Child Support & Family Law With approximately half of America's children living in single-parent families at some point in their lives, child support is more important than ever in helping to keep children out of poverty. NCSL staff can provide comprehensive child support information, in areas such as administration and program structure, enforcement, and guidelines. The human services federal affairs staff represents state legislatures on federal child support issues in Washington, D.C. The administration and structure of child support programs affects their performance and reflects the priorities of the state. California elevated its child support program to Department status in 1999, and in 2003, Oregon transferred its program from the Department of Human Services to the Department of Justice. We can tell you which states charge fees, and which legislative committees handle child support matters. Programs are also caught in a continual tug-of-war between more efficient, administrative processes, and judicial procedures that ensure fairness, but might be less efficient at collecting support. NCSL can help legislators clarify goals for the child support program, and provide examples of how other states are dealing with these questions. Enforcement of child support is a continual challenge. How do states encourage recalcitrant parents to support their children? Methods, such as restricting driver's licenses and requiring employers to report all new hires to child support agencies, have been successful. Some states have taken other aggressive approaches, including booting cars, or publishing "most wanted" lists of delinquent parents. NCSL has information on a variety of innovative enforcement techniques being used around the country, as well as details on federally required enforcement laws. Child Support Guidelines provide a consistent standard against which all child support awards in a state can be measured. Legislators are concerned with basic issues of fairness between parents. States must review their child support guidelines every four years. NCSL has conducted extensive studies of state guidelines. This database contains information on key guidelines provisions and the different ways that states conduct their guidelines reviews. NCSL can help legislators determine how to ensure fairness for low-income parents, or whether to require child support for college expenses. Interested in child support publications? We have information on a wide range of topics, including financing child support programs. Our Child Support 101 series is a perennial favorite, providing a basic introduction to this complex topic. Check out the page to see what else is available. The federal government will be considering changes to child support programs as part of welfare reform reauthorization. Changes proposed in federal legislation could simplify child support distribution rules and create new options for states to pass through child support collections to families. The treatment of child support penalties is another key issue for the states. Further federal information can be found on the federal human services issues page. NCSL staff in D.C. and Denver can provide comprehensive, thorough, and timely information on critical child support policy issues. We provide services to legislators and staff working to improve state policies affecting children and their families. The Denver-based child support project staff focuses on state policy, tracking legislation and providing research and policy analysis, consultation, and technical assistance specifically geared to the legislative audience. Denver staff includes Kelli Kelty. Denver staff can be reached at 303.364.7700 or cyf-info@ncsl.org. NCSL staff in Washington, D.C. track and analyze federal legislation and policy and represent state legislatures on child support issues before Congress and the Administration. In D.C., Sheri Steisel and Lee Posey can be reached at 202.624.5400 or fedhumserv-info@ncsl.org. The child support project and D.C. human services staff receive guidance and support from NCSL's Human Services and Welfare Standing Committee. *PLEASE NOTE: The National Conference of State Legislatures is an organization serving state legislators and their staff. We cannot offer legal advice or assistance with individual cases, but we do try to answer questions on general topics. |