
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 42USC654]

 
                 TITLE 42--THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
 
                       CHAPTER 7--SOCIAL SECURITY
 
 SUBCHAPTER IV--GRANTS TO STATES FOR AID AND SERVICES TO NEEDY FAMILIES 
              WITH CHILDREN AND FOR CHILD-WELFARE SERVICES
 
          Part D--Child Support and Establishment of Paternity
 
Sec. 654. State plan for child and spousal support

    A State plan for child and spousal support must--
        (1) provide that it shall be in effect in all political 
    subdivisions of the State;
        (2) provide for financial participation by the State;
        (3) provide for the establishment or designation of a single and 
    separate organizational unit, which meets such staffing and 
    organizational requirements as the Secretary may by regulation 
    prescribe, within the State to administer the plan;
        (4) provide that the State will--
            (A) provide services relating to the establishment of 
        paternity or the establishment, modification, or enforcement of 
        child support obligations, as appropriate, under the plan with 
        respect to--
                (i) each child for whom (I) assistance is provided under 
            the State program funded under part A of this subchapter, 
            (II) benefits or services for foster care maintenance are 
            provided under the State program funded under part E of this 
            subchapter, (III) medical assistance is provided under the 
            State plan approved under subchapter XIX of this chapter, or 
            (IV) cooperation is required pursuant to section 2015(l)(1) 
            of title 7, unless, in accordance with paragraph (29), good 
            cause or other exceptions exist;
                (ii) any other child, if an individual applies for such 
            services with respect to the child; and

            (B) enforce any support obligation established with respect 
        to--
                (i) a child with respect to whom the State provides 
            services under the plan; or
                (ii) the custodial parent of such a child;

        (5) provide that (A) in any case in which support payments are 
    collected for an individual with respect to whom an assignment 
    pursuant to section 608(a)(3) of this title is effective, such 
    payments shall be made to the State for distribution pursuant to 
    section 657 of this title and shall not be paid directly to the 
    family, and the individual will be notified on a monthly basis (or 
    on a quarterly basis for so long as the Secretary determines with 
    respect to a State that requiring such notice on a monthly basis 
    would impose an unreasonable administrative burden) of the amount of 
    the support payments collected, and (B) in any case in which support 
    payments are collected for an individual pursuant to the assignment 
    made under section 1396k of this title, such payments shall be made 
    to the State for distribution pursuant to section 1396k of this 
    title, except that this clause shall not apply to such payments for 
    any month after the month in which the individual ceases to be 
    eligible for medical assistance;
        (6) provide that--
            (A) services under the plan shall be made available to 
        residents of other States on the same terms as to residents of 
        the State submitting the plan;
            (B) an application fee for furnishing such services shall be 
        imposed on an individual, other than an individual receiving 
        assistance under a State program funded under part A or E of 
        this subchapter, or under a State plan approved under subchapter 
        XIX of this chapter, or who is required by the State to 
        cooperate with the State agency administering the program under 
        this part pursuant to subsection (l) or (m) of section 2015 of 
        title 7, and shall be paid by the individual applying for such 
        services, or recovered from the absent parent, or paid by the 
        State out of its own funds (the payment of which from State 
        funds shall not be considered as an administrative cost of the 
        State for the operation of the plan, and shall be considered 
        income to the program), the amount of which (i) will not exceed 
        $25 (or such higher or lower amount (which shall be uniform for 
        all States) as the Secretary may determine to be appropriate for 
        any fiscal year to reflect increases or decreases in 
        administrative costs), and (ii) may vary among such individuals 
        on the basis of ability to pay (as determined by the State);
            (C) a fee of not more than $25 may be imposed in any case 
        where the State requests the Secretary of the Treasury to 
        withhold past-due support owed to or on behalf of such 
        individual from a tax refund pursuant to section 664(a)(2) of 
        this title;
            (D) a fee (in accordance with regulations of the Secretary) 
        for performing genetic tests may be imposed on any individual 
        who is not a recipient of assistance under a State program 
        funded under part A of this subchapter; and
            (E) any costs in excess of the fees so imposed may be 
        collected--
                (i) from the parent who owes the child or spousal 
            support obligation involved; or
                (ii) at the option of the State, from the individual to 
            whom such services are made available, but only if such 
            State has in effect a procedure whereby all persons in such 
            State having authority to order child or spousal support are 
            informed that such costs are to be collected from the 
            individual to whom such services were made available;

