States must operate a IV-D program, and provide services to each child (resident or nonresident) who is (1) receiving IV-A assistance, IV-E benefits or services, or Medicaid, (2) formerly receiving IV-A assistance, or (3) applying for IV-D services.

Responsibility for determining cooperation is transferred to the IV-D agency, but states have the option to keep good cause determinations in the IV-A and Medicaid agencies.

States can not require recipients to sign a voluntary acknowledgment or otherwise relinquish the right to genetic tests as a condition of cooperation.

States must reduce IV-A assistance by at least 25% for failure to cooperate and may impose a full-family sanction.

IV-A block grant will be reduced by up to 5% if the IV-A program does not enforce noncooperation sanctions.

At state option, delinquent obligors are disqualified from Food Stamps unless a court allows the obligor to delay payments or the obligor is complying with a payment plan.

An income deduction for child support payments is authorized in the Food Stamp program.

IV-A programs must report quarterly on the number of noncustodial parents in the state who participated in mandatory work activities.

Sense of Congress that states should require minor noncustodial, nonsupporting parents to perform work/parenting activities.

FPLS locate authority is expanded to include (1) establishing parentage; (2) setting, modifying, and enforcing support orders; and (3) enforcing child custody and visitation orders. Noncustodial parents do not have direct access to FPLS (requests must go through the IV-D agency or courts to ensure protection of the custodial parent). No information may be disclosed if the state has notified HHS that the state has reasonable evidence of domestic violence or child abuse.

Employers must report new hires within 20 days after hire (or first pay) on a W-4 or equivalent (at employer option). States may establish a time earlier than 20 days but no state may exceed the 20 day limit. Employers transmitting reports electronically or magnetically report twice per month. Multistate employers may designate and report to one state. Federal employers report to National Directory of New Hires. States have the option to set employer penalties of less than $25 (or $500 for a conspiracy).

State must enter data within 5 days after receipt, transmit data to the National Directory of New Hires within 3 days after entry, and send withholding notice to employer within 2 days after entry. A state or local child support agency may disclose wage information to a contractor.

Unit must process payments for (1) IV-D cases; (2) interstate IV-D cases; (3) non-IV-D orders initially issued on or after 1/1/94 and subject to immediate withholding; and (4) non-IV-D orders issued or modified before 10/1/96 and subject to withholding if arrearage occurs.

The system must (1) control and account for public funds; (2) maintain good reporting data; (3) calculate performance indicators; (4) maintain data integrity and security.

Father's name can be on birth certificate only if both parents sign an acknowledgment or pursuant to an order. States must give oral and written notice before parents sign. An acknowledgment becomes a legal finding of paternity in 60 days unless challenged for fraud, duress, or mistake of fact. No ratification or rescission is permitted after 60 days or after a proceeding relating to the child to which the signatory is a party.

States must develop and use an affidavit meeting minimum national standards (developed by HHS), and to give full faith and credit to other state affidavits.

procedures

States must admit accredited genetic test results into evidence without foundation and may limit objections to test results to a specific number of days after receipt of results. Medical and genetic testing bills also must be admissible without a foundation and are prima facie evidence.

States must create a rebuttable (or at state option, conclusive) presumption of paternity upon genetic tests indicating a threshold probability of paternity. Temporary support orders must be entered based on clear and convincing evidence.

The putative father has no right to jury trial. The putative father may initiate a paternity action.

States must enter into agreements with financial institutions doing business within the state to conduct quarterly data matches. States also must obtain automated access to information in automated public records, including of vital statistics, tax, property title, motor vehicle, business registration, licensing, employment security, corrections, and public assistance. States must have subpoena authority. States must obtain access to data from utilities and cable companies (pursuant to an administrative subpoena), and financial institutions. Credit bureaus must furnish reports to IV-D agencies. State IV-D locator services must access nationwide motor vehicle or law enforcement networks used by the state.

Credit bureaus must furnish reports to IV-D agencies, and states must report arrearage to credit bureaus.

Child support owed to a state is not dischargeable in bankruptcy.

Effective 10/1/97, cases with a $5000 arrearage are subject to passport revocation.

States must process both IV-D and non-IV-D withholdings through the disbursement unit, but need only send withholding orders in IV-D cases. States must transmit withholding orders to employers within 2 days and may execute them through electronic means. States may execute an order without advance notice to the obligor, but states must send notice that withholding has commenced.

Employers must send withheld income to the disbursement unit within 7 days after payday. Employers must withhold income as directed in the order, except that when the order is issued by another state, the law of the state of the employer's principal place of employment applies in determining the (1) employer's fee for processing the order; (2) the maximum withholding; (3) the processing time periods; (4) the allocation priorities for multiple obligees; (5) any unspecified terms. An employer who complies with an order that is regular on its face is immune from liability.

The term "income" is defined.

All IV-D orders must include health care coverage, and notice to new employer is sufficient to enroll the child in the absent parent's health plan (unless contested).

States may electronically request interstate enforcement without transferring the case. States must respond within 5 days to an interstate request for administrative enforcement and maintain records. States must accord full faith and credit to other state liens without registration of support orders.

States must accept requests from foreign reciprocating countries. The Secretary of State is to declare reciprocating countries based on country's procedures and standards.

State access and visitation programs to be funded through lesser of 90% of access program expenditures or formula allotment. No state to be allotted less than $50,000 for FY 1997 or 199, or $100,000 for succeeding years.

Child support provisions are effective upon enactment, except as otherwise provided. Where state laws or state plans must be amended, the effective date is 10/1/96, or (for state laws) the first day of the first quarter after close of the first regular legislative session after enactment. Grace period for constitutional amendments.