The counselor delegates powers and signing authority in Social Services and Family

The Vice President and Councilor for Deregulation, Social Services, and Family, Óscar Arturo Fernández Calle, has issued a new resolution delegating competence and signing authority in various matters of his department. The regulation, dated in Mérida on October 9, 2026, is published in the Official Gazette of Extremadura number 198, of October 14, 2026, within section II of Authorities and Personnel, with the official reference 2026062589. The resolution takes effect on the day of its publication and supersedes the previous delegation in all conflicting aspects.

The framework: a newly established organic structure

The delegation is based on Decree 104/2026, of May 26, which establishes the organic structure of the Vice Presidency and Councilorship for Deregulation, Social Services, and Family, issued under Decree 18/2026, of April 30, regarding the basic organic structure of the regional Administration. The first delegation of competencies and signature was approved by resolution on June 15, 2026, published in the DOE number 116, of June 18.

The text itself justifies the update for reasons of efficiency, speed, and coordination in administrative management, and for the requirement of legal certainty in the daily operation of the units. The resolution is supported by articles 72 and 76 of Law 1/2002, of February 28, of the Government and Administration of the Autonomous Community of Extremadura, and articles 9 and 12 of Law 40/2015, of October 1, on the Legal Regime of the Public Sector.

What the General Secretariat assumes

The bulk of the competencies are delegated to the General Secretariat of the department, which will now resolve a broad block of matters:

• Administrative contracting, in accordance with article 36.j) of Law 1/2002 and Law 12/2018, on socially responsible public procurement of Extremadura.
• Preparation of the draft budget, disposition and authorization of expenditures not reserved for the Governing Council, recognition of obligations, budgetary modifications, credit transfers, and payment orders.
• Competencies regarding personnel, indemnities for service-related reasons, and the execution of judgments.
• Signing of general collaboration agreements and protocols, including those signed with private entities, with the exception of those signed with local entities and the General State Administration.
• Resolution of administrative appeals, revocation of acts, rectification of errors, and patrimonial liability.
• Competencies as president of the Extremaduran Agency for International Development Cooperation regarding agreements, contracting, personnel, budget, and payments.

Social Services, childhood, and youth

The General Directorate of Social Services, Childhood and Family assumes the competencies for social volunteering, through the Central Registry of Social Volunteering Entities, and those relating to Basic Social Care Social Services, including the resolution of procedures for the reimbursement or settlement of collaboration agreements with local entities and their extensions.

Within the scope of the Youth Institute of Extremadura, whose presidency corresponds to the counselor, the delegation is divided between the General Directorate of the Institute —collaboration agreements and protocols and official recognition of Schools for the Training of Leisure Educators— and the General Secretariat, which will resolve administrative appeals against the acts of the Board of Directors.

Contracting, payments, and centers in Badajoz and Cáceres

The Head of the Territorial Coordination Service receives expenditure and contracting competencies within the territorial scope of both provinces, regarding the administrative units of Badajoz and Cáceres, the Minors’ Reception Centers, the “Vicente Marcelo Nessi” Judicial Measures Compliance Center, and the “Zagal” Recovery Center. Among the affected files are supply and service contracts from Chapter II and those from Chapter VI with an estimated value of less than 15,000 euros.

The signing of resolutions on extraordinary social support grants for contingencies, registration, denial, or cancellation in the Registry of Domestic Partnerships, and grants from the National Social Assistance Fund and comprehensive protection against gender-based violence are also delegated to this body. The signing of payment orders is further divided between the Head of the Economic and Budgetary Management Service and the directors of the aforementioned centers.

Revocable and with effects on open files

The delegation is revocable at any time by the delegating body, which may reclaim any matter for itself. Acts issued by virtue of the delegation shall be considered issued by the delegating body and must expressly indicate so. The resolution validates the acts and resolutions adopted to date in accordance with Article 52 of Law 39/2015 and shall apply to procedures already initiated that have not yet received a resolution.

The change affects civil servants, local entities, and citizens dealing with the department: from now on, knowing which body signs a grant, an agreement, or a payment depends on this new resolution, which replaces the distribution in effect since June.

Source: Official Gazette of Extremadura, no. 198, of October 14, 2026, section II Authorities and Personnel (official reference: 2026062589).