Section 358. Federal temporary assistance for needy families block grant

1.  The department shall submit the plan pursuant to title IV-A  of  the
  federal social security act.  The state's program under title IV-A shall
  be  entitled "Family Assistance", and benefits under the state plan with
  respect to the temporary assistance for needy families block grant shall
  be known as family assistance. The department shall act for the state in
  any negotiations relative to the submission and approval  of  such  plan
  and  make  any  arrangement  which may be necessary to obtain and retain
  such approval and to secure for the state the benefits of  such  federal
  act  relating to title IV-A.  The department shall make such regulations
  not inconsistent with law as may be necessary to make such plan  conform
  to  such  federal  act  and  any  rules and regulations adopted pursuant
  thereto.  Such regulations may provide for operation  of  components  of
  the  program  relating  to refugees by contract with a private agency or
  agencies pursuant to section 412(e) of the immigration  and  nationality
  act  (8  U.S. Code 1522(e)(7)). Any refugee whose needs are met pursuant
  to such a  contract  who  would  otherwise  be  a  recipient  of  family
  assistance  or  safety  net  assistance  shall be regarded for all other
  purposes  as  a  recipient  of  family  assistance  or  of  safety   net
  assistance,  respectively.    Each  social  services  district  shall be
  responsible for a share of the state's  expenditures  for  operation  of
  such  a  contract which shall be equal to the share of such expenditures
  such district would  have  borne  after  reimbursement  from  state  and
  federal funds in accordance with section one hundred fifty-three of this
  article,  had the expenditure been made by such district. The department
  shall make reports to  such  federal  agency  in  the  form  and  nature
  required  by it and comply with any request or direction of such federal
  agency which may be necessary to assure the correctness and verification
  of such reports.
    2.  The department of taxation and finance shall  accept  and  receive
  any  and all grants of money awarded to the state pursuant to title IV-A
  of such social security act. All moneys  so received shall be  deposited
  by the department of taxation and finance in a special fund or funds and
  shall  be  used  by  the  state exclusively for temporary assistance for
  needy families block grant and the administration thereof as provided in
  this chapter; provided, however, that portions of  such  moneys  may  be
  transferred  to the child care and development block grant or the social
  services block grant as the legislature may from time to  time  provide.
  Such money shall be paid from such fund or funds on audit and warrant of
  the comptroller upon vouchers of or certification by the commissioner.
    3.   If and for so long as the federal government provides one hundred
  percent funding therefor, the department  is  authorized  to  operate  a
  Cuban  and  Haitian  entrant  program and a refugee resettlement program
  pursuant to title IV of the federal  immigration  and  nationality  act,
  including   provision  for  refugee  cash  assistance,  refugee  medical
  assistance, refugee child welfare services, and refugee social services.
  The department shall submit  the  plan  for  such  refugee  resettlement
  program to the federal department of health and human services and shall
  act  for  the  state  in any negotiations relative to the submission and
  approval of such plan and make any arrangement which may be necessary to
  obtain and retain such approval.
    4. The department shall make such regulations  not  inconsistent  with
  law  as  may  be necessary to make such plan conform to such federal act
  and any rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto. Such regulations
  may provide for operation of components of the program directly  by  the
  department,  through  social  services  districts  on  behalf   of   the
  department or, subject to the approval of the  director  of  the  budget
  upon  a  demonstration of cost-effectiveness, by contract with a private

  agency or agencies and may provide  that  an  eligible  recipient  shall
  receive   assistance  pursuant  to  such  contract  in  lieu  of  family
  assistance or safety net assistance.
    5. The state program under title IV-A of the social security act shall
  permit   individuals  to  accumulate  funds  in  individual  development
  accounts established pursuant to  section  four  hundred  three  of  the
  social security act as trust accounts funded with periodic contributions
  of earned income by the individual or of amounts matched by or through a
  not-for-profit  organization  described  in  section  501(c)(3)  of  the
  Internal Revenue Code and exempt from taxation under section  501(a)  of
  such Code; provided, however, that neither the state nor social services
  districts  shall  be  required  to  make  or  match  contributions or to
  administer any such account.