DATE: December 11, 2018
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Kari Gilbert, Director, Department of Child Support Services
SUBJECT: Plan of Cooperation between the California Department of Child Support Services and the Fresno County Department of Child Support Services
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve and authorize the Director of the Department of Child Support Services to execute a retroactive Plan of Cooperation between the California Department of Child Support Services and the Fresno County Department of Child Support Services effective October 1, 2018 through September 30, 2019 ($0).
REPORT
The purpose of the Plan of Cooperation (POC) is to define and allocate responsibilities for administering Title IV-D services in the County. The previous POC expired on September 30, 2018. There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. 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. Failure to sign and return the POC may result in the withholding of part or all of the federal and state funds including incentive funds, or other compliance actions authorized by federal or state law, regulation, or policy.
RETROACTIVE AGREEMENT:
This POC is retroactive as it was received by the Department in early October 2018. Subsequent review and processing delayed completion of this item for placement on an earlier Board date.
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:
Fresno County Department of Child Support Services functions as the State’s Local Child Support Agency for Fresno County. On October 31, 2017, your Board approved the Director to sign the current POC which expired on September 30, 2018. The primary purpose of the POC is to define and allocate responsibilities for both the California Department of Child Support Services and the Local Child Support Agency in securing child support, including but not limited to support establishment; collection and distribution services; medical support; determining paternity; and providing other public services in accordance with the provisions of Title IV-D of the Social Security Act (Title 42 United States Code 651, et. seq.). The POC provides that in the event that the County fails to meet the terms or conditions of the POC, and the non-compliance becomes an issue, that the parties will agree to an informal resolution process. If and when there is a compliance issue that cannot be resolved with an informal resolution process, the issue may be escalated to the formal process in Family Code section 17604, which could involve withholding of funds, among other things.
This recommended POC shall be effective October 1, 2018 and shall expire on September 30, 2019. The POC shall be one year in duration, commencing at the start of the federal fiscal year, and shall be subject to renewal or amendment as necessary to reflect new or revised state and federal laws, regulations, and requirements.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #33, October 31, 2017
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - State DCSS POC FFY 2019
CAO ANALYST:
Yussel Zalapa