400.18 Appropriations for general public relief; distribution of moneys to county and district departments; assumption of program costs by state; exclusions; county expenditures and costs; reimbursement of county payments; difference between county's shared revenue and county's costs; supplemental security income and aid to dependent children; general public relief payments.

Sec. 18.

    (1) The state department shall provide for the distribution of such moneys as shall be appropriated by the legislature for public welfare grants in respect to general relief, but not expenditures in respect to a county medical care facility, other infirmary care in a county infirmary not existing on January 1, 1981, or inpatient hospitalization, to the several county and district departments of social services on the basis of monthly reporting to the department by the county departments.

    (2) Effective December 1, 1979 in counties having a fiscal year beginning December 1 and ending November 30 and effective January 1, 1980 in counties having a fiscal year beginning January 1 and ending December 31, all expenditures for a program of general public relief shall be appropriated from the general revenues of the state. The state shall assume the full cost of the general relief program for public welfare costs including total administration, but excluding costs incurred for county hospitalization and in the administration of and care in a county medical care facility, or infirmary not existing on January 1, 1981.

    (3) The period from December 1, 1974 through November 30, 1975 shall be the base year upon which the reductions of county expenditures shall be determined in those counties having a fiscal year beginning December 1 and ending November 30. The period from January 1, 1975 through December 31, 1975 shall be the base year upon which the reductions of county expenditures shall be determined in those counties having a fiscal year beginning January 1 and ending December 31. Net county costs shall be the county portion of matchable general relief expenditures which were matched by state funds during the base year, not to exceed 1 mill of the county's 1974 state equalized valuation, as certified by the director. During the first county fiscal year following the base year, county costs shall be 80% of the net county costs. During the second county fiscal year following the base year, county costs shall be 60% of the net county costs. During the third county fiscal year following the base year, county costs shall be 40% of the net county costs. During the fourth county fiscal year following the base year, county costs shall be 20% of the net county costs.

    (4) Beginning with the first county fiscal year following the base year, county payments to recipients of general public relief shall be reimbursed monthly by the state for all costs certified by the director, less the county costs.

    (5) The difference between a county's unrestricted state shared revenue distributed during the county's 1976 fiscal year pursuant to the provisions of Act No. 140 of the Public Acts of 1971, as amended, being sections 141.901 to 141.921 of the Michigan Compiled Laws, and the county's costs for general public relief in its 1976 fiscal year as certified by the department of management and budget shall be at least 30 cents per capita more than the difference between the county's unrestricted state shared revenue distributed during the county's 1975 fiscal year and the net county costs for general public relief as defined in subsection (3). Any additional amount required to fulfill the provisions of this subsection shall be paid from the general fund and remitted to the county with the June, 1977 payment provided under subsection (4).

    (6) The state department shall provide for the allocation and distribution of such moneys as shall be appropriated by the legislature or received from the federal government, for supplemental security income and aid to dependent children to be disbursed in accordance with the laws of this state.

    (7) The state department may make arrangements to disburse amounts to general public relief recipients after determination of the recipients' needs by county. The arrangements shall permit general public relief payments by the department and voucher or vendor payments for persons entitled to general public relief not involving any federal funds, where the well-being of the recipient or the protection of general public relief funds makes such payments desirable. Nothing in this section or act shall be construed, however, as limiting the right of the state department to make warrants payable to and deliver same to any creditor of a recipient of general public relief who has provided food, shelter, or public utility service to such recipients at the request of the state department.