<section article="ghu" article_name="Human Services" number="4-101" title_number="4" title_name="Social Services" subtitle_number="1" subtitle_name="Definitions"> <level label="a"> <text>In this title the following words have the meanings indicated.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>“Administration” means the Social Services Administration.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <text>“Department” means the Department of Human Services.</text> </level> <level label="d"> <text>“Executive Director” means the Executive Director of Social Services.</text> </level> <level label="e"> <text>“Local department” means:</text> <level label="1"> <text>a local department of social services created or continued in a county under § 3–201 of this article; or</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>in Montgomery County, the Montgomery County government.</text> </level> </level> <level label="f"> <text>“Secretary” means the Secretary of Human Services.</text> </level> </section> <section article="ghu" article_name="Human Services" number="4-201" title_number="4" title_name="Social Services" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Social Services Administration"> <text>There is a Social Services Administration in the Department.</text> </section> <section article="ghu" article_name="Human Services" number="4-202" title_number="4" title_name="Social Services" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Social Services Administration"> <text>The Administration and the Executive Director exercise their authority, duties, and functions under any State law subject to the authority of the Secretary under any State law.</text> </section> <section article="ghu" article_name="Human Services" number="4-203" title_number="4" title_name="Social Services" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Social Services Administration"> <level label="a"> <text>With the approval of the Governor, the Secretary shall appoint the Executive Director.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>The Executive Director shall be a competent person with adequate training and practical experience in social welfare work.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <text>The Executive Director serves at the pleasure of the Secretary.</text> </level> <level label="d"> <text>The Executive Director is entitled to the compensation provided in the State budget.</text> </level> </section> <section article="ghu" article_name="Human Services" number="4-204" title_number="4" title_name="Social Services" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Social Services Administration"> <level label="a"> <level label="1"> <text>The Executive Director is the administrative head of the Administration.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The Executive Director shall devote the Executive Director’s whole time to the duties of the office.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>Subject to State and federal laws governing the administration of social services, the Executive Director shall:</text> <level label="1"> <text>administer and organize the Administration;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>supervise the social service activities of the local departments; and</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>supervise other agencies and institutions under the supervision of the Administration.</text> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <level label="1"> <text>The Executive Director may prescribe the number and minimum qualifications of the personnel engaged in the administration of the activities of the Administration and of the local departments that are financed wholly or partly by the Administration.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <level label="i"> <text>As provided in the State budget, the Executive Director may appoint the personnel required to properly perform the duties of the Administration.</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>Except as otherwise provided, appointment and removal of all paid personnel under this title are subject to the provisions of the State Personnel and Pensions Article.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="d"> <text>The Executive Director shall submit budget estimates for the Administration to the Secretary.</text> </level> </section> <section article="ghu" article_name="Human Services" number="4-205" title_number="4" title_name="Social Services" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Social Services Administration"> <level label="a"> <level label="1"> <text>The Administration shall be the central coordinating and directing agency of all social service activities in the State, including:</text> <level label="i"> <text>child welfare services; and</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>any other social service activities financed wholly or partly by the Administration.</text> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <text>For the purposes of these duties, child welfare services provided to a minor may continue after the minor’s eighteenth birthday but not beyond the minor’s twenty-first birthday.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>The Administration shall supervise, direct, and control the activities of the local departments that it finances wholly or partly.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <text>The Administration shall supervise all public and private institutions that have care, custody, or control of abused, abandoned, dependent, or neglected children, except:</text> <level label="1"> <text>institutions under the authority of the Department of Juvenile Services; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>agencies, persons, or institutions designated by the Department of Juvenile Services under § 9-217 of this article.</text> </level> </level> <level label="d"> <level label="1"> <text>The Administration may visit any State-aided institution, organization, or agency engaged in social service or welfare activities and inspect thoroughly its management, buildings, and equipment.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Visits and inspections under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be made:</text> <level label="i"> <text>at reasonably convenient hours; and</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>with reasonable regard to the established discipline, regulations, and customs of the institution, organization, or agency.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="e"> <text>As desirable or necessary for the purpose of this title, the Administration may designate existing agencies or organizations in the State as the Administration’s agents.</text> </level> <level label="f"> <text>Before the start of each regular session of the General Assembly, the Administration shall submit a report of its activities to the Governor.</text> </level> </section> <section article="ghu" article_name="Human Services" number="4-206" title_number="4" title_name="Social Services" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Social Services Administration"> <text>The Department may develop and implement an automated statewide system and related administrative procedures to achieve effectively and efficiently the purposes of this title.</text> </section> <section article="ghu" article_name="Human Services" number="4-207" title_number="4" title_name="Social Services" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Social Services Administration"> <level label="a"> <text>Subject to § 2-209(b) of this article, the Executive Director may adopt regulations necessary to carry out the duties imposed on the Executive Director by law.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <level label="1"> <text>The Executive Director shall adopt regulations covering the custody, use, and preservation of the records of the Administration and the local departments concerning applicants for and recipients of social services.