Title
a. Approve and authorize the Director of Child Support Services to sign a Plan of Cooperation (POC) with the State of California Department of Child Support Services (DCSS) to define responsibilities of DCSS and County of Monterey for securing child support, including child support establishment, collection, and disbursement services; medical support; determining paternity; and providing other public services in accordance with the provisions of Title IV-D of the Social Security Act (SSA), Title 42 U.S.C. § 651 et seq., for the period of October 1, 2016 through September 30, 2017;
b. Authorize the Director of Child Support Services to sign such amendments to the POC as may be required by change in law, regulations or directives as propounded by the DCSS during the period of the POC; and
c. Authorize the Director of Child Support Services to sign and approve up to three (3) future POCs, of one year each, that do not significantly change, are on the same terms or on terms that are substantially similar to the current POC’s authority, general provisions, Department responsibilities and LCSA responsibilities.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
a) Approve and authorize the Director of Child Support Services to sign a Plan of Cooperation (POC) with the State of California Department of Child Support Services (DCSS) to define responsibilities of DCSS and County of Monterey for securing child support, including child support establishment, collection, and disbursement services; medical support; determining paternity; and providing other public services in accordance with the provisions of Title IV-D of the Social Security Act (SSA) for the period of October 1, 2016 through September 30, 2017.
b) Authorize the Director of Child Support Services to sign such amendments to the POC as may be required by change in law, regulations or directives as propounded by the DCSS during the period of the POC.
c) Authorize the Director of Child Support Services to sign and approve up to three (3) future POCs, of one year each, that do not significantly change, are on the same terms or on terms that are substantially similar to the current POC’s authority, general provisions, Department responsibilities and LCSA responsibilities.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The Child Support Enforcement (CSE) program was enacted in 1975 as part of the Title IV-D of the Social Security Act. It is a federal-state program whose purpose is to help strengthen families by securing financial support for children from their noncustodial parent on a consistent and continuing basis, and by helping some families to remain self-sufficient and off public assistance by providing the requisite CSE services. The CSE program provides seven major services on behalf of children: (1) parent location; (2) paternity establishment;
(3) establishment of child support orders; (4) review and modification of child support orders; (5) collection of child support payments; (6) distribution of child support payments, and
(7) establishment and enforcement of medical child support.
Family Code (FC) § 17304(a) requires the Director of the Department to negotiate and enter into cooperative agreements with county and state agencies to carry out the requirements of the State Plan for administering the Title IV-D Child Support Program.
This Plan of Cooperation defines the purpose, authority, general provisions, State Department responsibilities, County of Monterey, Local Child Support Agency (LCSA) responsibilities, terms and approvals for the enforcement and collection of child support payments for custodial parents.
The POC will commence at the start of the Federal Fiscal Year, October 1, 2016 and is subject to renewal or amendments as necessary to reflect new or revised state and federal laws, regulations and requirements. Under the POC, DCSS has the obligation to prepare any such required amendments. Failure to sign and submit the POC may result in the withholding of part or all of the Federal and State funds including incentive funds or other compliance actions authorized by Federal or State law, regulation, or policy.
The delay in bringing the POC for Board approval can be attributed to the State’s request of July 26, 2016 for revision and reissuance, including clarification regarding LCSA access to Medi-Cal Eligibility Data System (MEDS).
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
County Counsel and Auditor-Controller have reviewed and approved the POC as to legal form and fiscal provisions, respectively.
FINANCING:
The Child Support Enforcement Program is a federally-mandated, State-supervised, County-administered program where Federal program reimburses all direct and indirect program costs at 66% Federal participation rate and State provides remaining 34% of local program cost. Estimated revenues related to this POC are included in the Child Support Services’ Adopted Budget for FY 2016-17. If adjustments are required to the FY 16-17 Adopted Budget, a separate board action will be submitted for approval. There is no fiscal impact to the County General Fund with this recommendation.
Prepared by: Shirley Liu, Administrative Secretary, x8714
Approved by: Jo Ellen Holtzworth, Director, x8721
Attachments: Plan of Cooperation between State Department of Child Support Services and Monterey County Department of Child Support Services_10012016 to 09302017