        (7) provide for entering into cooperative arrangements with 
    appropriate courts and law enforcement officials and Indian tribes 
    or tribal organizations (as defined in subsections (e) and (l) of 
    section 450b of title 25) (A) to assist the agency administering the 
    plan, including the entering into of financial arrangements with 
    such courts and officials in order to assure optimum results under 
    such program, and (B) with respect to any other matters of common 
    concern to such courts or officials and the agency administering the 
    plan;
        (8) provide that, for the purpose of establishing parentage, 
    establishing, setting the amount of, modifying, or enforcing child 
    support obligations, or making or enforcing a child custody or 
    visitation determination, as defined in section 663(d)(1) of this 
    title the agency administering the plan will establish a service to 
    locate parents utilizing--
            (A) all sources of information and available records; and
            (B) the Federal Parent Locator Service established under 
        section 653 of this title,

    and shall, subject to the privacy safeguards required under 
    paragraph (26), disclose only the information described in sections 
    653 and 663 of this title to the authorized persons specified in 
    such sections for the purposes specified in such sections;
        (9) provide that the State will, in accordance with standards 
    prescribed by the Secretary, cooperate with any other State--
            (A) in establishing paternity, if necessary;
            (B) in locating a noncustodial parent residing in the State 
        (whether or not permanently) against whom any action is being 
        taken under a program established under a plan approved under 
        this part in another State;
            (C) in securing compliance by a noncustodial parent residing 
        in such State (whether or not permanently) with an order issued 
        by a court of competent jurisdiction against such parent for the 
        support and maintenance of the child or children or the parent 
        of such child or children with respect to whom aid is being 
        provided under the plan of such other State;
            (D) in carrying out other functions required under a plan 
        approved under this part; and
            (E) not later than March 1, 1997, in using the forms 
        promulgated pursuant to section 652(a)(11) of this title for 
        income withholding, imposition of liens, and issuance of 
        administrative subpoenas in interstate child support cases;

        (10) provide that the State will maintain a full record of 
    collections and disbursements made under the plan and have an 
    adequate reporting system;
        (11)(A) provide that amounts collected as support shall be 
    distributed as provided in section 657 of this title; and
        (B) provide that any payment required to be made under section 
    656 or 657 of this title to a family shall be made to the resident 
    parent, legal guardian, or caretaker relative having custody of or 
    responsibility for the child or children;
        (12) provide for the establishment of procedures to require the 
    State to provide individuals who are applying for or receiving 
    services under the State plan, or who are parties to cases in which 
    services are being provided under the State plan--
            (A) with notice of all proceedings in which support 
        obligations might be established or modified; and
            (B) with a copy of any order establishing or modifying a 
        child support obligation, or (in the case of a petition for 
        modification) a notice of determination that there should be no 
        change in the amount of the child support award, within 14 days 
        after issuance of such order or determination;

