There is a Social Services Administration in the Department.

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.

With the approval of the Governor, the Secretary shall appoint the Executive Director. The Executive Director shall be a competent person with adequate training and practical experience in social welfare work. The Executive Director serves at the pleasure of the Secretary. The Executive Director is entitled to the compensation provided in the State budget.

The Executive Director is the administrative head of the Administration. The Executive Director shall devote the Executive Director’s whole time to the duties of the office. Subject to State and federal laws governing the administration of social services, the Executive Director shall: administer and organize the Administration; supervise the social service activities of the local departments; and supervise other agencies and institutions under the supervision of the Administration. 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. As provided in the State budget, the Executive Director may appoint the personnel required to properly perform the duties of the Administration. 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. The Executive Director shall submit budget estimates for the Administration to the Secretary.

The Administration shall be the central coordinating and directing agency of all social service activities in the State, including: child welfare services; and any other social service activities financed wholly or partly by the Administration. 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. The Administration shall supervise, direct, and control the activities of the local departments that it finances wholly or partly. The Administration shall supervise all public and private institutions that have care, custody, or control of abused, abandoned, dependent, or neglected children, except: institutions under the authority of the Department of Juvenile Services; and agencies, persons, or institutions designated by the Department of Juvenile Services under § 9-217 of this article. 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. Visits and inspections under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be made: at reasonably convenient hours; and with reasonable regard to the established discipline, regulations, and customs of the institution, organization, or agency. 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. Before the start of each regular session of the General Assembly, the Administration shall submit a report of its activities to the Governor.

The Department may develop and implement an automated statewide system and related administrative procedures to achieve effectively and efficiently the purposes of this title.

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. 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. 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. All regulations or directives implemented by the Executive Director that are based on federal law, rules, regulations, or guidelines shall have the federal material: referenced in the text of the State material; or attached permanently to the State material. 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.