[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 19 (Thursday, January 29, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4455-4457]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-2238]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Children and Families
Office of Child Support Enforcement; Statement of Organization,
Functions, and Delegations of Authority
This notice amends Part K of the Statement of Organization,
Functions, and Delegations of Authority of the Department of Health and
Human Services (DHHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF)
as follows: Chapter KF, The Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE)
(62 FR 14152), as last amended, March 25, 1997. This reorganization
will establish two new offices within the OCSE, Office of Central
Office Operations and Office of Automation and Special Projects.
I. Amend Chapter KF as follows:
a. KF.00 Mission. Delete in its entirety and replace with the
following:
KF.00 Mission. The Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE)
advises the Secretary, through the Assistant Secretary for Children and
Families, on matters relating to child support enforcement. The Office,
in conjunction with Regional Offices, provides direction, guidance and
oversight to State Child Support Enforcement (CSE) program offices and
for activities authorized and directed by title IV-D of the Social
Security Act and other pertinent legislation. The general purpose of
the CSE legislation is to permit States to develop programs for
establishing and enforcing support obligations by locating absent
parents, establishing paternity when necessary, obtaining child support
orders, and enforcing those orders. The specific responsibilities of
this Office are to: Develop, recommend and issue policies, procedures
and interpretations for State programs for locating non-custodial
parents, establishing paternity, and obtaining child support; develop
procedures for review and approval or disapproval of State plan
material; conduct audits of child support programs; assist States in
establishing adequate reporting procedures and maintaining records for
the operation of the CSE programs and of amounts collected and
disbursed under the CSE program and the costs incurred in collecting
such amounts; provide technical assistance and training to the States
to help them develop effective procedures and systems for establishing
paternity, establishing support orders and collecting child support;
certify applications from States for permission to utilize the courts
of the United States to enforce court orders for support against absent
parents; operate the Federal Parent Locator Service; certify to the
Secretary of the Treasury amounts of child support obligations that
require collection in appropriate instances; submit an annual report to
Congress on all activities undertaken relative to the CSE program;
approve advanced data processing planning documents; and review, assess
and inspect planning, design and operation of state management
information systems.
b. KF.10 Organization. Delete in its entirety and replace with the
following:
KF.10 Organization. The Office of Child Support Enforcement is
headed by a Director and consists of:
Office of the Director (KFA)
Office of Central Office Operations (KFB)
Division of Audit (KFB1)
Division of Program Operations (KFB2)
Division of Policy and Planning (KFB3)
Division of Consumer Services (KFB4)
Division of State and Local Assistance (KFB5)
Office of Automation and Special Projects (KFC)
Division of Child Support Information Systems (KFC1)
c. KF.20 Functions. Delete in its entirety and replace with the
following:
KF.20 Functions. A. Office of the Director. The Director is also
the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families and is directly
responsible to the Secretary for carrying out OCSE's mission. The
Deputy Director/Commissioner has day-to-day operational responsibility
for Child Support Enforcement programs. The Deputy Director/
Commissioner assists the Director in carrying out responsibilities of
the Office and provides direction and leadership to the
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Office of Central Office Operations and Office of Automation and
Special Projects.
The Office is responsible for developing regulations, guidance and
standards for States to observe in locating absent parents;
establishing paternity and support obligations and enforcing support
obligations; maintaining relationships with Department officials, other
federal departments, State and local officials, and private
organizations and individuals interested in the CSE program;
coordinating and planning child support enforcement activities to
maximize program effectiveness; and approving all instructions,
policies and publications issued by OCSE staff.
B. Office of Central Office Operations is headed by an Associate
Commissioner who reports to the Deputy Director/Commissioner and
provides leadership and direction to the divisions of Audit, Program
Operations, Policy and Planning, Consumer Services, and State and Local
Assistance.
Within the Office of Central Office Operations, an administrative
staff assists the Associate Commissioner in managing the formulation
and execution of program and salaries and expense budgets and in
providing administrative, personnel and data processing support
services to OCSE staff.
1. Division of Audit, as required by section 452(a)(4) of the
Social Security Act (the Act), develops, plans, schedules and conducts
periodic audits of State CSE programs in accordance with audit
standards promulgated by the Comptroller General of the United States.
The Division will audit, at least once every three years (or more
frequently in the case of a State which fails to meet the performance
standards and the tests of the reliability of program data), the
reliability of the State's financial and statistical data reporting
systems used in calculating the paternity establishment percentage and
the performance indicators used as the basis for the payments of
performance based financial incentives to the States. These audits will
examine the computer systems general and application controls and
include in depth testing of the data produced by the system to ensure
that it is valid, complete and reliable. The Division will also conduct
financial audits to determine whether federal and other funds made
available to carry out the State programs are being appropriately
expended, and properly and fully accounted for. These audits will also
examine collections and disbursements of support payments for proper
processing and accounting treatment.
The Division will also provide technical assistance to States in
developing their self-assessment capabilities and implementing the
annual reporting requirements contained in the Personal Responsibility
and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996.