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The use of the records of the Administration and the local departments by any other governmental unit shall be limited to the purposes for which the records are furnished.</text> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <level label="1"> <text>All regulations or directives implemented by the Executive Director that are based on federal law, rules, regulations, or guidelines shall have the federal material:</text> <level label="i"> <text>referenced in the text of the State material; or</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>attached permanently to the State material.</text> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The Department shall furnish to each of the local departments at least one up-to-date copy of all current federal regulations applicable to the operations of the local department.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="ghu" article_name="Human Services" number="4-301" title_number="4" title_name="Social Services" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="Miscellaneous Provisions"> <level label="a"> <text>The Secretary shall implement a comprehensive plan to recruit, train, and retain child welfare caseworkers and casework supervisors who meet the requirements of this section.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <level label="1"> <text>The Secretary shall hire as caseworkers only human services professionals, such as:</text> <level label="i"> <text>social workers licensed in accordance with Title 19 of the Health Occupations Article;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>psychologists licensed in accordance with Title 18 of the Health Occupations Article;</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>professional counselors certified in accordance with Title 17 of the Health Occupations Article;</text> </level> <level label="iv"> <text>nurses licensed in accordance with Title 8 of the Health Occupations Article;</text> </level> <level label="v"> <text>school psychologists certified in accordance with regulations adopted under Title 6, Subtitle 7 of the Education Article; and</text> </level> <level label="vi"> <text>human service workers who:</text> <level label="1"> <text>have a degree in an appropriate behavioral science;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>have completed the mandatory preservice training and competency test; and</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>are supervised by licensed social workers.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The Secretary may retain permanent employees employed on or before December 31, 1998 who do not have the qualifications specified in paragraph (1) of this subsection if the Secretary finds that the employees are performing their duties satisfactorily.</text> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <text>The Secretary shall:</text> <level label="1"> <text>implement a preservice training program and competency test for newly employed caseworkers;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>require that all new casework staff:</text> <level label="i"> <text>be hired provisionally;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>except for staff described in item (4) of this subsection, complete a 40–hour preservice training program; and</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>pass a competency test before being granted permanent employment status;</text> </level> </level> <level label="3"> <text>implement mandatory standards for continuing education for all caseworkers and casework supervisors that require that employees who fail to obtain the required continuing education credits be subject to disciplinary action, including demotion, suspension, and dismissal;</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>develop and implement mandatory standards that exempt newly hired individuals who have documented and verified casework experience or hold appropriate State licensure from the 40–hour preservice training program specified in item (2)(ii) of this subsection; and</text> </level> <level label="5"> <text>require caseworkers who are exempt from the preservice training program specified in item (2)(ii) of this subsection and fail the competency test to participate in the preservice training program and to take and pass the competency test before being granted permanent employment status.</text> </level> </level> <level label="d"> <level label="1"> <text>The Secretary may not employ human services professionals on a contractual basis as caseworkers or casework supervisors, except as required to meet an unanticipated need resulting from:</text> <level label="i"> <text>a significant and unexpected increase in reports of child abuse or neglect, or both; or</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>a significant and unexpected increase in the foster care or kinship care caseload, or both.</text> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <text>A caseworker or casework supervisor contractual position may not exist longer than 1 year.</text> </level> </level> <level label="e"> <text>Whenever the Secretary contracts with an outside entity for casework services, the Secretary shall require the contractor to comply with the employment qualifications, training curriculum, preservice and in–service training, and competency testing required under this section.</text> </level> </section> <section article="ghu" article_name="Human Services" number="4-302" title_number="4" title_name="Social Services" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="Miscellaneous Provisions"> <text>The Administration may:</text> <level label="1"> <text>accept any federal funds or commodities;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>manage and dispose of any federal funds or commodities as required by federal law; and</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>apply the federal Social Security Act or any other federal law relating to social services to the benefit of the State.</text> </level> </section> <section article="ghu" article_name="Human Services" number="4-303" title_number="4" title_name="Social Services" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="Miscellaneous Provisions"> <level label="a"> <text>The Administration shall make every effort to recoup overpayments made to recipients that the State is authorized to recoup under federal law.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>The Administration shall establish an administrative procedure, in accordance with federal law, to be followed when the Administration has reason to believe that an overpayment has been made.</text> </level> </section> <section article="ghu" article_name="Human Services" number="4-304" title_number="4" title_name="Social Services" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="Miscellaneous Provisions"> <level label="a"> <level label="1"> <text>In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>“Foster youth” means an individual who:</text> <level label="i"> <text>is in out–of–home care under the responsibility of the State; or</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <level label="1"> <text>is an adult under the age of 26 years; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>was in out–of–home care under the responsibility of the State on the individual’s 18th birthday.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="3"> <text>“Program” means the Foster Youth Summer Internship Program established under this section.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>The Secretary shall:</text> <level label="1"> <text>develop and implement a Foster Youth Summer Internship Program with the assistance of the Department of Budget and Management and in consultation with the local directors of local departments of social services; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>coordinate with State agencies to establish internships in State agencies that are open to participants in the Program.