(a) There is hereby established the Division of State Service Centers under the direction and control of the Secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services.

(b) The Division of State Service Centers shall be responsible for the operation of Service Centers throughout the State as the General Assembly from time to time may provide for.

(c) The Division of State Service Centers shall coordinate the delivery of services and programs of various divisions within the Department of Health and Social Services, other State agencies, and nonprofit providers who are co-located in State Service Centers.

(d) The Division of State Service Centers shall report from time to time to the Secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services concerning the effectiveness of delivery of services by State Service Centers.

(e) The mission of the Division of State Service Centers is to alleviate crises, to foster self-sufficiency for vulnerable families, to provide volunteer and community service opportunities for all Delawareans and to address the causes and conditions of poverty.

(f) The Division of State Service Centers shall operate the State Office of Volunteerism, the Office of Community Services and the Office of Family Support.

(g) The Division of State Service Centers shall serve as a safety net for Delawareans by facilitating individual and community partnerships for the delivery of human services, and by advocating for vulnerable families.

(h) The Division of State Service Centers shall have the power to promulgate rules and regulations to implement this section.

(i) The Division of State Service Centers is authorized to solicit and accept contributions, grants, gifts and bequests from organizations including, but not limited to, private foundations or alliances, non-public agencies, institutions, organizations or businesses. All funds generated shall be retained by the Division of State Service Centers in order to defray costs associated with the volunteer and community service activities and events of the Division of State Service Centers. Funds received will not be used for employee salaries or benefits. All funds received are subject to audit by the Department of Health and Social Services and the Office of Management and Budget, and employees of the Division of State Service Centers are bound by § 5806 of this title when engaging in fundraising activities.

(j) All employees of Family Visitation Centers operated by the Division, either directly or through contractual agreement, shall be certified as to whether:

(1) The individual is named in the Central Register as the perpetrator of a reported case of child abuse. Costs associated with obtaining the Child Abuse Registry information shall be borne by the State.

(2) The individual has cleared state and federal criminal history background checks. Costs associated with obtaining the criminal history information shall be borne by the State for state employees.

The Division shall develop policies concerning the conditions of employment related to both Child Abuse Registry checks and criminal history background checks.

71 Del. Laws, c. 290, § 1; 74 Del. Laws, c. 77, § 1; 75 Del. Laws, c. 88, § 21(13); 75 Del. Laws, c. 95, § 1; 75 Del. Laws, c. 273, § 1.