In addition, the Division will also conduct other audits and
examinations of program operations as may be necessary or requested by
program officials for the purpose of improving the efficiency,
effectiveness and economy of State and local child support activities;
develops consolidated reports for the Director and Deputy Director/
Commissioner, OCSE based on findings; provides specifications for the
development of audit regulations and requirements for audits of State
CSE programs; and coordinates and maintains effective liaison with the
HHS Inspector General's Office and with the General Accounting Office.
2. Division of Program Operations is responsible for the day-to-day
operation of the Federal Parent Locator Service (FPLS), the Federal Tax
Refund Offset Program and Project 1099, the IRS Full Collection
Project, and the SSN Enumeration Verification System. The Division is
also responsible for the design, development, implementation and
operation of the Federal Case Registry and the National Directory of
New Hires within the expanded FPLS. It is responsible for monitoring
contracts with vendors who provide automated systems support and
quality assurance to these programs; working with vendors to define
scope of work to be performed and by whom; negotiating interagency
agreements; and providing contract oversight. The Division, in
consultation with the Division of State and Local Assistance, also
provides technical assistance to State and local child support
enforcement agencies and other State agencies involved in these program
areas. The Division provides guidance and expertise to States
concerning other State, interstate and national locate networks and
sources. In addition, the Division works with the U.S. Department of
State on passport revocation.
3. Division of Policy and Planning proposes and implements national
policy on the CSE program and provides policy guidance and
interpretations to States in developing and operating their programs
according to federal law. It develops legislative proposals and
regulations to implement new legislation, court decisions or directives
from higher authority. The Division develops procedures for review and
approval of State plans by the OCSE regional offices. It develops and
monitors research, interstate, and other demonstration and evaluation
studies and publishes program statistics. The Division is also
responsible for strategic planning and performance measurements and
standards development. It prepares legislative cost estimates and is
responsible for national child support budget formulation.
4. Division of Consumer Services provides direction and leadership
for a variety of consumer affairs activities in support of the
nationwide child support enforcement program. Provides advice on
strategies and approaches to be used to improve public understanding of
and access to OCSE programs and policies. Develops and publishes
informational materials and disseminates through the National Reference
Center. Promotes ``best'' child support practices to the public through
monthly publication of the Child Support Report. Advises the Deputy
Director/Commissioner through the Associate Commissioner of the impact
of child support enforcement policy and program upon consumers and
provides a focal point for intergovernmental and consumer relations and
consultation. The Division is also responsible for national electronic
communications activities including disseminating information and
operation of the OCSE Homepage on the internet and insuring that the
information is placed thereon in a timely and accurate manner.
5. Division of State and Local Assistance, in concert with regional
offices, provides information and assistance on State Child Support
Enforcement operations. It provides national direction and leadership
for training and technical assistance activities to increase Child
Support Enforcement (CSE) program effectiveness both at Federal and
State levels; develops guides and resource materials and serves as a
clearinghouse for specialized program techniques for use by ACF
regional offices and States; and ensures transfer of best practices
among State and local CSE enforcement agencies. The Division operates a
national CSE training center; provides logistical support for both
training events and meetings; and monitors contracts with organizations
affiliated with child support enforcement programs in the areas of
training and technical assistance. The Division provides outreach and
liaison services to a variety of special interest populations
concerning establishment
[[Page 4457]]
of paternity and collection of child support. The Division, in
consultation with the Division of Consumer Services, develops
informational materials.
C. Office of Automation and Special Projects is headed by an
Associate Commissioner who reports to the Deputy Director/Commissioner
and provides leadership and direction to the Division of Child Support
Information Systems. In addition, the Office of Automation and Special
Projects has responsibility for implementation of the International
Child Support Program, Native American Child Support Program, Advocacy
Relations, Data Center Coordination, Grants Preparation and other
projects and task forces appointed by the Deputy Director/Commissioner
from time to time.
1. Division of Child Support Information Systems reviews, analyzes,
and approves/disapproves State requests for Federal financial
participation for automated systems development activities which
support the Child Support program. It provides assistance to States in
developing or modifying automation plans to conform to Federal
requirements. It monitors approved State systems development
activities; certifies state-wide automated systems; conducts periodic
reviews to assure State compliance with regulatory requirements
applicable to automated systems supported by Federal financial
participation. It provides guidance to States on functional
requirements for these automated information systems. It promotes
interstate transfer of existing automated systems and provides
assistance and guidance to improve ACF's programs through the use of
automated systems.
II. Amend Notice 63 FR 81, dated January 2, 1998, Roman numeral
III, Chapter KL, replace the term ``Office of the Assistant Secretary
for Policy and External Affairs'' with ``Office of the Deputy Assistant
Secretary for Policy and External Affairs.''
Date: January 25, 1998.
Olivia A. Golden,
Assistant Secretary for Children and Families.
[FR Doc. 98-2238 Filed 1-28-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P
