(a) Except as otherwise specified in subsection (b) of this Code section, whenever the state or a political subdivision thereof furnishes support to an obligee, it has the same right as the obligee to whom the support was furnished to invoke this article for the purpose of securing reimbursement of expenditures so made and of obtaining continuing support.

(b) Subsection (a) of this Code section shall not be invoked unless the court having jurisdiction of the matter is satisfied that efforts on the part of the state or political subdivision to secure reimbursements for previous support shall not jeopardize the enforcement of the court's orders for present or future support of the dependent or dependents involved. The court shall have the right at any time to enter appropriate orders to carry out this subsection.