2000
[DOCID: f:s918is.txt]
107th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 918
To provide more child support money to families leaving welfare, to
simplify the rules governing the assignment and distribution of child
support collected by States on behalf of children, to improve the
collection of child support, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 21, 2001
Ms. Snowe (for herself, Mr. Kohl, Mr. Bayh, Mr. Graham, Mr. Johnson,
Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Rockefeller, Mr. Breaux, and Mrs. Lincoln)
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
Committee on Finance
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide more child support money to families leaving welfare, to
simplify the rules governing the assignment and distribution of child
support collected by States on behalf of children, to improve the
collection of child support, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Child Support Distribution Act of
2001''.
SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS.
The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Table of contents.
TITLE I--DISTRIBUTION OF CHILD SUPPORT
Sec. 101. Distribution of child support collected by States on behalf
of children receiving certain welfare
benefits.
TITLE II--DEMONSTRATIONS OF EXPANDED INFORMATION AND ENFORCEMENT
Sec. 201. Guidelines for involvement of public non-IV-D child support
enforcement agencies in child support
enforcement.
Sec. 202. Demonstrations involving establishment and enforcement of
child support obligations by public non-IV-
D child support enforcement agencies.
Sec. 203. GAO report to Congress on private child support enforcement
agencies.
Sec. 204. Effective date.
TITLE III--EXPANDED ENFORCEMENT
Sec. 301. Decrease in amount of child support arrearage triggering
passport denial.
Sec. 302. Use of tax refund intercept program to collect past-due child
support on behalf of children who are not
minors.
Sec. 303. Garnishment of compensation paid to veterans for service-
connected disabilities in order to enforce
child support obligations.
TITLE IV--MISCELLANEOUS
Sec. 401. Technical correction to changed dates for abstinence
evaluation.
Sec. 402. Report on undistributed child support payments.
Sec. 403. Use of new hire information to assist in administration of
unemployment compensation programs.
Sec. 404. Immigration provisions.
Sec. 405. Correction of errors in conforming amendments in the Welfare-
to-Work and Child Support Amendments of
1999.
Sec. 406. Increase in payment rate to States for expenditures for
short-term training of staff of certain
child welfare agencies.
TITLE V--EFFECTIVE DATE
Sec. 501. Effective date.
TITLE I--DISTRIBUTION OF CHILD SUPPORT
SEC. 101. DISTRIBUTION OF CHILD SUPPORT COLLECTED BY STATES ON BEHALF
OF CHILDREN RECEIVING CERTAIN WELFARE BENEFITS.
(a) Modification of Rule Requiring Assignment of Support Rights as
a Condition of Receiving TANF.--Section 408(a)(3) of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 608(a)(3)) is amended to read as follows:
``(3) No assistance for families not assigning certain
support rights to the state.--A State to which a grant is made
under section 403 shall require, as a condition of paying
assistance to a family under the State program funded under
this part, that a member of the family assign to the State any
right the family member may have (on behalf of the family
member or of any other person for whom the family member has
applied for or is receiving such assistance) to support from
any other person, not exceeding the total amount of assistance
so paid to the family, which accrues during the period that the
family receives assistance under the program.''.
(b) Increasing Child Support Payments to Families and Simplifying
Child Support Distribution Rules.--
(1) Distribution rules.--
(A) In general.--Section 457(a) of such Act (42
U.S.C. 657(a)) is amended to read as follows:
``(a) In General.--Subject to subsections (e) and (f), the amounts
collected on behalf of a family as support by a State pursuant to a
plan approved under this part shall be distributed as follows:
``(1) Families receiving assistance.--In the case of a
family receiving assistance from the State, the State shall--
``(A) pay to the Federal Government the Federal
share of the amount collected, subject to paragraph
(3)(A);
``(B) retain, or pay to the family, the State share
of the amount collected, subject to paragraph (3)(B);
and
``(C) pay to the family any remaining amount.
``(2) Families that formerly received assistance.--In the
case of a family that formerly received assistance from the
State:
``(A) Current support.--To the extent that the
amount collected does not exceed the current support
amount, the State shall pay the amount to the family.
