DCL-00-71, Section 459A of the Social Security Act (42U.S.C. 659A) Authorizes the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Health and Human Services to Declare Foreign Countries or their Political Subdivisions to be Reciprocating Countries

DCL-00-71

DATE: JUN 28, 2000

TO ALL STATE IV-D DIRECTORS

Dear Colleague:

Section 459A of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 659A] authorizes the Secretary of State with the concurrence of the Secretary of Health and Human Services to declare foreign countries or their political subdivisions to be reciprocating countries for the enforcement of family support obligations if the country has or has undertaken to establish procedures to establish and enforce duties of support for residents of the U.S. at no cost.

With the participation of OCSE, state IV-D representatives, and other experts, the Department of State has held negotiations with over thirty countries regarding the establishment of reciprocity, has concluded several agreements, and is nearing completion of others.

Ireland, Poland, the Slovak Republic, the Czech Republic, and the Canadian Provinces of Nova Scotia, British Columbia, and Manitoba have in effect federal reciprocity agreements under 42 U.S.C. 659A. On May 19, 2000, the Office of the Legal Adviser, U.S. Department of State, published the first of the cumulative public notices on completed federal reciprocity agreements in the Federal Register [65 FR 31953, copy attached]. Additionally, agreement in principle and most of the details have been completed with Portugal, the Netherlands, Norway, and Australia and it is anticipated that these agreements will be effective soon. The U.S. Central Authority for International Child Support, established in the Office of Child Support, is available to facilitate IV-D efforts on case cooperation with these jurisdictions.

Further information on international child support enforcement generally may be found at the Department of State's webpage [http://travel.state.gov/child_support.html] or by contacting OCSE's Division of Policy, Office of Child Support Enforcement, 370 L'Enfant Promenade SW, Aerospace Building, Washington DC 20447, phone: 202-401-9386, fax: 202-260-5980.

Sincerely,

David Gray Ross
Commissioner
Office of Child Support Enforcement

Attachment

cc: ACF Regional Administrator
ACF Assistant Regional Administrators
CSE Regional Program Managers