A.  The Department of Children and Family Services is created and shall be a body corporate with the power to sue and be sued.  The domicile of the department shall be in Baton Rouge where it shall maintain its principal offices, but the secretary may maintain branch offices if he deems it in the best interest of the efficient administration of the department.

B.  The Department of Children and Family Services, through its office and officers, shall be responsible for the development and providing of social services and the improvement of social conditions for the citizens of Louisiana.

C.(1)  The Department of Children and Family Services shall be composed of the office of children and family services, and such other offices as shall be created by law.

(2)  Whenever the secretary determines that the administration of the functions of the department may be more efficiently performed by eliminating, merging, or consolidating existing offices or establishing new offices, he shall present a plan therefor to the legislature for its approval by statute.

Acts 1988, 1st.  Ex. Sess., No. 1, §2, eff. Mar. 28, 1988; Acts 1988, No. 773, §2, eff. July 2, 1988; Acts 1990, No. 744, §1, eff. July 24, 1990; Acts 2010, No. 877, §1, eff. July 1, 2010; Acts 2010, No. 939, §4, eff. July 1, 2010.

NOTE:  See Acts 1988 1st E.s., No. 1, §§5-9.

NOTE:  See Acts 1988, No. 858, §1.

NOTE:  See Acts 1988, No. 772, §1.

NOTE:  See Acts 1988, No. 773, §§1, 4.

NOTE:  See Acts 1990, No. 601, §4.

NOTE:  See Acts 1990, No. 744, §4.