``(B) Arrearages.--To the extent that the amount
collected exceeds the current support amount, the
State--
``(i) shall first pay to the family the
excess amount, to the extent necessary to
satisfy support arrearages not assigned
pursuant to section 408(a)(3);
``(ii) if the amount collected exceeds the
amount required to be paid to the family under
clause (i), shall--
``(I) pay to the Federal
Government, the Federal share of the
excess amount described in this clause,
subject to paragraph (3)(A); and
``(II) retain, or pay to the
family, the State share of the excess
amount described in this clause,
subject to paragraph (3)(B); and
``(iii) shall pay to the family any
remaining amount.
``(3) Limitations.--
``(A) Federal reimbursements.--The total of the
amounts paid by the State to the Federal Government
under paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection with
respect to a family shall not exceed the Federal share
of the amount assigned with respect to the family
pursuant to section 408(a)(3).
``(B) State reimbursements.--The total of the
amounts retained by the State under paragraphs (1) and
(2) of this subsection with respect to a family shall not exceed the
State share of the amount assigned wit
2000
h respect to the family pursuant
to section 408(a)(3).
``(4) Families that never received assistance.--In the case
of any other family, the State shall pay the amount collected
to the family.
``(5) Families under certain agreements.--Notwithstanding
paragraphs (1) through (4), in the case of an amount collected
for a family in accordance with a cooperative agreement under
section 454(33), the State shall distribute the amount
collected pursuant to the terms of the agreement.
``(6) State financing options.--To the extent that the
State's share of the amount payable to a family pursuant to
paragraph (2)(B) of this subsection exceeds the amount that the
State estimates (under procedures approved by the Secretary)
would have been payable to the family pursuant to former
section 457(a)(2)(B) (as in effect for the State immediately
before the date this subsection first applies to the State) if
such former section had remained in effect, the State may elect
to use the grant made to the State under section 403(a) to pay
the amount, or to have the payment considered a qualified State
expenditure for purposes of section 409(a)(7), but not both.
``(7) State option to pass through additional support with
federal financial participation.--
``(A) In general.--Notwithstanding paragraphs (1)
and (2), a State shall not be required to pay to the
Federal Government the Federal share of an amount
collected on behalf of a family that is not a recipient
of assistance under the State program funded under part
A, to the extent that the State pays the amount to the
family.
``(B) Recipients of tanf for less than 5 years.--
``(i) In general.--Notwithstanding
paragraphs (1) and (2), a State shall not be
required to pay to the Federal Government the
Federal share of an amount collected on behalf
of a family that is a recipient of assistance
under the State program funded under part A
and, if the family includes an adult, that has
received the assistance for not more than 5
years after the date of enactment of this
paragraph, to the extent that--
``(I) the State pays the amount to
the family; and
``(II) subject to clause (ii), the
amount is disregarded in determining
the amount and type of the assistance
provided to the family.
``(ii) Limitation.--Of the amount
disregarded as described in clause (i)(II), the
maximum amount that may be taken into account
for purposes of clause (i) shall not exceed
$400 per month, except that, in the case of a
family that includes 2 or more children, the
State may elect to increase the maximum amount
to not more than $600 per month.
``(8) States with demonstration waivers.--Notwithstanding
the preceding paragraphs, a State with a waiver under section
1115, effective on or before October 1, 1997, the terms of
which allow pass-through of child support payments, may pass
through payments in accordance with such terms with respect to
families subject to the waiver.''.
(B) State plan to include election as to which
rules to apply in distributing child support arrearages
collected on behalf of families formerly receiving
assistance.--Section 454 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 654) is
amended--
(i) by striking ``and'' at the end of
paragraph (32);
(ii) by striking the period at the end of
paragraph (33) and inserting ``; and''; and
(iii) by inserting after paragraph (33) the
following:
``(34) include an election by the State to apply section
457(a)(2)(B) of this Act or former section 457(a)(2)(B) of this
Act (as in effect for the State immediately before the date
this paragraph first applies to the State) to the distribution
of the amounts which are the subject of such sections, and for
so long as the State elects to so apply such former section,
the amendments made by subsection (e) of section 101 of the
Child Support Distribution Act of 2001 shall not apply with
respect to the State, notwithstanding subsection (f)(1) of such
section 101.''.
