A. 
There shall be a Department of Social Services, headed by a Commissioner. The method of choosing the Commissioner and his or her term of office shall be as provided in § C10.01 of Article X of the Charter.
B. 
The Commissioner shall be appointed on the basis of his or her administrative experience and his or her qualifications for the duties of the office as prescribed by the Social Services Law and the rules and regulations made pursuant thereto and shall meet the qualifications for the responsibilities of his or her office required by the New York State Board of Social Welfare.
The Commissioner of Social Services shall:
A. 
Have all the powers and perform all the duties conferred on or required of a County Commissioner of Social Services under the Social Services Law or other applicable law.
B. 
Manage and supervise such social service institutions of the County as may be authorized and approved by the County Legislature.
C. 
Perform such additional and related duties as the County Executive may prescribe and be subject to all obligations and liabilities heretofore or hereafter lawfully granted or imposed by this code, the Charter, local law, ordinance or resolution of the County Legislature or any applicable provision of any act of the State Legislature. He or she shall also perform such other related functions as the County Legislature or the County Executive may designate in order to implement and accomplish the policies and responsibilities the County Legislature has prescribed.
[1]
Editor's Note: See also § C10.02 of the Charter.
There shall be a Social Services Board consisting of 15 members, who shall be appointed by the County Executive for terms of five years, subject to confirmation by the County Legislature. Of the members first appointed to the Social Services Board, three shall hold office for terms of one year; three for terms of two years; three for terms of three years; three for terms of four years; and three for terms of five years, from and after their appointment. The composition of membership shall comply with federal and state regulations. If a vacancy shall occur otherwise than by expiration of a term, it shall be filled by appointment for the unexpired term. The Chairman of such Board shall be selected by the members of the Board for a term of one year. The Board shall advise the County Legislature and the County Executive in matters relating to the powers and duties of the Commissioner of Social Services. The members of the Social Services Board shall further have the power to inspect and review all facilities and programs of the Department of Social Services, with or without notice to the Commissioner of Social Services, and may report and make recommendations to the County Executive, County Legislature and Commissioner of Social Services. All such reports shall be deemed public records and available for inspection at the office of the County Executive at all reasonable times. The Social Services Board shall also advise and consult with the Capital Projects Committee with respect to all capital projects necessary for the Department of Social Services. The Social Services Board shall have and exercise such other and related duties required by the County Legislature or the County Executive.
[1]
Editor's Note: See also § C10.03 of the Charter.
On or before March 1 in each year, the Commissioner of Social Services shall make an annual report for the immediately preceding calendar year, covering generally the work of his or her Department. The Commissioner shall make such other reports at such times as may be required by the County Legislature, County Executive or any other applicable law. Copies of all reports shall be filed with the Clerk to the County Legislature and the County Executive.
A. 
The Commissioner of Social Services, within the appropriations provided therefor, shall appoint such officers, assistants and/or employees in his or her Department, including such actual deputy positions as may be authorized and budgeted, as shall be authorized by the County Legislature. All Deputy Commissioners of Social Services shall serve at the pleasure of the Commissioner of Social Services, subject to all applicable provisions of New York State law.
B. 
The Commissioner of Social Services shall designate and deputize a deputy or deputies to whom shall be delegated all the powers and duties of the Commissioner of Social Services and the authority to act generally for and in place of said Commissioner of Social Services.
C. 
The designation or designations shall be in writing and shall designate the relative rank of the deputies, including the order of temporary succession to the duties of the Commissioner of Social Services during absence, disability or otherwise and also may delegate among them such powers and duties as he or she may determine. The designation(s) and delegations shall be in writing and filed in the Department of Records, and copies thereof shall be filed with the Clerk to the County Legislature and with the County Executive.
The Commissioner shall, when submitting the estimate of revenues and expenditures for the Department of Social Services, include therein a statement of the rates fixed by the state to be paid by the County to hospitals, institutions for the aged, institutions for children, nursing homes, correctional institutions and foster homes and other institutions and a recommendation as to any rates not fixed by the state to be paid by the County for services rendered for the care and maintenance of persons for whom the Department of Social Services is responsible. Such rates, once approved by the County Executive, shall be included in the tentative budget. The County Legislature shall, by resolution and as part of the budget procedure, approve the rates fixed by the state and determine, fix and establish the rates to be paid by the County for services where the rates are not fixed by the state.
All moneys to which the Social Services Department may be entitled under and by virtue of the laws of the State of New York, or which the Commissioner may receive for services performed by his or her Department, shall belong to said Department and shall be collected by such Commissioner, accounted for and paid over to the Commissioner of Finance by a written statement within 10 days after the expiration of each month. Each monthly statement shall have attached thereto a certification by said Commissioner to the effect that the same is in all respects a full and true statement of all such moneys received by him or her for the preceding month. At the time of rendering any such statement, the Commissioner shall pay to the Commissioner of Finance all moneys received by him or her since the last preceding monthly statement. Other funds or fees collected by the Commissioner shall be paid over and reported to the Commissioner of Finance as above provided, except where otherwise specifically provided by statute.
The County Legislature shall have the power, by resolution, local law or ordinance, to establish such rules, regulations and charges not inconsistent with laws relating to the Social Services Department as it may deem necessary. Any such rules, regulations or charges so established shall become valid upon their being filed with the County Executive, the Commissioner of Social Services and the Department of Records.