        (13) provide that the State will comply with such other 
    requirements and standards as the Secretary determines to be 
    necessary to the establishment of an effective program for locating 
    noncustodial parents, establishing paternity, obtaining support 
    orders, and collecting support payments and provide that information 
    requests by parents who are residents of other States be treated 
    with the same priority as requests by parents who are residents of 
    the State submitting the plan;
        (14)(A) comply with such bonding requirements, for employees who 
    receive, disburse, handle, or have access to, cash, as the Secretary 
    shall by regulations prescribe;
        (B) maintain methods of administration which are designed to 
    assure that persons responsible for handling cash receipts shall not 
    participate in accounting or operating functions which would permit 
    them to conceal in the accounting records the misuse of cash 
    receipts (except that the Secretary shall by regulations provide for 
    exceptions to this requirement in the case of sparsely populated 
    areas where the hiring of unreasonable additional staff would 
    otherwise be necessary);
        (15) provide for--
            (A) a process for annual reviews of and reports to the 
        Secretary on the State program operated under the State plan 
        approved under this part, including such information as may be 
        necessary to measure State compliance with Federal requirements 
        for expedited procedures, using such standards and procedures as 
        are required by the Secretary, under which the State agency will 
        determine the extent to which the program is operated in 
        compliance with this part; and
            (B) a process of extracting from the automated data 
        processing system required by paragraph (16) and transmitting to 
        the Secretary data and calculations concerning the levels of 
        accomplishment (and rates of improvement) with respect to 
        applicable performance indicators (including paternity 
        establishment percentages) to the extent necessary for purposes 
        of sections 652(g) and 658 of this title;

        (16) provide for the establishment and operation by the State 
    agency, in accordance with an (initial and annually updated) advance 
    automated data processing planning document approved under section 
    652(d) of this title, of a statewide automated data processing and 
    information retrieval system meeting the requirements of section 
    654a of this title designed effectively and efficiently to assist 
    management in the administration of the State plan, so as to 
    control, account for, and monitor all the factors in the support 
    enforcement collection and paternity determination process under 
    such plan;
        (17) provide that the State will have in effect an agreement 
    with the Secretary entered into pursuant to section 663 of this 
    title for the use of the Parent Locator Service established under 
    section 653 of this title, and provide that the State will accept 
    and transmit to the Secretary requests for information authorized 
    under the provisions of the agreement to be furnished by such 
    Service to authorized persons, will impose and collect (in 
    accordance with regulations of the Secretary) a fee sufficient to 
    cover the costs to the State and to the Secretary incurred by reason 
    of such requests, will transmit to the Secretary from time to time 
    (in accordance with such regulations) so much of the fees collected 
    as are attributable to such costs to the Secretary so incurred, and 
    during the period that such agreement is in effect will otherwise 
    comply with such agreement and regulations of the Secretary with 
    respect thereto;
        (18) provide that the State has in effect procedures necessary 
    to obtain payment of past-due support from overpayments made to the 
    Secretary of the Treasury as set forth in section 664 of this title, 
    and take all steps necessary to implement and utilize such 
    procedures;
        (19) provide that the agency administering the plan--
            (A) shall determine on a periodic basis, from information 
        supplied pursuant to section 508 of the Unemployment 
        Compensation Amendments of 1976, whether any individuals 
        receiving compensation under the State's unemployment 
        compensation law (including amounts payable pursuant to any 
        agreement under any Federal unemployment compensation law) owe 
        child support obligations which are being enforced by such 
        agency; and
            (B) shall enforce any such child support obligations which 
        are owed by such an individual but are not being met--
                (i) through an agreement with such individual to have 
            specified amounts withheld from compensation otherwise 
            payable to such individual and by submitting a copy of any 
            such agreement to the State agency administering the 
            unemployment compensation law; or
                (ii) in the absence of such an agreement, by bringing 
            legal process (as defined in section 659(i)(5) of this 
            title) to require the withholding of amounts from such 
            compensation;

