Resolution II

In Support of Equitable Allocation of Child 
Support Enforcement Financing 

WHEREAS, the Conference of State Court Administrators recognizes the importance of federal funding to insure that child support enforcement services are provided to those in need of such services; and 

WHEREAS, the Federal Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) has undertaken an effort to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of the current funding structure; and  

WHEREAS, the courts have had limited access to the current federal funding related to child support enforcement services for a variety of reasons; and  

WHEREAS, the current federal regulations prohibit courts from receiving federal funding for expenses related to judges (and their executive staff), while federal funding has been provided for hearing officers (and their executive staff) who perform the same functions as judges; and  

WHEREAS, the current funding structure for the child support enforcement program has provided a disincentive for cooperative agreements with courts as the state IV-D agencies see such cooperative agreements as increasing their administrative costs and thereby negatively impacting their programs' cost effectiveness; and  

WHEREAS, the current funding structure does not allow federal funding for collateral services, such as mediation and visitation services, even though provision of such services is likely to increase compliance with child support orders.  

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Conference of State Court Administrators supports the goals and objectives of the national child support enforcement program; and  

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that OCSE structure the funding to provide the state child support enforcement programs with an incentive to enter into cooperative agreements with courts and other entities to effectively and efficiently implement the goals and objectives of the program; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Conference of State Court Administrators urges OCSE to modify federal regulations to allow federal funding for expenses related to judges and their executive staff and to provide federal funding for collateral services, such as mediation and visitation services.  

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