(1) Monitor county governments' administration of the block grant to ensure compliance with applicable Federal and State requirements.

(2) Allocate and disburse block grant funds to counties on a quarterly basis in accordance with section 1405-B.

(3) Provide technical support and assistance to counties.

(4) Require counties to submit reports containing such information pursuant to the implementation of this article and in the form and by the deadline prescribed by the department. The department shall issue instructions for the completion of county reports. The instructions shall be issued no later than August 31 of each year following the fiscal year for the report.

(5) Monitor, inspect or audit the financial, operating and accounting records of any county agency or contracted entity that receives any block grant funds if deemed necessary by the department.

(6) Withhold, recover or reduce any block grant funds of a county agency or contracted entity determined to have been spent or disbursed in violation of Federal or State requirements.

(6.1) Withhold, recover or reduce by no more than 5% the allocation of funds under this article to any county that does not timely file a complete plan or report under section 1404-B(4) and (5).² The department may withhold, recover or reduce the allocation of funds until a complete plan or report is submitted.

(6.2) Require submission and implementation of an acceptable corrective action plan or terminate a county's participation in the Human Services Block Grant Program for a violation of this article.

(7) Establish procedures for the annual submission, review and approval process of county block grant plans for the expenditure of block grant funds and the delivery of county-based human services submitted under section 1404-B(5). The department shall issue instructions for county block grant plans for the next fiscal year no later than March 1 of each year. The department shall allow counties to submit revised block grant plans following the enactment of the General Appropriation Act for the current fiscal year. The department shall not approve a county plan which proposes the elimination of any of the following county-based human services:

(7.1) Review and approve or disapprove a county's request to revise its plan during the fiscal year pursuant to section 1404-B(5.2).

(7.2) Consult with a Statewide association representing counties to select the data elements and outcome measures to be included in county plans under section 1404-B(5) beginning with the report for fiscal year 2018-2019. The department and the Statewide association shall review and update the data elements and outcome measures at least every four years.

(8) Prepare and submit by January 1, 2014, and by December 15 each year thereafter, a report to the chairman and minority chairman of the Public Health and Welfare Committee of the Senate, the chairman and minority chairman of the Appropriations Committee of the Senate, the chairman and minority chairman of the Health Committee of the House of Representatives, the chairman and minority chairman of the Human Services Committee of the House of Representatives and the chairman and minority chairman of the Appropriations Committee of the House of Representatives of the expenditures of block grant funds by county governments to include:

(9) The annual report under paragraph (8) shall be made available for public inspection and posted on the department's publicly accessible Internet website.

(10) Promulgate regulations as may be necessary to carry out this article.

(11) Consult with a Statewide association representing counties to develop a method to informally resolve disputes under paragraphs (6), (6.1) and (6.2) or a disapproval of a plan under paragraph (7).