Delegation of Authority

AGENCY:

Office of the Secretary, Administration for Children and Families, HHS.

ACTION:

Delegation of authority.

SUMMARY:

Notice is hereby given that I delegate to the Assistant Secretary for the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) the following authorities vested in the Secretary of Health and Human Services under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA), Public Law 106-386, as amended.

Authority under section 107(b)(1)(B)(i) of the TVPA (22 U.S.C. 7105(b)(1)(B)(i)) to expand benefits and services to victims of severe forms of trafficking in persons in the United States, without regard to immigration status. In the case of non-entitlement programs funded by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, such benefits and services may include services to assist potential victims of trafficking in achieving certification and to assist minor dependent children of victims of severe forms of trafficking in persons or potential victims of trafficking.

Authority under section 107(b)(1)(B)(ii) of the TVPA (22 U.S.C. 7105(b)(1)(B)(ii)) to make grants for a national communication system to assist victims of severe forms of trafficking in persons in communicating with service providers.

Authority under section 107(f) of the TVPA (22 U.S.C. 7105(f)) to establish a program to assist United States citizens and aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residence who are victims of severe forms of trafficking. In addition to the authority to provide such victims with specialized services, the program also has the authority to identify current providers and provide a means to make referrals to programs for which such victims are already eligible. In the course of exercising the authority to conduct activities, personnel in the Administration for Children and Families will consult with the Attorney General, the Secretary of Labor, and non-governmental organizations that provide services to victims of severe forms of trafficking in the United States.

These authorities may be redelegated.

These authorities shall be exercised under the Department's policy on regulations and the existing delegation of authority to approve and issue regulations.

These delegations shall be exercised under financial and administrative requirements applicable to the Administration for Children and Families authorities.

I hereby affirm and ratify any actions taken by the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families, or your subordinates, which involved the exercise of these authorities delegated herein prior to the effective date of this delegation.

This delegation supersedes all existing delegations of these authorities.

DATES:

This delegation is effective upon signature.