Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2013
WASHINGTON - Measures from Sens. Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Robert Menendez of New Jersey to strengthen child support enforcement are included in broad child welfare legislation scheduled for consideration in the Finance Committee this week.
"The provisions help states recover money that family courts have determined is owed to custodial parents," Grassley said. "We ought to do more to make sure money owed gets to the parents and children who need and deserve it. Child support enforcement helps make sure families are strong and independent."
The Supporting At-Risk Children Act of 2013 is scheduled for committee consideration on Thursday. The measure includes the following provisions from the Menendez-Grassley bill, the Strengthen and Vitalize Enforcement of Child Support (SAVE Child Support) Act, S. 508, introduced in March:
--Requires the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to use federal and, if necessary, state child support enforcement methods to ensure compliance with any U.S. treaty obligations associated with any multilateral child support convention to which the United States is a party.
--Requires states, in order to receive federal funding, to implement amendments made by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws to the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act.
--Expands access to the Federal Parent Locator Service to assist states in locating noncustodial parents, putative fathers, and custodial parties to ensure compliance with their child support obligations.
A description of the chairman`s version, or mark, of the Supporting At-Risk Children Act of 2013 is available here.
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