[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 57 (Tuesday, March 25, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14152-14154]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-7521]
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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, Chapter 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) (61 FR 32443) as last amended, June 24, 1996. This
Notice reflects the Office of Child Support Enforcement's realignment
of functions and the incorporation of new functional responsibilities
due to new legislation.
Amend Chapter KF as follows:
1. 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
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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 absent parents, establishing paternity, and obtaining
child support; develop procedures for review and approval or
disapproval of state plan material; conduct audits of state programs at
least once every three years to assure their conformity with
appropriate requirements and to determine whether the actual operation
of such programs conforms to federal requirements, and conduct other
such audits as may be necessary; 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 systems for establishing paternity 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.
2. Delete KF.10 Organization 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)
Division of Audit (KFB)
Division of Program Operations (KFC)
Division of Policy and Planning (KFD)
Division of Consumer Services (KFE)
Division of State and Local Assistance (KFF)
3. Delete KF.20 Functions 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 has day-to-day operational responsibility for Child
Support Enforcement programs. The Associate Deputy Director for
Information Systems, who is also the Director of the ACF Office of
Program Support, has responsibility for day-to-day management of child
support information systems. The Deputy Director assists the Director
in carrying out responsibilities of the Office and oversees day-to-day
operation of OCSE's Audit, Program Operations, Policy and Planning,
Consumer Services and State and Local Assistance Divisions. In
addition, the Deputy Director has responsibility for implementation of
the International Child Support Program, the Native American child
support program and other special projects as may be developed from
time to time. The Associate Deputy Director assists the Deputy Director
in carrying out the responsibilities of the Office.
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.
Within the Office of the Director, an administrative staff assists
the Director, Deputy Director and Associate Deputy Director in managing
the formulation and execution of program and salaries and expense
budgets; and in providing administrative, personnel and data processing
support services.
B. 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. 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, 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.
C. Division of Program Operations is responsible for the day-to-day
operation of the Federal Parent Locator Service (FPLS), the Federal
Debt Collection Act including 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
monitors contracts with vendors who provide automated systems support
and quality assurance to these programs. 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 coordinates with other Federal
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agencies to monitor the implementation of Presidential Executive
Orders.
D. 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.
E. 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. Promotes ``best'' child support practices to
the public through monthly publication of the Child Support Report.
Advises the Director and Deputy Director, OCSE 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 operation of the
OCSE Homepage on the internet and insuring that the information is
placed thereon in a timely manner.
F. Division of State and Local Assistance, in concert with regional
offices, provides information and assistance on Child Support
Enforcement state 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, in
consultation with the Division of Consumer Services, develops
informational materials and 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 of paternity and
collection of child support.
Dated: March 18, 1997.
Olivia A. Golden,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Children and Families.
[FR Doc. 97-7521 Filed 3-24-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P
