(a) As a means of ensuring that eligible battered spouses and children receive necessary shelter and services; to provide an objective, fair and reasonable equitable reimbursement rate for battered spouses and shelter providers who service these claimants, thereby maximizing available program dollars and improving administration of claims for the benefit of all victims; the office hereby establishes a guideline schedule of maximum charges for the cost of residing at or utilizing services provided by shelters for eligible battered spouses and children payable under sections 626 and 631(2) of the Executive Law.

The office in computing the amount of an award payable for the cost of residing at or utilizing services provided by shelters for battered spouses and children, shall use the per diem rate, where established, of the county department of social services in which the shelter is located.