DATE: August 5, 2025
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Kari Gilbert, Director, Department of Child Support Services
SUBJECT: Plan of Cooperation between Fresno County Department of Child Support Services and Fresno Superior Court of California
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve and authorize the Director of the Department of Child Support Services to execute a Plan of Cooperation between the Fresno County Department of Child Support Services and the Fresno Superior Court of California effective upon execution through July 1, 2027, which includes one automatic 2-year extension ($0).
REPORT
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. The purpose of the Plan of Cooperation (POC) is to delineate the respective responsibilities of both agencies for administering Title IV-D services in the County. The current POC is being superseded by this updated version. The California Department of Child Support Services only requires the Fresno County Department of Child Support Services Director signature on the POC. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
There is no viable alternative action. Approval of the recommended action is required per the agreement between the California Department of Child Support Services and the Judicial Council of California.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. The Department is fully funded by Federal (66%) and State (34%) revenue sources.
DISCUSSION:
The Fresno County Department of Child Support Services functions as the State’s Local Child Support Agency (LCSA) for Fresno County. On October 5, 2021, the Board approved the Director to sign the current POC which became effective upon execution and would automatically renew for two-year terms unless superseded by an updated POC. In May 2025, the California Department of Child Support Services and the Judicial Council of California approved an updated version of the POC. All LCSA Directors have been instructed to work with their local court in reviewing and executing the POC.
The primary purpose of the POC is to secure the assistance of the Court in administering duties as specified in the California Code of Civil Procedures section 259 and the California Family Code section 4251(d). The POC also defines and allocates responsibilities, both individually and mutually, between the LCSA and Fresno Superior Court of California in relation to the Child Support Enforcement program under Title IV-D of the Social Security Act. The LCSA and the Court agree to collaborate and comply with Title IV-D performance standards including timeframes for case processing, record maintenance, and handling cases in accordance with procedures mandated by federal and state laws and regulations. The recommended POC shall be effective upon execution and shall expire on July 1, 2027. The POC shall automatically renew for an additional two-year term, until and unless it is expressly superseded by a future POC. The POC shall be subject to amendment as necessary to reflect new or revised state and federal laws, regulations, court rules, and requirements.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #23, October 5, 2021
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Superior Court POC
CAO ANALYST:
Sevag Tateosian