§ 138-a. Responsibility of the department for recipients in family
care. 1. Any inconsistent provision of this chapter or other law
notwithstanding, the department shall be responsible for furnishing
public assistance and care to mentally disabled persons residing in
family care homes licensed by the office of mental health or the office
for people with developmental disabilities who are admitted to such
facilities in accordance with regulations of the office which licenses
the facility. However, the department may, at its option, discharge such
responsibility, in whole or in part, through social services districts
designated to act as agents of the department. While so designated, a
social services district shall act as agent of the department and shall
be entitled to reimbursement as provided in section one hundred
fifty-three of this article.

2. The department shall possess and may exercise like powers and
perform like duties in respect to the assistance and care of persons in
family care as social services officials exercise and perform in
relation to persons in their respective jurisdictions.