Section 103-E - DepartmentThe department shall have the power and duty to:
(1) Implement and administer the program in accordance with Federal law or guidance. The department shall compile and transmit any information necessary to implement the program and comply with programmatic and eligibility requirements under Federal law and guidance. The department is prohibited from placing any additional stipulations on counties that are not in accordance with Federal law or guidance or this article. If a county fails to participate in the program or if funds are not expended within the time requirements of this article, the department may administer the services of the program.(2) Monitor county governments' administration of the grant to ensure compliance with Federal and State requirements.(3) Allocate and disburse grant funds to counties.(4) Require counties to submit reports containing information required by the department and as necessary for compliance with the American Rescue Plan in the form and by the deadline prescribed by the department.(5) Monitor, inspect or audit the financial, operating and accounting records of a county agency or contracted entity that receives grant funds, if deemed necessary by the department.(6) Withhold, recover or reduce grant funds of a county agency or contracted entity determined to have administered the program in violation of Federal or State requirements.(7) If the department determines that excess funds will remain on September 30, 2025, or as of any updated Federal deadline for the use of grant funds for emergency rental assistance under the American Rescue Plan, the department may recoup and reallocate excess funds to other counties that have demonstrated a funding shortfall and the ability to spend additional funds within a timeframe to be determined by the department. Any excess funding shall be recouped and reallocated by the department as needed in a manner to ensure that funds are spent by the Federal deadline for the use of funds.(7.1) Prepare a quarterly consolidated report with information from all counties submitted under section 104-E(4) and shall submit the report on a quarterly basis to the chairperson and minority chairperson of the Appropriations Committee of the Senate and the chairperson and minority chairperson of the Appropriations Committee of the House of Representatives. The report shall also be posted and maintained on the department's publicly accessible Internet website.(8) Ninety days after December 31, 2025, or any updated Federal deadline for the use of funds for emergency rental assistance under the American Rescue Plan, whichever is later, issue a report to the chairperson and minority chairperson of the Appropriations Committee of the Senate and the chairperson and minority chairperson of the Appropriations Committee of the House of Representatives and shall post the report to the department's publicly accessible Internet website. The report shall include the following information: (i) The total amount of funds received by a county.(ii) The total amount of funds spent by a county for services under section 102-E(a).(iii) The total number of households that applied for assistance.(iv) The total number of households that received assistance.(v) The total amount of funding sought by services under section 102-E(a).(vi) The total amount of assistance provided by services under section 102-E(a).(vii) An itemization of all expenditures for administrative costs.Amended by P.L. TBD 2022 No. 54, § 12, eff. 7/11/2022.1929, April 9, P.L. 343, No. 176, art. I-E, §103-E, added by 2021 , June 30, P.L. 62, No. 24, § 7, 7/1/2021.