Title
Child Support Services recommending the Board:
1) Approve and authorize the Director of Child Support Services to sign a Plan of Cooperation with the California Department of Child Support Services for the term of October 1, 2024, through September 30, 2025, with automatic annual renewals, as required by the State Department of Child Support Services in order for El Dorado County’s Department of Child Support Services to continue to operate as a local child support agency and receive State and Federal child support funding, contingent upon approval by County Counsel and Risk Management; and
2) Authorize the Director of Child Support Services to execute further documents relating to the Plan of Cooperation, including amendments which do not increase Net County Cost, contingent upon approval by County Counsel and Risk Management, as applicable.
FUNDING: 100% State and Federal Child Support Funding.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND:
Family Code (FC) § 17202 designates the California Department of Child Support Services as the single organizational unit whose duty it shall be to administer the Title IV-D state plan for securing child and spousal support, medical support, and determining paternity. El Dorado County’s Department of Child Support Services (CSS) serves as a local child support agency for the California Department of Child Support Services. By serving as a local child support agency, CSS receives State and Federal funding for the Child Support Program in El Dorado County. Family Code requires cooperative agreements with county and state agencies to carry out the requirements of the state plan for administering the Title IV-D child support program.
El Dorado County’s last Plan of Cooperation with the State was signed in 2021. The State has recently updated of the Plan of Cooperation and is requiring all local child support agencies to sign the updated Plan of Cooperation. The Plan of Cooperation outlines the responsibilities of the State and the local child support agency. The changes in the attached Plan of Cooperation are due to IRS process changes, information technology security policy updates, and other minor language changes.
CSS is requesting the Board delegate authority to the Director of Child Support Services to sign the Plan of Cooperation with the State. The State requires the Plan of Cooperation be signed by the Director of Child Support Services. The Plan of Cooperation does not outline funding allocations for the program but does specify that the plan is required in order for CSS to receive State and Federal funding.
ALTERNATIVES:
Should the Board decline to authorize the Director of Child Support Services to sign the Plan of Cooperation, the department would not be eligible for State and Federal child support funds or to operate as a local child support agency.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION:
N/A
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
N/A
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The Plan of Cooperation does not outline allocations of State and Federal funding for Child Support Services. However, El Dorado County cannot receive State and Federal funding for Child Support Services without having a Plan of Cooperation in place with the California Department of Child Support Services.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
N/A
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT:
N/A
CONTACT
Ron Ladage, Director, Child Support Services