or (ii) A child and the following eligible persons living in the same household as the child: (iii) Each biological, adoptive or stepparent of the child, or in the absence of a parent, any adult relative who is responsible, in fact, for the care of such child; and (iv) The child's minor siblings (whether of the whole or half blood); provided, however, that the term "family" shall not include any person receiving benefits under Title XVI of the Social Security Act, Rhode Island General Laws 40-5.2-8
  • Fiscal year: The fiscal year is the accounting period for the government. For the federal government, this begins on October 1 and ends on September 30. The fiscal year is designated by the calendar year in which it ends; for example, fiscal year 2006 begins on October 1, 2005 and ends on September 30, 2006.
  • Relative: means a parent, stepparent, grandparent, great grandparent, great-great grandparent, aunt, great-aunt, great-great aunt, uncle, great-uncle, great-great uncle, sister, brother, stepbrother, stepsister, half-brother, half-sister, first cousin, first cousin once removed, niece, great-niece, great-great niece, nephew, great-nephew, or great-great nephew. See Rhode Island General Laws 40-5.2-8
  • State: means the state of Rhode Island. See Rhode Island General Laws 40-5.2-8
  • United States: include the several states and the territories of the United States. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-8

(b)  No later than March 1 of each year, the director shall submit a plan to the general assembly showing how, within available resources, the department expects to operate the programs authorized under this chapter in the succeeding fiscal year. The director will provide an annual report of program impact on families served by the Rhode Island works program and indicators of success. The report shall also reflect the child support guidelines issued from time to time by the Rhode Island family court.

(c)  The department is empowered and authorized to submit its plan for services under the act to the federal government or any agency or department thereof having funds available for benefits to low-income families for approval pursuant to the provisions of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 301 et seq. The department shall act for the state in any negotiations relative to the submission and approval of the plan and/or waivers and may make any arrangement or changes in its plan and/or waivers not inconsistent with this chapter that may be required or permitted by the Social Security Act or rules and regulations promulgated pursuant thereto to obtain and retain approval and to secure for this state the benefits of the provisions of the federal act relating to family assistance. The department shall make reports to the federal government or any agency or department thereof, in the form and nature required by it, and shall in all respects comply with any request or direction of the federal government or any agency or department thereof that may be necessary to assure the correctness and verification of the reports.

(d)  The department of human services is hereby authorized and directed to expedite the implementation of this act by submitting to the federal government, on behalf of the state, the state plan amendments and any federal waiver requests it deems necessary to fully implement the provisions of this act and to secure for this state the benefits of federal financial participation and/or grants for the above-referenced programs, as amended, pursuant to Titles IV and XIX of the federal Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 601 et seq. and 1396 et seq., and Subchapter II-B of the Child Care and Development Block Grant codified at 42 U.S.C. § 9858 et seq., and as these acts may hereafter be re-codified or amended by acts as may be considered and enacted by the Congress of the United States.

(1)  Any provisions of this chapter and chapters 6 and 6.2 of this title and § 42-12-3 that are inconsistent with federal law or regulations shall be void unless the department receives an exemption or waiver from the federal government to implement the provision.

(2)  The department of human services is hereby authorized and directed to implement this act only in accordance with the terms and conditions of state plan amendments, waivers, or other approvals granted by the federal government and changes in rules, regulations, and policies of the department that are promulgated pursuant to chapter 35 of Title 42.

History of Section.
P.L. 2008, ch. 100, art. 16, § 1.