[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]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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

[[Page 14153]]

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

[[Page 14154]]

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