(C) Approval of estimation procedures.--Not later
than October 1, 2002, the Secretary of Health and Human
Services, in consultation with the States (as defined
for purposes of part D of title IV of the Social
Security Act), shall establish the procedures to be
used to make the estimate described in section
457(a)(6) of such Act.
(2) Current support amount defined.--Section 457(c) of such
Act (42 U.S.C. 657(c)) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``(5) Current support amount.--The term `current support
amount' means, with respect to amounts collected as support on
behalf of a family, the amount designated as the monthly
support obligation of the noncustodial parent in the order
requiring the support.''.
(c) Ban on Recovery of Medicaid Costs for Certain Births.--Section
454 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 654) as amended by subsection (b)(1)(B), is
amended--
(1) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (33);
(2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (34) and
inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by inserting after paragraph (34) the following:
``(35) provide that the State shall not use the State
program operated under this part to collect any amount owed to
the State by reason of costs incurred under the State plan
approved under title XIX for the birth of a child for whom
support rights have been assigned pursuant to section
408(a)(3), 471(a)(17), or 1912.''.
(d) State Option To Discontinue Pre-1997 Support Assignments.--
Section 457(b) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 657(b)) is amended by striking
``shall'' and inserting ``may''.
(e) Conforming Amendments.--
(1) Section 404(a) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 604(a)) is
amended--
(A) by striking ``or'' at the end of paragraph (1);
(B) by striking the period at the end of paragraph
(2) and inserting ``; or''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) to fund payment of an amount pursuant to clause (i)
or (ii) of section 457(a)(2)(B), but only to the extent that
the State properly elects under section 457(a)(6) to use the
grant to fund the payment.''.
(2) Section 409(a)(7)(B)(i) of such Act (42 U.S.C.
609(a)(7)(B)(i)) is amended--
(A) in subclause (I)(aa), by striking
``457(a)(1)(B)'' and inserting ``457(a)(1)''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(V) Portions of certain child
support payments
2000
collected on behalf of
and distributed to families no longer
receiving assistance.--Any amount paid
by a State pursuant to clause (i) or
(ii) of section 457(a)(2)(B), but only
to the extent that the State properly
elects under section 457(a)(6) to have
the payment considered a qualified
State expenditure.''.
(f) Effective Date.--
(1) In general.--The amendments made by this section shall
take effect on October 1, 2005, and shall apply to payments
under parts A and D of title IV of the Social Security Act for
calendar quarters beginning on or after such date, and without
regard to whether regulations to implement such amendments (in
the case of State programs operated under such part D) are
promulgated by such date.
(2) State option to accelerate effective date.--In
addition, a State may elect to have the amendments made by this
section apply to the State and to amounts collected by the
State, on and after such date as the State may select that is
after the date of enactment of this Act and before October 1,
2005.
TITLE II--DEMONSTRATIONS OF EXPANDED INFORMATION AND ENFORCEMENT
SEC. 201. GUIDELINES FOR INVOLVEMENT OF PUBLIC NON-IV-D CHILD SUPPORT
ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT.
(a) In General.--Not later than October 1, 2002, the Secretary, in
consultation with States, local governments, and individuals or
companies knowledgeable about involving public non-IV-D child support
enforcement agencies in child support enforcement, shall develop
recommendations which address the participation of public non-IV-D
child support enforcement agencies in the establishment and enforcement
of child support obligations. The matters addressed by the
recommendations shall include substantive and procedural rules which
should be followed with respect to privacy safeguards, data security,
due process rights, administrative compatibility with Federal and State
automated systems, eligibility requirements (such as registration,
licensing, and posting of bonds) for access to information and use of
enforcement mechanisms, recovery of costs by charging fees, penalties
for violations of the rules, treatment of collections for purposes of
section 458 of such Act, and avoidance of duplication of effort.
(b) Definitions.--In this title:
(1) Child support.--The term ``child support'' has the
meaning given in section 459(i)(2) of the Social Security Act.
(2) Public non-iv-d child support enforcement agency.--The
term ``public non-IV-D child support enforcement agency'' means
an agency, of a political subdivision of a State, which is
principally responsible for the operation of a child support
registry or for the establishment or enforcement of an
obligation to pay child support other than pursuant to the
State plan approved under part D of title IV of such Act, or a
clerk of court office of a political subdivision of a State.
