(a) Any person who knowingly brings or causes to be brought, a needy person from out of the state into this State for the purpose of securing assistance for the needy person or making him or her a public charge, shall be obligated to support the needy person at his or her own expense as long as the needy person or persons dependent on the needy person remain in the State.

(b) The Commissioner may bring a civil action on this statute to enforce support of the needy person and his or her dependents. In the action the court may make an order, which shall be subject to change by the court from time to time as the circumstances require, directing the defendant to pay a certain sum periodically to the Department for the benefit of the needy person and his or her dependents residing in the State. The court may punish for violation of the order as for contempt. (Added 1967, No. 147, § 1.)