§ 358. Federal temporary assistance for needy families block grant. 1. The department shall submit the plan pursuant to title IV-A of the federal social security act. The state's program under title IV-A shall be entitled "Family Assistance", and benefits under the state plan with respect to the temporary assistance for needy families block grant shall be known as family assistance. The department shall act for the state in any negotiations relative to the submission and approval of such plan and make any arrangement which may be necessary to obtain and retain such approval and to secure for the state the benefits of such federal act relating to title IV-A. The department shall make such regulations not inconsistent with law as may be necessary to make such plan conform to such federal act and any rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto. Such regulations may provide for operation of components of the program relating to refugees by contract with a private agency or agencies pursuant to section 412(e) of the immigration and nationality act (8 U.S. Code 1522(e)(7)). Any refugee whose needs are met pursuant to such a contract who would otherwise be a recipient of family assistance or safety net assistance shall be regarded for all other purposes as a recipient of family assistance or of safety net assistance, respectively. Each social services district shall be responsible for a share of the state's expenditures for operation of such a contract which shall be equal to the share of such expenditures such district would have borne after reimbursement from state and federal funds in accordance with section one hundred fifty-three of this article, had the expenditure been made by such district. The department shall make reports to such federal agency in the form and nature required by it and comply with any request or direction of such federal agency which may be necessary to assure the correctness and verification of such reports.

2. The department of taxation and finance shall accept and receive any and all grants of money awarded to the state pursuant to title IV-A of such social security act. All moneys so received shall be deposited by the department of taxation and finance in a special fund or funds and shall be used by the state exclusively for temporary assistance for needy families block grant and the administration thereof as provided in this chapter; provided, however, that portions of such moneys may be transferred to the child care and development block grant or the social services block grant as the legislature may from time to time provide. Such money shall be paid from such fund or funds on audit and warrant of the comptroller upon vouchers of or certification by the commissioner.

3. If and for so long as the federal government provides one hundred percent funding therefor, the department is authorized to operate a Cuban and Haitian entrant program and a refugee resettlement program pursuant to title IV of the federal immigration and nationality act, including provision for refugee cash assistance, refugee medical assistance, refugee child welfare services, and refugee social services. The department shall submit the plan for such refugee resettlement program to the federal department of health and human services and shall act for the state in any negotiations relative to the submission and approval of such plan and make any arrangement which may be necessary to obtain and retain such approval.

4. The department shall make such regulations not inconsistent with law as may be necessary to make such plan conform to such federal act and any rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto. Such regulations may provide for operation of components of the program directly by the department, through social services districts on behalf of the department or, subject to the approval of the director of the budget upon a demonstration of cost-effectiveness, by contract with a private agency or agencies and may provide that an eligible recipient shall receive assistance pursuant to such contract in lieu of family assistance or safety net assistance.

5. The state program under title IV-A of the social security act shall permit individuals to accumulate funds in individual development accounts established pursuant to section four hundred three of the social security act as trust accounts funded with periodic contributions of earned income by the individual or of amounts matched by or through a not-for-profit organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of such Code; provided, however, that neither the state nor social services districts shall be required to make or match contributions or to administer any such account.