(3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Health and Human Services.
(4) State.--The term ``State'' shall have the meaning given
in section 1101(a)(1) of the Social Security Act for purposes
of part D of title IV of such Act.
SEC. 202. DEMONSTRATIONS INVOLVING ESTABLISHMENT AND ENFORCEMENT OF
CHILD SUPPORT OBLIGATIONS BY PUBLIC NON-IV-D CHILD
SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.
(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to determine the
extent to which public non-IV-D child support enforcement agencies may
contribute effectively to the establishment and enforcement of child
support obligations.
(b) Applications.--
(1) Consideration.--The Secretary shall consider all
applications received from States desiring to conduct
demonstration projects under this section.
(2) Preferences.--In considering which applications to
approve under this section, the Secretary shall give preference
to applications submitted by States that had a public non-IV-D
child support enforcement agency as of January 1, 2001.
(3) Approval.--
(A) Timing; limitation on number of projects.--On
July 1, 2003, the Secretary may approve not more than
10 applications for projects providing for the
participation of a public non-IV-D child support
enforcement agency in the establishment and enforcement
of child support obligations, and, if the Secretary
receives at least 5 such applications that meet such
requirements as the Secretary may establish, shall
approve not less than 5 such applications.
(B) Requirements.--The Secretary may not approve an
application for a project unless--
(i) the applicant and the Secretary have
entered into a written agreement which
addresses at a minimum, privacy safeguards,
data security, due process rights, automated
systems, liability, oversight, and fees, and
the applicant has made a commitment to conduct
the project in accordance with the written
agreement and such other requirements as the
Secretary may establish;
(ii) the project includes a research plan
(but such plan shall not be required to use
random assignment) that is focused on assessing
the costs and benefits of the project; and
(iii) the project appears likely to
contribute significantly to the achievement of
the purpose of this title.
(c) Demonstration Authority.--On approval of an application
submitted by a State under this section--
(1) the State agency responsible for administering the
State plan under part D of title IV of the Social Security Act
may, subject to the privacy safeguards of section 454(26) of
such Act, provide to any public non-IV-D child support
enforcement agency participating in the demonstration project
all information in the State Directory of New Hires and any
information obtained through information comparisons under
section 453(j)(3) of such Act about an individual with respect
to whom the public non-IV-D agency is seeking to establish or
enforce a child support obligation, if the public non-IV-D
agency meets such requirements as the State may establish and
has entered into an agreement with the State under which the
public non-IV-D agency has made a binding commitment to carry
out establishment and enforcement activities with respect to
the child support obligation subject to the same data security,
privacy protection, and due process requirements applicable to
the State agency and in accordance with procedures approved by
the head of the State agency;
(2) the State agency may charge and collect fees from any
such public non-IV-D agency to recover costs incurred by the
State agency in providing information and services to the
public non-IV-D agency under the demonstration project;
(3) if a public non-IV-D child support enforcement agency
has agreed to collect past-due support (as defined in section
464(c) of such Act) owed by a named indi
2000
vidual, and the State
agency has submitted a notice to the Secretary of the Treasury
pursuant to section 464 of such Act on behalf of the public
non-IV-D agency, then the Secretary of the Treasury shall
consider the State agency to have agreed to collect such
support for purposes of such section 464, and the State agency
may collect from the public non-IV-D agency any fee which the
State is required to pay for the cost of applying the offset
procedure in the case;
(4) for so long as a public non-IV-D child support
enforcement agency is participating in the demonstration
project, the public non-IV-D agency shall be considered part of
the State agency for purposes of section 469A of such Act; and
(5) for so long as a public non-IV-D child support
enforcement agency is participating in the demonstration
project, the public non-IV-D agency shall be considered part of
the State agency for purposes of section 303(e) of such Act but
only with respect to any child support obligation that the
public non-IV-D agency has agreed to collect.
(d) Waiver Authority.--The Secretary may waive or vary the
applicability of any provision of section 303(e), 454(31), 464,
466(a)(7), 466(a)(17), and 469A of the Social Security Act to the
extent necessary to enable the conduct of demonstration projects under
this section, subject to the preservation of the data security, privacy
protection, and due process requirements of part D of title IV of such
Act.
