§5310. Powers and duties

The bureau shall establish in accordance with the purposes and intent of this Part and Part 2, with the advice of the council and subject to the direction of the commissioner, the overall planning, policy, objectives and priorities for all functions and activities relating to human services, including services to older people funded by Title IV or Title VI, or their successors or amendments or additions thereto of the United States Social Security Act, as amended, and excepting all other services to older people which are conducted or supported in the State. In order to carry out the above, the bureau shall have the power and duty to:   [P&SL 1975, c. 90, §C, §5 (AMD).]

1.  Encourage and assist development of more effective and more coordinated use of existing and new resources and social services available to Maine's residents;

[PL 1973, c. 793, §12 (NEW).]

2.  Serve as a clearinghouse for information related to the field of social services and gather knowledge and statistics on social services, using existing sources of knowledge and data to the fullest extent possible;

[PL 1973, c. 793, §12 (NEW).]

3.  Prepare, publish and disseminate educational materials dealing with social services for Maine's citizens;

[PL 1973, c. 793, §12 (NEW).]

4.  Convene and conduct conferences of such authorities and officials of public and private nonprofit organizations concerned with the development and operation of social service programs intended to benefit citizens as the director deems necessary or proper for the development and implementation of the intent and objectives of this Part and Part 2;

[PL 1973, c. 793, §12 (NEW).]

5.  Provide or coordinate the provision of information, technical assistance and consultation about the field of social services to public and private nonprofit organizations and provide such help in accord with the intent and objectives of this Part and Part 2;

[PL 1973, c. 793, §12 (NEW).]

6.  Coordinate and assist in the planning, development and establishment by public or private nonprofit organizations of social service, programs intended to benefit residents and which are in accord with the intent and objectives of this Part and Part 2. It is the intent of the Legislature that, in exercising this duty, the bureau shall take action to preclude the development or conduct of services which result in duplication of functions or activities funded in whole or part by the Priority Social Services Act of 1973 or Titles IV and VI, or their successors or amendments or additions thereto, of the U.S. Social Security Act, as amended;

[P&SL 1975, c. 90, §C, §5 (AMD).]

7.  Function as the organizational unit of State Government with the sole responsibility for conducting and coordinating, with the advice of the council or of the committee and subject to the direction of the commissioner, functions assigned to it by the commissioner, and functions authorized by this Part and Part 2 and so much of the several Acts, amendments and successors to them enacted by the people of the State of Maine and those authorized by the United States Acts, amendments and successors to them as relate to human services, including services to older people funded by Titles IV and VI, or their successors or amendments or additions thereto of the United States Social Security Act, as amended, and excepting all other services to older people:

A. The Priority Social Services Act of 1973 except services to older people in accordance with section 6108; and   [PL 1973, c. 793, §12 (NEW).]

B. Title IV and VI, in their entirety, of the United States Social Security Act, as amended.   [PL 1973, c. 793, §12 (NEW).]

The bureau is designated as the single agency of State Government solely responsible for administering, subject to the direction of the commissioner, any state plans as may be required by the above Acts, and for administering programs or Acts of the State or United States relating to such human services which are not the specific responsibility of another state agency under state or federal law.

[P&SL 1975, c. 90, §C, §5 (AMD).]

8.  Assist, with the advice of the council, the Legislative and Executive Branches of State Government, especially the Governor, commissioner and Bureau of the Budget, to coordinate all government efforts relating to human services, except services to older people, by:

A. Submitting to each branch of State Government no later than September 1st of each year an annual report covering its activities for the immediately past fiscal year and future plans, including reports of the committee;   [PL 1973, c. 793, §12 (NEW).]

B. Reviewing all proposed legislation, fiscal activities, plans, policies and other administrative functions relating to such human services made by or requested of all state agencies. The bureau shall have the authority to submit to those bodies findings, comments and recommendations, which shall be advisory. Such findings and comments shall recommend what modification in proposals or actions shall be taken to make proposed legislation, fiscal activities and administrative activities consistent with such policies and priorities;   [PL 1973, c. 793, §12 (NEW).]

C. Making recommendations to the respective branches of State Government related to improving the quality of such human services and shall consult with and be consulted by all responsible state agencies regarding the policies, priorities and objectives of functions related to human services;   [PL 1973, c. 793, §12 (NEW).]

[PL 1973, c. 793, §12 (NEW).]

9.  Carry on a continuing evaluation of the social services programs and activities affecting Maine's residents, to determine the needs and priorities for types of social services; the types of services available; the number, location and characteristics of people served by each type of service; the amount, type and source of resources supporting types of services, the administrative adequacy and capacity of social service agencies; and the quality and quantity of types of social services; as well as to determine the value and impact of programs operated by or administered with the assistance of the State and Federal Governments; including social services as authorized by this and the several Acts and amendments to them enacted by the People of the State of Maine; and those authorized by these United States Acts and amendments to them; the Social Security Act of 1935, the Economic Opportunity Act of 1965, and similar Acts. Such human services to be included, but to which the bureau is not limited, are those relating to education, employment and vocational services, income, health, housing, community, mental health, adult developmental, social, transportation and rehabilitation services for people, except older people. Maintaining statistical information through use of uniform methods, which are reasonable, feasible and economically efficient, must be specified for use by public and private agencies, organizations and individuals assisted by state or federal funds pursuant to this Part;

[PL 2011, c. 542, Pt. A, §42 (AMD).]

10.  Prepare, adopt and administer policies, priorities, procedures, rules and regulations to govern its affairs and the development and operation of programs and activities conducted under the authority and in accordance with the purpose and objectives of this Part and Part 2, especially such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the designation of beneficiaries in section 6112, and to define contractual terms, conditions of agreements, quality of performance standards and such other rules as are necessary;

[PL 1973, c. 793, §12 (NEW).]

11.  Provide for the coordination of state and federal programs and activities related to social services in accord with the purpose and objectives of this Part and Part 2;

[PL 1973, c. 793, §12 (NEW).]

12.  Administer in accordance with the intent and objectives of this Part and Part 2, or within any limitation which may apply from the sources of such funds, any funds from any source for the benefit of Maine's residents in need of social services;

[PL 1973, c. 793, §12 (NEW).]

13.  Assist the commissioner in all matters pertaining to social services;

[PL 1973, c. 793, §12 (NEW).]

14.  Develop, in cooperation with other agencies, a plan for meeting the needs for trained personnel in the field of social services and for training persons for carrying out social services related to the intent and objectives of this Part and Part 2, and conduct and provide for the conducting of such training;

[PL 1973, c. 793, §12 (NEW).]

15.  Perform other functions necessary to the powers and duties expressly stated in this Part and Part 2.

[PL 1973, c. 793, §12 (NEW).]

SECTION HISTORY

PL 1973, c. 793, §12 (NEW). P&SL 1975, c. 90, §§SEC.C,5 (AMD). PL 2011, c. 542, Pt. A, §42 (AMD).