        (20) provide, to the extent required by section 666 of this 
    title, that the State (A) shall have in effect all of the laws to 
    improve child support enforcement effectiveness which are referred 
    to in that section, and (B) shall implement the procedures which are 
    prescribed in or pursuant to such laws;
        (21)(A) at the option of the State, impose a late payment fee on 
    all overdue support (as defined in section 666(e) of this title) 
    under any obligation being enforced under this part, in an amount 
    equal to a uniform percentage determined by the State (not less than 
    3 percent nor more than 6 percent) of the overdue support, which 
    shall be payable by the noncustodial parent owing the overdue 
    support; and
        (B) assure that the fee will be collected in addition to, and 
    only after full payment of, the overdue support, and that the 
    imposition of the late payment fee shall not directly or indirectly 
    result in a decrease in the amount of the support which is paid to 
    the child (or spouse) to whom, or on whose behalf, it is owed;
        (22) in order for the State to be eligible to receive any 
    incentive payments under section 658 of this title, provide that, if 
    one or more political subdivisions of the State participate in the 
    costs of carrying out activities under the State plan during any 
    period, each such subdivision shall be entitled to receive an 
    appropriate share (as determined by the State) of any such incentive 
    payments made to the State for such period, taking into account the 
    efficiency and effectiveness of the activities carried out under the 
    State plan by such political subdivision;
        (23) provide that the State will regularly and frequently 
    publicize, through public service announcements, the availability of 
    child support enforcement services under the plan and otherwise, 
    including information as to any application fees for such services 
    and a telephone number or postal address at which further 
    information may be obtained and will publicize the availability and 
    encourage the use of procedures for voluntary establishment of 
    paternity and child support by means the State deems appropriate;
        (24) provide that the State will have in effect an automated 
    data processing and information retrieval system--
            (A) by October 1, 1997, which meets all requirements of this 
        part which were enacted on or before October 13, 1988; and
            (B) by October 1, 2000, which meets all requirements of this 
        part enacted on or before August 22, 1996, except that such 
        deadline shall be extended by 1 day for each day (if any) by 
        which the Secretary fails to meet the deadline imposed by 
        section 344(a)(3) of the Personal Responsibility and Work 
        Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996;

        (25) provide that if a family with respect to which services are 
    provided under the plan ceases to receive assistance under the State 
    program funded under part A of this subchapter, the State shall 
    provide appropriate notice to the family and continue to provide 
    such services, subject to the same conditions and on the same basis 
    as in the case of other individuals to whom services are furnished 
    under the plan, except that an application or other request to 
    continue services shall not be required of such a family and 
    paragraph (6)(B) shall not apply to the family;
        (26) have in effect safeguards, applicable to all confidential 
    information handled by the State agency, that are designed to 
    protect the privacy rights of the parties, including--
            (A) safeguards against unauthorized use or disclosure of 
        information relating to proceedings or actions to establish 
        paternity, or to establish, modify, or enforce support, or to 
        make or enforce a child custody determination;
            (B) prohibitions against the release of information on the 
        whereabouts of 1 party or the child to another party against 
        whom a protective order with respect to the former party or the 
        child has been entered;
            (C) prohibitions against the release of information on the 
        whereabouts of 1 party or the child to another person if the 
        State has reason to believe that the release of the information 
        to that person may result in physical or emotional harm to the 
        party or the child;
            (D) in cases in which the prohibitions under subparagraphs 
        (B) and (C) apply, the requirement to notify the Secretary, for 
        purposes of section 653(b)(2) of this title, that the State has 
        reasonable evidence of domestic violence or child abuse against 
        a party or the child and that the disclosure of such information 
        could be harmful to the party or the child; and
            (E) procedures providing that when the Secretary discloses 
        information about a parent or child to a State court or an agent 
        of a State court described in section 653(c)(2) or 663(d)(2)(B) 
        of this title, and advises that court or agent that the 
        Secretary has been notified that there is reasonable evidence of 
        domestic violence or child abuse pursuant to section 653(b)(2) 
        of this title, the court shall determine whether disclosure to 
        any other person of information received from the Secretary 
        could be harmful to the parent or child and, if the court 
        determines that disclosure to any other person could be harmful, 
        the court and its agents shall not make any such disclosure;

        (27) provide that, on and after October 1, 1998, the State 
    agency will--
            (A) operate a State disbursement unit in accordance with 
        section 654b of this title; and
            (B) have sufficient State staff (consisting of State 
        employees) and (at State option) contractors reporting directly 
        to the State agency to--
                (i) monitor and enforce support collections through the 
            unit in cases being enforced by the State pursuant to 
            paragraph (4) (including carrying out the automated data 
            processing responsibilities described in section 654a(g) of 
            this title); and
                (ii) take the actions described in section 666(c)(1) of 
            this title in appropriate cases;

