30:4C-27 Expenses of maintenance chargeable against State funds.

27. Pursuant to the providing of care, custody or guardianship for any child, in accordance with the provisions of this act, the division may expend such sums as may be necessary for the reasonable and proper cost of maintenance, including board, lodging, clothing, medical, dental, and hospital care, or any other similar or specialized commodity or service as the needs of any such child may require, except that the division shall not maintain a clothing warehouse for the distribution of clothing to children under its jurisdiction. In lieu thereof, the division may pay resource family parents caring for children under their supervision a sufficient amount to enable them to purchase necessary clothing items required by the children from the local merchants of the locality in which they reside. Such maintenance costs and the total cost of hospital care for children as provided for herein shall be borne by the State. However, no costs shall be chargeable if incurred earlier than the date of the child's acceptance in care as provided in section 12 hereof, or earlier than the date of an order of commitment to guardianship as provided in section 20 hereof.

Whenever a medical or psychological examination shall be required for any child as a condition to providing care or custody, or whenever the division avails itself of the facilities and services of any privately sponsored agency or institution, the cost of the examination or service shall be a proper charge against State funds, within the limits of available appropriations, in the same manner and extent as expenditures for maintenance.

In providing care, custody or guardianship for any child or in the course of determining the eligibility of any child for care, custody or guardianship in accordance with the provisions of this act, the division may avail itself of the facilities and services of any privately sponsored agency or institution, with due regard to the religious background of the child, which complies with those rules and regulations as established pursuant to this act, paying such fees for service as may be mutually agreed upon by the division and the privately sponsored agency or institution providing service.

Whenever a child under care, custody or guardianship is in need of operation, anaesthesia, diagnostic tests or treatment, the division may give its consent thereto. A consent to operation, anaesthesia, diagnostic tests or treatment when given by the division on behalf of any child receiving care, custody or guardianship shall be deemed legal and valid for all purposes with respect to any person or hospital affording service to such child pursuant to and in reliance upon such consent.

Nothing contained herein shall modify the provisions of section 6 of the act of which this act is amendatory.

L.1951,c.138,s.27; amended 1956, c.44, s.2; 1962, c.197, s.28; 1990, c.66, s.3; 2004, c.130, s.67.