Maryland Department of Human Resources Section 1A

      (a)      The Family Investment Administration is established within the Department of Human Resources. All of the powers, duties, and responsibilities provided for the Social Services Administration in the following programs are transferred to the Family Investment Administration: the Family Investment Program and related cash benefit programs; public assistance to adults; emergency assistance; food stamps; and medical assistance eligibility determinations. References to the "Social Services Administration", "State Department", or "State Administration" in the laws of this State that concern these programs are deemed to mean the Family Investment Administration.

      (b)      The Secretary of Human Resources shall appoint an Executive Director of Family Investment with the approval of the Governor. The Executive Director shall be the head of the Family Investment Administration and shall hold office at the pleasure of the Secretary of Human Resources. All powers, duties, and responsibilities that pertain to programs transferred to the Family Investment Administration and the personnel who administer them which are provided in the laws of this State for the State Director of Social Services are transferred to the Executive Director of Family Investment.

      (c)      The exercise of all authority, duties, and functions vested in the Family Investment Administration or the Executive Director of Family Investment under this article or any other law of this State shall be subject to the authority of the Secretary of Human Resources as set forth in Article 41 of this Code or elsewhere in the laws of this State.

      (d)      The Executive Director of Family Investment shall:

            (1)      Develop a comprehensive process to:

                  (i)      Systematically analyze cash assistance payment errors;

                  (ii)      Formulate strategies, including improvements in the eligibility determination process, to reduce the errors; and

                  (iii)      Monitor implementation of the strategies;

            (2)      Require each local department of social services to submit annual plans that contain measurable objectives, including objectives for participation in work activities, to meet the goals of the family investment program; and

            (3)      Monitor the success of the local departments of social services in achieving the objectives of the plans.