Agency

(1) A provider of benefits (principal) may have functions incumbent on it performed by another provider of benefits or its association (agent), with that party's consent, where this is expedient 1. because of the objective connection of the functions from the perspective of the principal and the agent; 2. for carrying out the functions; and 3. in the properly understood interest of the persons concerned. The first sentence does not apply in the law of training assistance, of child benefit, of maintenance advances and maintenance default benefits, in housing benefit law, or in the law of youth welfare assistance and social assistance.
(2) The agency may be granted for individual cases as well as for cases of a like kind. A material part of the entire area of functions must remain with the principal.
(3) Associations may issue administrative acts only insofar as they are entitled to do so by statute or on the basis of a statute. Where the association may issue administrative acts, the entitlement must be made known in the manner prescribed for the association's own official publications and those of its members.
(4) The principal must make an agency for cases of a like kind known in the manner prescribed for its own official publications.