Vermont § 105 - Commissioner; appointment, term, duties, and powers

§ 105. Commissioner; appointment, term, duties, and powers

• (a) The Commissioner may exercise the powers and perform duties required for effective
  administration of the Department, and he or she shall determine the policies of the
  Department. (b) In addition to other duties imposed by law, the Commissioner shall: (1) administer the laws assigned to the Department; (2) fix standards and adopt rules necessary to administer those laws and for the custody
  and preservation of records of the Department; (3) appoint all necessary assistants, prescribe their duties, and adopt rules necessary
  to ensure that the assistants shall hold merit system status while in the employ of
  the Department, unless otherwise specifically provided by law. (c) The Commissioner or the Governor, whenever the federal law so provides, may cooperate
  with the federal government in providing relief and work relief and community work
  and training programs in the State. (d) The Commissioner, with the approval of the Attorney General, may enter into reciprocal
  agreements with social and child welfare agencies in other states in matters relating
  to social welfare, children, and families. (e) The Commissioner shall ensure the provision of services to children and adolescents
  with a severe emotional disturbance in coordination with the Secretary of Education
  and the Commissioners of Mental Health and of Disabilities, Aging, and Independent
  Living in accordance with the provisions of chapter 43 of this title. (f) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Commissioner may delegate to any appropriate
  employee of the Department any of the administrative duties and powers imposed on
  him or her by law, with the exception of the duties and powers enumerated in this
  section. The delegation of authority and responsibility shall not relieve the Commissioner
  of accountability for the proper administration of the Department. (g) The Commissioner may publicly disclose findings or information about any case of child
  abuse or neglect that has resulted in the fatality or near fatality of a child, including
  information obtained under chapter 49 of this title, unless the State’s Attorney or
  Attorney General who is investigating or prosecuting any matter related to the fatality
  requests the Commissioner to withhold disclosure, in which case the Commissioner shall
  not disclose any information until completion of any criminal proceedings related
  to the fatality or until the State’s Attorney or Attorney General consents to disclosure,
  whichever occurs earlier. (Added 1967, No. 147, § 1; amended 1973, No. 101, § 6; 1983, No. 175 (Adj. Sess.); 2013, No. 131 (Adj. Sess.), § 6, eff. May 20, 2014; 2015, No. 29, § 11; 2021, No. 20, § 273.)