[Federal Register: January 29, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 19)]
[Notices]               
[Page 4455-4457]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr29ja98-80]

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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

[[Page 4456]]

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