Sec. 10.54.02.04. Duties and Responsibilities

To participate in the Program, a local agency shall:

A. Comply with the fiscal and operational requirements prescribed by the State agency or the federal government in:

(1) This chapter;

(2) COMAR 10.54.01;

(3) 7 CFR Part 3015;

(4) 7 CFR Part 3016; and

(5) 7 CFR Part 246;

B. Maintain the caseload within the prescribed performance standards of the State-assigned level over a prescribed time period as specified in the written agreement between the State agency and the local agency;

C. Inform the State agency on a timely basis of clinic sites and hours of operation;

D. Make available, contract to make available, or provide by referral, appropriate health services to participants and inform applicants of the health services which are available;

E. Devise and implement a plan to make health services available to participants at the clinic or through written agreements with health care providers when health services are provided through referral;

F. Provide Program benefits to the participant at no cost;

G. Perform the certification procedure at no cost to the applicant;

H. Have on its staff a competent professional authority as defined at COMAR 10.54.01.04;

I. Maintain on file and have available for review, audit, and evaluation all criteria used for certification, including information on the:

(1) Area served;

(2) Income standards used; and

(3) Specific criteria used to determine nutritional risk;

J. Provide nutrition education services to participants, in compliance with all State and federal statutes and regulations including:

(1) Regulation .06 of this chapter;

(2) 7 CFR 246; and

(3) COMAR 10.54.01;

K. Implement and operate a food delivery system prescribed by the State agency pursuant to these regulations and approved by the Food and Nutrition Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture;

L. Maintain complete, accurate, documented, and current accounting of all Program funds received and expended;

M. Establish an internal monitoring system to review local agency operations and its associated clinics or contractors;

N. Provide orientation and ongoing in-service training for staff;

O. Inform the State agency of the content and schedule of training activities;

P. Make staff available to attend training sessions offered by the State agency; and

Q. Compile data, maintain records, and submit reports as required to permit effective enforcement of nondiscrimination laws and regulations.