Sec. 45.

(1) A county family independence agency is created in each county of this state, which shall possess the powers granted and perform the duties imposed in this act. The county family independence agency shall consist of a county family independence agency board and the director of the county family independence agency, together with assistants and employees as may be necessary to operate the county family independence agency. As used in this act, references to “county department of social services” or “county department” mean the county family independence agency and references to “county social services board” and “county board” mean the county family independence agency board.

(2) The powers and duties of the county family independence agency board include all of the following:

(a) Supervision of and responsibility for the administration of the county infirmary and county medical care facility and child caring institution, except as provided in sections 55(c) and 58.

(b) Conduct, in conjunction with the family independence agency, an annual review of social service programs operating within the county.

(c) Development of policy and supervision of the administration of social service programs authorized by the county board of commissioners or financed solely from county funds or county administered funds.

(d) Development and administration of employment programs and work training projects complementary to and not in conflict with state programs.

(e) Review and submit recommendations on contracts involving programs administered by the family independence agency proposed to be entered into between the family independence agency and public or private agencies within the county including proposed purchases of service contracts from applicant agencies within the county eligible for funding under title XX of the social security act, chapter 531, 49 Stat. 620, 42 U.S.C. 1397 to 1397f. A contract shall not be entered into between the family independence agency and a public or private agency within the county until the board has been provided an opportunity for review of the contract. The board shall be advised by the family independence agency within 30 days after contracts have been signed with an explanation of the differences between contracts recommended by the board and those actually entered into.

(f) Act as the agent for the county board of commissioners in the development of coordinated or consolidated approaches to the delivery of social services and cooperative service delivery arrangements between the family independence agency and each public and private social service agency within the county.

(g) Represent the county board of commissioners in all negotiations between the county and the family independence agency.

(h) Make annual policy recommendations to the Michigan county social services association on annual departmental appropriations, priorities for utilization of title XX funds, eligibility standards for general public relief and burial, employment programs, work training projects, and other related issues.

(3) The family independence agency shall provide suitable office accommodations for programs funded in whole or in part with state funds. The county family independence agency board shall review and recommend to the director proposed office sites within the county. The director shall notify the board before final site selection with an explanation of the selection of a site other than that proposed by the board.

(4) The salary and expenses of each member of the county board shall be fixed by the county board of commissioners according to the amount of time the member devotes to the performance of official duties. A member of the county board may not serve as the director or an employee of the county family independence agency. The members of the county boards shall be appointed at the annual October session of commissioners, and members shall qualify by taking and filing the oath of office with the county clerk, and shall assume their duties as prescribed by this act not later than November 1 of the year appointed.

(5) The director, employees, and assistants of the county family independence agency shall be appointed by the family independence agency from among persons certified as qualified by the state civil service commission. The county family independence agency board shall review the qualifications of and interview each applicant for the position of county family independence agency director. The county director shall be appointed from among persons certified as eligible and recommended by the family independence agency and by the county board. These appointment provisions do not apply under conditions of reduction in state work force, in which case the administrative employment preference rules for bumping promulgated by the Michigan civil service commission apply. The county board shall advise and make recommendations to the state director regarding the performance of the county director within 6 months after the appointment of the county director and annually after that time. A copy of each evaluation shall be provided to the county director.

(6) Except as prescribed in sections 35 and 64, a writing prepared, owned, used, in the possession of, or retained by the county family independence agency in the performance of an official function shall be made available to the public in compliance with the freedom of information act, Act No. 442 of the Public Acts of 1976, being sections 15.231 to 15.246 of the Michigan Compiled Laws.

History: 1939, Act 280, Imd. Eff. June 16, 1939 ;-- Am. 1945, Act 53, Eff. Sept. 6, 1945 ;-- CL 1948, 400.45 ;-- Am. 1965, Act 401, Imd. Eff. Oct. 17, 1965 ;-- Am. 1966, Act 74, Imd. Eff. June 10, 1966 ;-- Am. 1975, Act 237, Eff. Dec. 1, 1975 ;-- Am. 1978, Act 224, Imd. Eff. June 13, 1978 ;-- Am. 1995, Act 223, Eff. Mar. 28, 1996 Popular Name: Act 280