(e) Federal Audit.--
(1) In general.--The Comptroller General of the United
States shall conduct an audit of the demonstration projects
conducted under this section for the purpose of examining and
evaluating the manner in which information and enforcement
tools are used by the public non-IV-D child support enforcement
agencies participating in the projects.
(2) Report to congress.--
(A) In general.--The Comptroller General of the
United States shall submit to Congress a report on the
audit required by paragraph (1).
(B) Timing.--The report required by subparagraph
(A) shall be so submitted not later than October 1,
2005.
(f) Secretarial Report to Congress.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall submit to Congress a
report on the demonstration projects conducted under this
section, which shall include the results of any research or
evaluation conducted pursuant to this title, and shall include
policy recommendations regarding the establishment and
enforcement of child support obligations by the agencies
involved.
(2) Timing.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall be
so submitted not later than October 1, 2006.
SEC. 203. GAO REPORT TO CONGRESS ON PRIVATE CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT
AGENCIES.
(a) In General.--Not later than October 1, 2002, the Comptroller
General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report on the
activities of private child support enforcement agencies that shall be
designed to help Congress determine whether the agencies are providing
a needed service in a fair manner using accepted debt collection
practices and at a reasonable fee.
(b) Matters To Be Addressed.--Among the matters addressed by the
report required by subsection (a) shall be the following:
(1) The number of private child support enforcement
agencies.
(2) The types of debt collection activities conducted by
the private agencies.
(3) The fees charged by the private agencies.
(4) The methods used by the private agencies to collect
fees from custodial parents.
(5) The nature and degree of cooperation the private
agencies receive from State agencies responsible for
administering State plans under part D of title IV of the
Social Security Act.
(6) The extent to which the conduct of the private agencies
is subject to Federal or State regulation, and if so, the
extent to which the regulations are effectively enforced.
(7) The amount of child support owed but uncollected and
changes in this amount in recent years.
(8) The average period of time required for the completion
of successful enforcement actions yielding collections of past-
due child support by both the child support enforcement
programs operated pursuant to State plans approved under part D
of title IV of the Social Security Act and, to the extent
known, by private child support enforcement agencies.
(9) The types of Federal and State child support
enforcement remedies and resources currently available to
private child support enforcement agencies, and the types of
such remedies and resources now restricted to use by State
agencies administering State plans referred to in paragraph
(8).
(c) Private Child Support Enforcement Agency Defined.--In this
section, the term ``private child support enforcement agency'' means a
person or any other nonpublic entity which seeks to establish or
enforce an obligation to pay child support (as defined in section
459(i)(2) of the Social Security Act).
SEC. 204. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This title shall take effect on the date of enactment of this Act.
TITLE III--EXPANDED ENFORCEMENT
SEC. 301. DECREASE IN AMOUNT OF CHILD SUPPORT ARREARAGE TRIGGERING
PASSPORT DENIAL.
Section 452(k) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 652(k)) is
amended by striking ``$5,000'' and inserting ``$2,500''.
SEC. 302. USE OF TAX REFUND INTERCEPT PROGRAM TO COLLECT PAST-DUE CHILD
SUPPORT ON BEHALF OF CHILDREN WHO ARE NOT MINORS.
Section 464 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 664) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(2)(A), by striking ``(as that term is
defined for purposes of this paragraph under subsection (c))'';
and
(2) in subsection (c)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) by striking ``(1) Except as provided in
paragraph (2), as used in'' and inserting
``In''; and
(ii) by inserting ``(whether or not a
minor)'' after ``a child'' each place it
appears; and
(B) by striking paragraphs (2) and (3).
SEC. 303. GARNISHMENT OF COMPENSATION PAID TO VETERANS FOR SERVICE-
CONNECTED DISABILITIES IN ORDER TO ENFORCE CHILD SUPPORT
OBLIGATIONS.