</text> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <text>The purpose of the Program is to provide foster youth with training and experience through internships in agencies within the Executive Branch of State government.</text> </level> <level label="d"> <text>The Program shall be established in multiple regions of the State.</text> </level> <level label="e"> <text>Internships under the Program may be paid or unpaid.</text> </level> <level label="f"> <text>A State agency participating in the Program may:</text> <level label="1"> <text>specify requirements for internship applicants; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>select its interns from among the available applicants.</text> </level> </level> <level label="g"> <text>To be eligible to participate in an internship under the Program, an individual must be a foster youth at least 15 years old.</text> </level> <level label="h"> <text>On or before October 1, 2019, the Secretary, in consultation with the Department of Human Services, shall report to the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee, the Senate Finance Committee, and the House Appropriations Committee of the General Assembly, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, on:</text> <level label="1"> <text>the number of foster youth participating in the Program;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>the location and type of internships in the Program;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>efforts to recruit eligible individuals to participate in the Program; and</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>factors that affect Program participation.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="ghu" article_name="Human Services" number="4-305" title_number="4" title_name="Social Services" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="Miscellaneous Provisions"> <level label="a"> <level label="1"> <text>In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>“Credential” means a recognized:</text> <level label="i"> <text>educational diploma;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>certificate or degree;</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>occupational license;</text> </level> <level label="iv"> <text>apprenticeship certificate;</text> </level> <level label="v"> <text>industry–recognized certification; or</text> </level> <level label="vi"> <text>award for skills attainment and completion, issued by an approved training provider in the State or third–party credential provider.</text> </level> </level> <level label="3"> <text>“Foster care recipient” has the meaning stated in § 15–106.1 of the Education Article.</text> </level> <level label="4"> <level label="i"> <text>“Job readiness training” means training for the purpose of assisting and supporting jobseekers in overcoming individual barriers to employment and developing the skills necessary to maintain employment and to qualify for skills training opportunities.</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>“Job readiness training” includes:</text> <level label="1"> <text>occupational skills development;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>GED preparation;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>literacy advancement;</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>financial stability services, including financial coaching;</text> </level> <level label="5"> <text>credit counseling; and</text> </level> <level label="6"> <text>assistance in meeting training–related transportation and child care needs.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="5"> <text>“Program” means the Fostering Employment Program established under this section.</text> </level> <level label="6"> <text>“Registered apprenticeship program” means a formal training program approved and registered by the Maryland Department of Labor, or by the United States Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship.</text> </level> <level label="7"> <text>“Training provider” means an entity that:</text> <level label="i"> <text>provides training and employment services to individuals described in § 11–504(b) of the Labor and Employment Article; or</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>is awarded a strategic industry partnership grant under § 11–703 of the Labor and Employment Article.</text> </level> </level> <level label="8"> <text>“Unaccompanied homeless youth” means a child or youth who:</text> <level label="i"> <text>has had a consistent presence in the State for at least 1 year before enrollment in a job readiness training program or registered apprenticeship program that is documented by school, employment, or other records;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>is not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian;</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>is a homeless child or youth, as defined by the McKinney–Vento Homeless Assistance Act; and</text> </level> <level label="iv"> <text>was determined to be a homeless child or youth by:</text> <level label="1"> <text>a Maryland local school system homeless liaison, as defined by the McKinney–Vento Homeless Assistance Act;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>a director or a designee of the director of a Maryland–based program funded under the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act; or</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>a director or a designee of the director of a Maryland–based program funded under Title IV, Subtitle B of the McKinney–Vento Homeless Assistance Act.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="9"> <text>“Workforce development area” means a geographic area designated by the Governor in accordance with § 106 of the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>There is a Fostering Employment Program.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <text>The Department and the Maryland Department of Labor shall jointly supervise the Program.</text> </level> <level label="d"> <text>The purpose of the Program is to provide employment opportunities for foster care recipients and unaccompanied homeless youth through training that leads to industry–recognized credentials.</text> </level> <level label="e"> <text>The Department, in coordination with the Maryland Department of Labor, shall:</text> <level label="1"> <text>develop and implement the Program; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>coordinate with:</text> <level label="i"> <text>the local departments of social services; and</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>the local workforce development boards in the State workforce development areas.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="f"> <text>The Program shall provide foster care recipients and unaccompanied homeless youth with opportunities to obtain credentials through:</text> <level label="1"> <text>a registered apprenticeship program; or</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>job readiness training.</text> </level> </level> <level label="g"> <text>A foster care recipient or an unaccompanied homeless youth who is not exempt from paying tuition under § 15–106.1 of the Education Article is eligible to receive funding under the Program if the individual is:</text> <level label="1"> <text>at least 16 years of age; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>enrolled in:</text> <level label="i"> <text>a registered apprenticeship program; or</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>job readiness training through a training provider funded by the Maryland Department of Labor.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="h"> <text>The Department and the Maryland Department of Labor jointly may adopt regulations to carry out this section.</text> </level> </section>