GA Code § 49-5-16 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 49 - Social Services|Chapter 5 - Programs and Protection for Children and Youth|Article 1 - Children and Youth Services|§ 49-5-16. Power of Department to Contract; Acceptance of Children From Federal Courts for Compensation

  The department shall have the power and is authorized:   To enter into contracts with federal, state, county, and municipal governments and their agencies and departments; public and private institutions and agencies of this and other states; and individuals, as may be necessary or desirable in effectuating the purposes of this article;   To enter into contracts and cooperative agreements with county or district departments of family and children services as may be necessary or desirable in effectuating the purposes of this article;   To enter into reciprocal agreements with appropriate public and private institutions and agencies of other states relative to providing child welfare and youth services to nonresident children and youths; and to cooperate with such institutions and agencies in establishment and operation of group-care facilities appropriate for social study, treatment, and rehabilitation of children and youths; and   To accept children and youths from federal courts and provide them social services within the scope of this article for compensation and under such terms as may be agreed upon.     The board may authorize the commissioner to enter into contracts and agreements provided for in this Code section subject to the approval of the board or may, through appropriate action of the board, delegate such authority to the commissioner.    (Ga. L. 1963, p. 81, § 17.)   OPINIONS OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL   Acceptance of children from federal institutions and provision of services in state facilities.    - Department of Family and Children Services (now Division of Family and Children Services of the Department of Human Resources) is authorized to enter into agreements to accept children and youth from the federal penal and corrective institutions and agencies and to provide those institutions and agencies with the services extended by the facilities of the department to those children taken pursuant to Georgia court orders; the conditions and circumstances under which such agreements should be effectuated is a matter within the administrative powers of the board pursuant to Ga. L. 1963, p. 81, § 6 (see O.C.G.A. § 49-5-5) and can be effectuated by the adoption of such appropriate rules and regulations as the board deems necessary. Adequate compensation for the costs thereof may be collected by the department from the agency transferring the children or youth to the Georgia facilities. 1968 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 68-191.   Contracting with counties for purchase or transfer of land.   - Division for Children and Youth (now Division of Family and Children Services of the Department of Human Resources) is authorized to contract with a county for the purchase or transfer of land to be used for a maximum security child detention center. 1970 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 70-104; 1970 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 70-187.    Department may contract with a county to construct and equip  a temporary care facility for youths, pending juvenile delinquency proceedings, provided that funds appropriated from the Governor's Emergency Fund do not create a continuing obligation for the state. 1970 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 70-119.   Board may contract to pay travel expenses of volunteers.   - Board of Human Resources, through the board's specifically delegated contractual authority, may contract in writing to pay travel expenses to volunteer workers performing work properly authorized by the department. 1971 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 71-76.