Department of Social Services (765)

Authority: Title 63.2, Chapters 1, 16 and 22, Code of Virginia; Title XVI, federal Social Security Act, as amended.

A.1. Effective January 1, 2014, the Department of Social Services, in collaboration with the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services, is authorized to base approved licensed assisted living facility rates for individual facilities on an occupancy rate of 85 percent of licensed capacity, not to exceed a maximum rate of $1,207 per month, which rate is also applied to approved adult foster care homes, unless modified as indicated below. The department may add a 15 percent differential to the maximum amount for licensed assisted living facilities and adult foster care homes in Planning District Eight.

2. Effective January 1, 2013, the monthly personal care allowance for auxiliary grant recipients who reside in licensed assisted living facilities and approved adult foster care homes shall be $82 per month, unless modified as indicated below.

3. The Department of Social Services, in collaboration with the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services, is authorized to increase the assisted living facility and adult foster care home rates and/or the personal care allowance cited above on January 1 of each year in which the federal government increases Supplemental Security Income or Social Security rates or at any other time that the department determines that an increase is necessary to ensure that the Commonwealth continues to meet federal requirements for continuing eligibility for federal financial participation in the Medicaid program. Any such increase is subject to the prior concurrence of the Department of Planning and Budget. Within thirty days after its effective date, the Department of Social Services shall report any such increase to the Governor and the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees with an explanation of the reasons for the increase.

B. Out of this appropriation, $4,185,189 the first year and $4,185,189 in the second year from the federal Social Services Block Grant shall be allocated to provide adult companion services for low-income elderly and disabled adults.

C. The toll-free telephone hotline operated by the Department of Social Services to receive child abuse and neglect complaints shall also be publicized and used by the department to receive complaints of adult abuse and neglect.

D. Out of this appropriation, $248,750 the first year and $248,750 the second year from the general fund and $1,346,792 the first year and $1,346,792 the second year from federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds shall be provided as a grant to local domestic violence programs for purchase of crisis and core services for victims of domestic violence, including 24-hour hotlines, emergency shelter, emergency transportation, and other crisis services as a first priority. 

E. Out of this appropriation, $75,000 the first year and $75,000 the second year from the general fund and $400,000 the first year and $400,000 the second year from nongeneral funds shall be provided for the purchase of services for victims of domestic violence as stated in § 63.2-1615, Code of Virginia, in accordance with regulations promulgated by the Board of Social Services.