DCL-07-19, Provision of Services in Interstate Child Support Enforcement: Standard Forms

DEAR COLLEAGUE LETTER

DCL-07-19

DATE: July 10, 2007

TO: ALL STATE AND TRIBAL IV-D DIRECTORS

RE: Provision of Services in Interstate Child Support Enforcement: Standard Forms

Dear Colleague:

Public Law 104-193, the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 amended 42 U.S.C. 666(f) to require State Child Support Enforcement (CSE) agencies to enact the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (UIFSA) into State law. Section 311(b) of UIFSA requires States to use standard interstate forms as mandated by Federal law and 45 CFR 303.7(b)(3) requires States to use standard Federal forms in interstate cases. The current forms expire in January 2008. The forms are at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cse/forms/

In compliance with the requirements of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Administration for Children and Families is soliciting public comment on the forms. As of June 21, 2007 a notice for public comment has been posted to the Federal Register. The notice appears in Volume 72, Number 119 on pages 34252-34253.

The need to reauthorize the standard interstate forms provides the opportunity to consider some revisions. In preparation for such considerations, the Federal Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) hosted a face-to-face work group meeting in Washington, DC from January 31 through February 2, 2007. The group was comprised of State representatives from across the Federal regions, Tribal representatives, OCSE Regional Offices and OCSE Central Office.

As a result of the work group's deliberations, OCSE's goal is not to propose major changes to the format of the forms, but rather focus on essential clarifications. The changes suggested by the work group and endorsed by the National Council of Child Support Director promote automation and standardization, as well as clarify instructions.

Changes which OCSE will propose to the current forms include:

Title the forms "Intergovernmental" to reflect their use by States, Tribes, and foreign countries.
Provide Paternity Establish Percentage (PEP) documentation, which will address audit issues by:
- Adding a label to transmittals for Born Out of Wedlock Y/N, Paternity Established Y/N, Date Paternity Established
- Adding instructions for these new fields
Provide Tribal affiliation to identify Tribes to facilitate Tribal and State communications by
- Adding a label to transmittals for Tribal Affiliation
- Adding instructions for this new field
Update instructions on Transmittals #1 - Initial Request, #2 - Subsequent Actions, and #3 - Request for Assistance/Discovery recommended by the work group
Make the instructions which are common to Transmittals #1, #2, and #3 consistent on the Uniform Support Petition, Registration Statement, Locate Data Sheet, Notice of Determination of Controlling Order, Affidavit in Support of Establishing Paternity, and General Testimony forms
Highlight policy information that is included with the instructions so it is distinct
Make minor changes to label names contained in Transmittals #1, #2, #3 as recommended by the work group, e.g., Social Security No. and Social Security Number to SSN, E-mail to E-Mail, consistent use of Fax/FAX

We request that during the 60-day comment period you review the current forms and instructions along with the above list of proposed changes. Please provide your comments and suggestions to Yvette Hilderson Riddick at yvette.riddick@acf.hhs.gov within the 60-day period that began June 21, 2007. Following this comment period, OCSE will review the comments, take them under consideration, and submit the revised forms to the Office of Management and Budget.

Sincerely,

Margot Bean
Commissioner
Office of Child Support Enforcement

cc: ACF/OCSE Regional Program Managers