ACF/Office of Child Support Enforcement
Draft Revised Interstate Forms
MAR 28 1995 DC-95-22
TO ALL STATE IV-D DIRECTORS
RE: Request for Comments on Draft Revised Interstate Forms
Dear Colleague:
OCSE is planning to revise the standard forms used in interstate
case processing. Enclosed for your review and comment is a draft
set of forms that includes proposed revisions. We will carefully
consider all of your comments and make appropriate changes before
the forms are released in final format.
Federal regulations at 45 CFR 303.7 require the use of standard
interstate forms in interstate cases. Section 311(b) of the
model version of the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act
(UIFSA) also requires use of federally-mandated forms. Standard
forms are designed to provide uniformity and clarity in
interstate transactions.
The main impetus for revising the forms is UIFSA. The model
version of UIFSA was promulgated in 1992 by the National
Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State laws, and has
subsequently been endorsed by the U.S. Commission on Interstate
Child Support and the American Bar Association. To date, at
least 21 States have adopted UIFSA, and action is pending in
numerous other State legislatures. In addition, bills are
pending in Congress which would require all States to enact UIFSA
as a condition of receiving Federal funding for their child
support programs. Interstate case processing under UIFSA differs
significantly from case processing under the Uniform Reciprocal
Enforcement of Support Act (URESA).
The enclosed draft forms are designed for interstate transactions
where the responding State is a UIFSA State. The basic format
and structure of the forms remains similar to the existing forms,
but the package of draft forms contains changes, including
several new forms, that are designed to accommodate UIFSA.
Enclosed is a brief description of each draft form and
instructions on how to use each form.
We recognize the importance of using automation in interstate
case processing. As a result, we will be investigating the
possibility of providing the revised forms, once they are
finalized, to States in an automated format. In addition, we
will be working to integrate the new forms with CSENet. First,
State IV-D Directors--Page 2
however, we need to complete development of forms and data
elements that are needed for interstate transactions under UIFSA.
When processing interstate cases, please continue to use the
existing standard forms, rather than the enclosed draft forms.
Instructions contained in OCSE-AT-94-01 explain how to use the
existing forms in cases where the responding State is a UIFSA
State. The enclosed draft forms are intended for review and
comment purposes only.
The draft forms were developed by a committee composed of State
and Federal representatives. We thank the following State
representatives for their efforts in developing the forms and
commenting on earlier drafts: Dick Beall, Barry Brooks, Mary
Jane Hamilton, Christine Hart, Jarnice Johnson, Bruce Kaspari,
Linda Langston, Cathy May, David Stillman, and Donald Twomey.
After receiving and reviewing your comments, we plan to
incorporate your comments and pilot-test a revised version of the
forms within the next few months. Please share the draft forms
and send us comments from appropriate people in your State,
including interstate/UIFSA policy experts, automation experts,
State court administrators, central registry staff, and front-
line users of the forms. Please send us your comments on the
enclosed questionnaire no later than May 5. Fax your comments to
Karen Bartlett/Andrew Williams at 202-401-5559. Alternatively,
you may mail your comments to: Office of Child Support
Enforcement; 4th Floor; 370 L'Enfant Promenade, S.W.; Washington,
D.C. 20447; Attention: Karen Bartlett/Andrew Williams.
Sincerely,
David Gray Ross
Deputy Director
Office of Child Support
Enforcement
Enclosures
cc: ACF Regional Administrators, Regions I - X
Child Support Program Managers, Regions I - X
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