[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 94 (Wednesday, May 16, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27572-27573]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-9420]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Statement of Organization, Functions and Delegation of Authority

    Notice is hereby given that I have redelegated to the Associate 
Director, Office of Family Assistance, the following authorities vested 
in me by the Assistant Secretary of Administration for Children and 
Families in the memoranda dated February 16, 2007.

(a) Authorities Delegated

    1. Authority to administer Income and Eligibility Verification 
Systems (IEVS), as they pertain to the Administration for Children and 
Families' programs, under the provisions of Title XI, Section 1137 of 
the Social Security Act, and as amended now and hereafter.
    2. Authority to administer the provisions of Title I, Block Grants 
for Temporary Assistance for Needy

[[Page 27573]]

Families (TANF) under Sections 101-103, 106-110, 112, 115, and 116 of 
the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 
1996, 42 U.S.C. 1305 note, 42 U.S.C. 601 et seq., and as amended now 
and hereafter. In addition, in exercising authority under Section 103, 
``Section 413, Research, Evaluations, and National Studies,'' of the 
Social Security Act, the Director, Office of Family Assistance, 
Administration for Children and Families, is expected to consult with 
the Department of Health and Human Services, Assistant Secretary for 
Planning and Evaluation.
    3. Authority to administer the provisions of the Adult Assistance 
(AA) Programs under Titles I, X, XIV and XVI (Grants to States for Aid 
to the Aged, Blind and Disabled) of the Social Security Act, and as 
amended now and hereafter.
    4. Authority under Section 1119 of the Social Security Act, and as 
amended now and hereafter, to approve Federal financial participation 
in payments for repairs to homes owned by recipients of aid or 
assistance under Titles I, X, XIV, or XVI.

(b) Limitations

    1. This delegation of authority shall be exercised under the 
Department's existing policies on delegations and regulations.
    2. This delegation of authority does not include the authority to 
submit reports to Congress and shall be exercised under financial and 
administrative requirements applicable to all Administration for 
Children and Families' authorities.
    3. The approval or disapproval of grant applications requires 
concurrence of the appropriate Grants Officer. The approval or 
disapproval of contract proposals and awards are subject to the 
requirements of the Federal Acquisition Regulations and requires the 
concurrence of the Contracting Officer.
    4. The authority to approve/disapprove under 45 CFR 205.55(d) State 
applications to use alternate sources of information for income and 
eligibility (i.e., IEVS) requires consultation with the Office of the 
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Administration and with the other 
programs affected by the request.
    5. This delegation of authority does not include the authority to 
issue annual rankings of States' most and least successful work 
programs and out-of-wedlock birth ratios under Sections 413(d)(1) and 
413(e)(1) of the Social Security Act.
    6. This delegation of authority does not include the authority 
under sections 409(a) or 412(g) of the Social Security Act to make 
determinations regarding State or tribal compliance or performance or 
technical noncompliance and to impose penalties and the authority under 
section 410(a) of the Social Security Act to issue notices to States or 
tribes regarding the imposition of such penalties.
    7. This delegation of authority does not include the authority to 
sign and issue notices of grant awards for family assistance programs.
    8. This delegation of authority does not include the authority to 
appoint Central Office and Regional Office Grant Officers for the 
administration of family assistance programs.
    9. This delegation of authority does not include the authority to 
appoint Action Officials for Audit Resolution.
    10. This delegation of authority does not include the authority to 
conduct research under sections 413(a), (b), and (h) of the Social 
Security Act or to review proposals and approve State funding for 
evaluations of Title IV-A programs under section 413(f) of the Social 
Security Act.
    11. This delegation of authority excludes the authority to hold 
hearings.
    12. This delegation of authority does not include the authority to 
approve or disapprove State requests for Federal financial 
participation for the costs of automated data processing equipment and 
services which affect more than one HHS Operating Division.
    13. This delegation of authority does not include the authority to 
make determinations on State appeals concerning audit questions or 
recommendations by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) 
Audit Agency which involve ACF program practices reviewed under Titles 
I, X, XI and XVI of the Social Security Act.
    14. This delegation of authority does not include the authority to 
disapprove Adult Assistance State Plans and amendments.
    15. This delegation of authority does not include the authority to 
approve or disapprove TANF work participation plans.
    16. This delegation of authority does not include the authority to 
sign official policy transmittals such as Action Transmittals, 
Information Memoranda, etc.
    17. This delegation of authority does not include the authority to 
approve or disapprove corrective compliance plans or make reasonable 
cause determinations.
    18. This delegation of authority does not include the authority to 
make determinations that TANF plans are incomplete.
    19. This delegation of authority does not include the authority to 
disapprove Tribal TANF and Tribal NEW plans or amendments.
    20. This delegation of authority does not include the authority to 
take disallowances in Tribal NEW programs.
    21. This delegation of authority does not include the authority to 
approve or disapprove discretionary grant applications under section 
403(a)(2) of the Social Security Act.
    22. The issuance of new policy interpretations require the 
concurrence of the Director, OFA.
    23. Actions likely to have a significant impact on State or Tribes, 
or discretionary grantees or have political ramifications or be subject 
to or receive adverse publicity shall be brought to the prior attention 
of the Director, OFA.
    24. Any redelegation shall be in writing and prompt notification 
must be provided to all affected managers, supervisors, and other 
personnel, and requires the concurrence of the Deputy Assistant 
Secretary for Administration.

(c) Effective Date

    This delegation of authority was effective on April 17, 2007.

(d) Effect on Existing Delegations

    As related to the authorities delegated herein, this delegation of 
authority supersedes all previous delegations of authority to the 
Associate Director, TANF.
    I hereby affirm and ratify any actions taken by the Associate 
Director, TANF, Office of Family Assistance, which involved the 
exercise of the authorities delegated herein prior to the effective 
date of this delegation.

    Dated: May 9, 2007.
Sidonie Squier,
Director, Office of Family Assistance.
 [FR Doc. E7-9420 Filed 5-15-07; 8:45 am]
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