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2004 SESSION

044455376
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 193
Offered January 14, 2004
Prefiled January 14, 2004
Directing the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study the mission and effectiveness of the organization, operation, and performance of the Department of Social Services. Report.
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Patrons-- Landes; Senator: Hanger
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Referred to Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, the Department of Social Services is the agency responsible for administering the statewide human services information and referral system for providing citizens with information on or referral to appropriate public and private, state, local and regional agencies; and

WHEREAS, the Department's strategic plan for State Fiscal Years 2004-2006 states the Department's mission as "People helping people triumph over poverty, abuse and neglect to shape strong futures for themselves, their families, and communities," and its vision as "A Commonwealth in which individuals and families have access to adequate, affordable, high quality human/social services that enable them to be the best they can"; and

WHEREAS, the Department's strategic plan for Fiscal Years 2004-2006 also emphasizes the Department's values of accountability, integrity, effectiveness, innovation, excellent customer service and diversity; and

WHEREAS, not since 1981 has the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission performed a comprehensive review of the Department's organization and administration; and

WHEREAS, in 1991, the Department of Social Services began development of the Application Benefit Delivery Automation Project (ADAPT) to help local social services agencies manage the increasingly complex eligibility and benefits process; and

WHEREAS, ADAPT is a computer systems project designed to automate the eligibility determination and benefits calculation process for three major benefits programs - Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Food Stamps, and Medicaid; and

WHEREAS, according to the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commissions' 1998 Special Report on the Status of Automation Initiatives of the Department of Social Services, the Department was making significant progress toward the completion of the ADAPT system; however, the report identified several areas for improvement including the need for the Department to develop better strategies for addressing hardware, training, and other nondevelopment problems; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission be directed to study the mission and effectiveness of the organization, operation, and performance of the Department of Social Services.

In conducting its study, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission shall (i) examine the Department's mission and effectiveness of the organization, management, operation and performance; (ii) examine the Department's goals and assess whether the Department is adequately meeting its goals, particularly with regard to accountability, customer service, and case management; (iii) examine the usability and effectiveness of the ADAPT system; (iv) assess the impacts of the recent economic recession in the nation and in the Commonwealth on the State's social services clients and programs, and on the funding and staffing for such programs at the State and local department levels; and (v) make recommendations based upon the findings of the study for the improvement of the Department, including but not limited to, recommendations regarding the Department's mission, goals, operation or programs.

All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission for this study, upon request.

The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission shall complete its meetings for the first year by November 30, 2004, and for the second year by November 30, 2005, and the Chairman shall submit to the Division of Legislative Automated Systems an executive summary of its findings and recommendations no later than the first day of the next Regular Session of the General Assembly for each year. Each executive summary shall state whether the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission intends to submit a document of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly. The executive summaries and the documents shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.