§ 19-11-127 - Authority of district attorney; fees; neglect of duty - Georgia Statutes

O.C.G.A. 19-11-127 (2010)
19-11-127. Authority of district attorney; fees; neglect of duty

(a) The district attorney of each judicial circuit shall be authorized to represent the Department of Human Services in any proceeding under this article; otherwise, at the option of the district attorney, actions under this article on behalf of the department shall be brought by attorneys appointed by the Attorney General. Written delegation of such duties previously executed by a district attorney pursuant to Article 2 of this chapter, the "Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act," particularly Code Section 19-11-53, shall constitute a delegation of such representation to the Attorney General for purposes of this article. In all actions brought or maintained by the Department of Human Services, the department shall be regarded as the sole client of such attorney, and no attorney-client relationship shall be created between such attorney and any individual seeking or receiving services under this article through the Department of Human Services. The department may require a completed application for services pursuant to Title IV-D of the federal Social Security Act as a condition of providing any services under this article.

(b) Where a support order is established pursuant to Code Section 19-11-140 incident to representation of the department by the district attorney, there shall be paid to the county in which the petition is handled the sum of $50.00 for each such support order established, whether this state is the initiating or responding jurisdiction.

(c) If the Attorney General determines that the support enforcement agency is neglecting or refusing to provide services to an individual, the Attorney General may provide those services directly to the individual.