New legislation would Increase flexibility for local child support enforcement agencies

Key Takeaways

County child support enforcement may see cost savings and improved collections under new legislation from Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) titled, “Providing Adequate Resources to Enhance Needed Time with Sons and Daughters,” or The PARENTS Act.

Under the current process, Parenting Time Arrangements (PTAs) are voluntary agreements reached between two never married parents that establishes a time and parameters for the non-custodial parents to spend with the child. Only a few states incorporate PTAs into initial child support orders. The PARENTS Act allows states the option to use Child Support Enforcement (CSE) Program incentive funds, at their discretion, to establish voluntary Parenting Time Arrangements (PTAs). Several states delegate the operation of the federally funded CSE program to county governments. These counties will greatly benefit from the flexibility to use federal CSE incentive payments to establish voluntary PTAs in child support orders.

Eliminating the need for a waiver from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)—an unnecessary requirement, as HHS has yet to deny such a waiver to any state, territory or locality—will yield administrative savings and free up resources. Evidence further suggests that PTAs improve child support collection rates and time spent with non-custodial parents, making this bill conducive to better outcomes for the children and families we serve within the CSE system.

Counties support this legislation and look forward to a more efficient process for local jurisdictions to promote and establish voluntary PTAs.