Section 459(h) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 659(h)) is
amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)(A)(ii)--
(A) in subclause (IV), by striking ``or'' after the
semicolon;
(B) in subclause (V), by inserting ``or'' after the
semicolon; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(VI) subject to paragraph (3),
other than periodic benefits or
payments described in subclause (V), by
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs as
compensation for a service-connected
disability paid by the Secretary to a
former member of the Armed Forces;'';
and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) Limitations with respect to compensation paid to
veterans for service-connected disabilities.--
``(A) Alimony and child support.--Subject to
subparag
2000
raph (B), compensation described in paragraph
(1)(A)(ii)(VI) shall not be subject to withholding
pursuant to this section--
``(i) for payment of alimony; or
``(ii) for payment of child support if the
individual is fewer than 60 days in arrears in
payment of the support.
``(B) Limitation.--Not more than 50 percent of any
payment of compensation described in subparagraph (A)
may be withheld pursuant to this section.''.
TITLE IV--MISCELLANEOUS
SEC. 401. TECHNICAL CORRECTION TO CHANGED DATES FOR ABSTINENCE
EVALUATION.
(a) In General.--Section 513 of H.R. 5656, as enacted into law by
section 1(a)(1) of Public Law 106-554 (114 Stat. 2763A-71), is
amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ``Section
403(a)(5)(H)(iii) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
603(a)(5)(H)(iii))'' and inserting ``Section 403(a)(5)(G)(iii)
of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 603(a)(5)(G)(iii))''; and
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ``Section 403(a)(5)(H)''
and inserting ``Section 403(a)(5)(G)''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall
take effect as if included in the enactment of section 513 of H.R. 5656
(as so enacted into law).
SEC. 402. REPORT ON UNDISTRIBUTED CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENTS.
Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act,
the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall submit to the
Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Finance of the Senate a report on the procedures that the
States use generally to locate custodial parents for whom child support
has been collected but not yet distributed due to a change in address.
The report shall include an estimate of the total amount of such
undistributed child support and the average length of time it takes for
such child support to be distributed. The Secretary shall include in
the report recommendations as to whether additional procedures should
be established at the Federal or State level to expedite the payment of
undistributed child support.
SEC. 403. USE OF NEW HIRE INFORMATION TO ASSIST IN ADMINISTRATION OF
UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION PROGRAMS.
(a) In General.--Section 453(j) of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 653(j)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(7) Information comparisons and disclosure to assist in
administration of unemployment compensation programs.--
``(A) In general.--If a State agency responsible
for the administration of an unemployment compensation
program under Federal or State law transmits to the
Secretary the name and social security account number
of an individual, the Secretary shall, if the
information in the National Directory of New Hires
indicates that the individual may be employed, disclose
to the State agency the name, address, and employer
identification number of any putative employer of the
individual, subject to this paragraph.
``(B) Condition on disclosure.--The Secretary shall
make a disclosure under subparagraph (A) only to the
extent that the Secretary determines that the
disclosure would not interfere with the effective
operation of the program under this part.
``(C) Use of information.--A State agency may use
information provided under this paragraph only for
purposes of administering a program referred to in
subparagraph (A).''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall
take effect on October 1, 2001.
SEC. 404. IMMIGRATION PROVISIONS.
(a) Nonimmigrant Aliens Ineligible To Receive Visas and Excluded
From Admission for Nonpayment of Child Support.--
(1) In general.--Section 212(a)(10) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(10)) is amended by adding at
the end the following:
``(F) Nonpayment of child support.--
``(i) In general.--Any nonimmigrant alien
is inadmissible who is legally obligated under
a judgment, decree, or order to pay child
support (as defined in section 459(i) of the
Social Security Act), and whose failure to pay
such child support has resulted in an arrearage
exceeding $2,500, until child support payments
under the judgment, decree, or order are
satisfied or the nonimmigrant alien is in
compliance with an approved payment agreement.
``(ii) Waiver authorized.--The Attorney
General may waive the application of clause (i)
in the case of an alien, if the Attorney
General--
``(I) has received a request for
the waiver from the court or
administrative agency having
jurisdiction over the judgment, decree,
or order obligating the alien to pay
child support that is referred to in
such clause; or
``(II) determines that there are
prevailing humanitarian or public
interest concerns.''.
(2) Effective date.--The amendment made by this subsection
shall take effect 180 days after the date of enactment of this
Act.
