This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the Relief Law of 1945.

The provisions of this chapter (except the provisions of this section) are suspended and continue suspended from operation until the occurrence of an economic emergency in this state, which results from widespread hardship and destitution and necessitates immediate action for the relief of such hardship and destitution. No act shall be done nor power be exercised nor money be expended under or pursuant to such provisions until the occurrence of such an economic emergency has been determined as provided in this section.

Ascertainment and determination of the fact of the occurrence of such an economic emergency is committed to the Senate and Assembly and to the Governor. If and when the Senate and Assembly, by concurrent resolution filed with the Secretary of State, find and declare, and the Governor, by his proclamation filed with the Secretary of State, finds and declares, that there exists an economic emergency in this state, which results from widespread hardship and destitution and necessitates immediate action for the relief of such hardship and destitution (the resolution and the proclamation, respectively, to contain a statement of the facts upon which the finding is based), such an economic emergency is determined to have occurred and to exist, and thenceforth all of the provisions of this chapter are fully operative.

After the provisions of this chapter become operative, the provisions of Part 5 of this division, relating to county aid and relief to indigents, shall not apply to any person who receives or is eligible to receive relief under this chapter; but Part 5 is not repealed by this chapter, and shall continue in full force and effect in respect to persons not eligible to receive relief under this chapter.

As used in this chapter, the terms defined in this article have the meanings set forth in this article.

“Department” means the State Department of Social Services.

“Aid” means state financial assistance to counties for the direct cost of relief and the cost of administration thereof.

“Relief” means assistance in cash or in kind provided to individuals or families to relieve hardship and destitution.

Relief to a person includes relief to his dependents, but relief does not include hospital or medical care.

In accordance with the provisions of this chapter, every county shall provide relief to needy persons who are residents of this state.

For the purposes of this chapter, a resident of the state is a person who comes within all of the following descriptions:

For the purposes of this chapter, a person who is a resident of the state is a resident of the county in which he has resided continuously for one year immediately preceding his application for relief.

A county may incur all necessary expenses in transporting a nonresident applicant for or recipient of relief under this chapter to another state or county, when information at hand reasonably tends to show that the person has a legal residence in that state or county. The state shall reimburse the county for the full amount of the cost of such transportation.