Final Rule: Flexibility, Efficiency, and Modernization in Child Support Enforcement Programs

AT-16-06

Publication Date: December 20, 2016
Current as of:

ACTION TRANSMITTAL

AT-16-06

DATE:  December 20, 2016

TO:  State Agencies Administering Child Support Enforcement Plans under Title IV‑D of the Social Security Act and other Interested Individuals

SUBJECT:  Final Rule: Flexibility, Efficiency, and Modernization in Child Support Enforcement Programs

ATTACHMENT:  Compliance Dates Listed by Federal Requirement (PDF)

SUMMARY:  The Flexibility, Efficiency, and Modernization in Child Support Enforcement Programs final rule was published on December 20, 2016, in the Federal Register, on page 93492, Volume 81, Number 244  (PDF).

This final rule makes changes to strengthen the child support enforcement program and updates current practices to increase regular, on-time payments to families, to increase the number of noncustodial parents supporting their children, and to improve program operations.

The final regulatory improvements are grouped in the following categories: (1) procedures to promote program flexibility, efficiency, and modernization; (2) updates to account for advances in technology; and (3) technical corrections. The goals of the regulations are to:

  • increase state and employer flexibility to better serve families;
  • improve program effectiveness, efficiency, and innovation;
  • improve customer service; and
  • remove barriers identified by employers, states, and families that impede efficient and timely child support payments.

To assist the reader, the following table lists subject areas in the final rule with the corresponding page numbers where the provision is (are) discussed in the Federal Register. Please note that this table is a guide and is not intended to be a comprehensive summary.

Subject areas FR Preamble Page Numbers[1] Regulatory text page numbers
Access to justice 494-497; 500; 515-530; 532-537 562-564; 567
Case closure 497-499; 540-547 564-566
Child support guidelines 494-496; 515-530 562-563
Due process protections in civil contempt proceedings 496-497; 532-537 564
Exemptions 496; 530 563
Federal financial participation activities allowed 499-500; 551-552 567
Federal financial participation activities prohibited 500; 552 567
Foster Care 494; 509 561
Incarceration of noncustodial parents 495; 497; 526-528; 537-540 562; 564
Job services 496; 531
Limited services for applicants 494; 509-513 561
Medicaid referrals/ Indian health services 498-499; 545-547 560; 565
Medical support 499; 547-549 566
OMB-approved income withholding form 499; 549-550 566
Parenting time 495; 551-552
Payment processing 493-494; 506-509; 513-515 561-562
Review and adjustment of orders 497; 537-540 564
SSI/ Title II benefits 498; 500; 543; 552-554 565; 568
Subsistence needs 494-498; 518-520; 523-524; 534-535 562; 565
Tribal case transfer 498; 544-545 565
 

REFERENCES:  45 CFR 301, 302, 303, 304, 307, 308, and 309.

EFFECTIVE DATE:  January 19, 2017 - This is the date when the final rule revisions go into effect. Compliance with individual requirements may vary. See the attached table for a list of the compliance dates.

INQUIRIES:  Please contact your OCSE Regional Program Specialist or the Division of Policy and Training at OCSE.DPT@acf.hhs.gov if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Vicki Turetsky
Commissioner
Office of Child Support Enforcement

cc: ACF/OCSE Regional Program Managers, Tribal IV-D Directors


[1] The Final Rule is on pages 93492-93569 of the Federal Register. For spacing purposes, we have truncated the page numbers to the last three digits.

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