(b) Authorization To Serve Legal Process in Child Support Cases on
Certain Arriving Aliens.--
(1) In general.--Section 235(d) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1225(d)) is amended by adding at the
end the following:
``(5) Authority to serve process in child support cases.--
``(A) In general.--To the extent consistent with
State law, immigration officers are authorized to serve
on any alien who is an applicant for admission to the
United States legal process with respect to any action
to enforce or establish a legal obligation of an
individual to pay child support (as defined in section
459(i) of the Social Security Act).
``(B) Definition.--For purposes of subparagraph
(A), the term `legal process' means any writ, order,
summons, or other similar process, which is issued by--
``(i) a court or an administrative agency
of competent jurisdiction in any State,
territory, or possession of the United States;
or
``(ii) an authorized official pursuant to
an order of such a court or agency or pursuant
to State or local law.''.
(2) Effective date.--The amendment made by this subsection
shall apply to aliens applying for admission to the United
States on or after 180 days after the date of enactment of this
Act.
(c) Authorization To Share Child Support Enforcement Information To
Enforce Immigration and Naturalization Law.--
(1) Secretarial responsibility.--Section 452 of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 652) is amended by adding at the end
the following:
``(m) If the Secretary recei
eb0
ves a certification by a State agency,
in accordance with section 454(36), that an individual who is a
nonimmigrant alien (as defined in section 101(a)(15) of the Immigration
and Nationality Act) owes arrearages of child support in an amount
exceeding $2,500, the Secretary may, at the request of the State
agency, the Secretary of State, or the Attorney General, or on the
Secretary's own initiative, provide such certification to the Secretary
of State and the Attorney General in order to enable them to carry out
their responsibilities under sections 212(a)(10) and 235(d) of such
Act.''.
(2) State agency responsibility.--Section 454 of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 654), as amended by section 101(c), is
amended--
(A) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph
(34);
(B) by striking the period at the end of paragraph
(35) and inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by inserting after paragraph (35) the
following:
``(36) provide that the State agency will have in effect a
procedure for certifying to the Secretary, in such format and
accompanied by such supporting documentation as the Secretary
may require, determinations that nonimmigrant aliens owe
arrearages of child support in an amount exceeding $2,500.''.
SEC. 405. CORRECTION OF ERRORS IN CONFORMING AMENDMENTS IN THE WELFARE-
TO-WORK AND CHILD SUPPORT AMENDMENTS OF 1999.
The amendments made by section 2402 of the Emergency Supplemental
Act, 2000 (Public Law 106-246; 114 Stat. 555) shall take effect as if
included in the enactment of section 806 of the Departments of Labor,
Health, and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies
Appropriations Act, 2000 (as enacted into law by section 1000(a)(4) of
Public Law 106-113; 113 Stat. 1501A-286).
SEC. 406. INCREASE IN PAYMENT RATE TO STATES FOR EXPENDITURES FOR
SHORT-TERM TRAINING OF STAFF OF CERTAIN CHILD WELFARE
AGENCIES.
Section 474(a)(3)(B) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
674(a)(3)(B)) is amended by inserting ``, or State-licensed or State-
approved child welfare agencies providing services,'' after ``child
care institutions''.
TITLE V--EFFECTIVE DATE
SEC. 501. EFFECTIVE DATE.
(a) In General.--Except as otherwise provided in this Act, and
subject to subsection (b), this Act and the amendments made by this Act
shall take effect on October 1, 2002, and shall apply to payments under
part D of title IV of the Social Security Act for calendar quarters
beginning on or after such date, and without regard to whether
regulations to implement such amendments are promulgated by such date.
(b) Delay Permitted if State Legislation Required.--In the case of
a State plan approved under section 454 of the Social Security Act
which requires State legislation (other than legislation appropriating
funds) in order for the plan to meet the additional requirements
imposed by the amendments made by this Act, the State plan shall not be
regarded as failing to comply with the additional requirements solely
on the basis of the failure of the plan to meet the additional
requirements before the first day of the first calendar quarter
beginning after the close of the first regular session of the State
legislature that begins after the date of enactment of this Act. For
purposes of the previous sentence, in the case of a State that has a 2-
year legislative session, each year of such session shall be deemed to
be a separate regular session of the State legislature.
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