        (28) provide that, on and after October 1, 1997, the State will 
    operate a State Directory of New Hires in accordance with section 
    653a of this title;
        (29) provide that the State agency responsible for administering 
    the State plan--
            (A) shall make the determination (and redetermination at 
        appropriate intervals) as to whether an individual who has 
        applied for or is receiving assistance under the State program 
        funded under part A of this subchapter, the State program under 
        part E of this subchapter, the State program under subchapter 
        XIX of this chapter, or the food stamp program, as defined under 
        section 2012(h) of title 7, is cooperating in good faith with 
        the State in establishing the paternity of, or in establishing, 
        modifying, or enforcing a support order for, any child of the 
        individual by providing the State agency with the name of, and 
        such other information as the State agency may require with 
        respect to, the noncustodial parent of the child, subject to 
        good cause and other exceptions which--
                (i) in the case of the State program funded under part A 
            of this subchapter, the State program under part E of this 
            subchapter, or the State program under subchapter XIX of 
            this chapter shall, at the option of the State, be defined, 
            taking into account the best interests of the child, and 
            applied in each case, by the State agency administering such 
            program; and
                (ii) in the case of the food stamp program, as defined 
            under section 2012(h) of title 7, shall be defined and 
            applied in each case under that program in accordance with 
            section 2015(l)(2) of title 7;

            (B) shall require the individual to supply additional 
        necessary information and appear at interviews, hearings, and 
        legal proceedings;
            (C) shall require the individual and the child to submit to 
        genetic tests pursuant to judicial or administrative order;
            (D) may request that the individual sign a voluntary 
        acknowledgment of paternity, after notice of the rights and 
        consequences of such an acknowledgment, but may not require the 
        individual to sign an acknowledgment or otherwise relinquish the 
        right to genetic tests as a condition of cooperation and 
        eligibility for assistance under the State program funded under 
        part A of this subchapter, the State program under part E of 
        this subchapter, the State program under subchapter XIX of this 
        chapter, or the food stamp program, as defined under section 
        2012(h) of title 7; and
            (E) shall promptly notify the individual and the State 
        agency administering the State program funded under part A of 
        this subchapter, the State agency administering the State 
        program under part E of this subchapter, the State agency 
        administering the State program under subchapter XIX of this 
        chapter, or the State agency administering the food stamp 
        program, as defined under section 2012(h) of title 7, of each 
        such determination, and if noncooperation is determined, the 
        basis therefor;

        (30) provide that the State shall use the definitions 
    established under section 652(a)(5) of this title in collecting and 
    reporting information as required under this part;
        (31) provide that the State agency will have in effect a 
    procedure for certifying to the Secretary, for purposes of the 
    procedure under section 652(k) of this title, determinations that 
    individuals owe arrearages of child support in an amount exceeding 
    $5,000, under which procedure--
            (A) each individual concerned is afforded notice of such 
        determination and the consequences thereof, and an opportunity 
        to contest the determination; and
            (B) the certification by the State agency is furnished to 
        the Secretary in such format, and accompanied by such supporting 
        documentation, as the Secretary may require;

        (32)(A) provide that any request for services under this part by 
    a foreign reciprocating country or a foreign country with which the 
    State has an arrangement described in section 659a(d) of this title 
    shall be treated as a request by a State;
        (B) provide, at State option, notwithstanding paragraph (4) or 
    any other provision of this part, for services under the plan for 
    enforcement of a spousal support order not described in paragraph 
    (4)(B) entered by such a country (or subdivision); and
        (C) provide that no applications will be required from, and no 
    costs will be assessed for such services against, the foreign 
    reciprocating country or foreign obligee (but costs may at State 
    option be assessed against the obligor); and
        (33) provide that a State that receives funding pursuant to 
    section 628 of this title and that has within its borders Indian 
    country (as defined in section 1151 of title 18) may enter into 
    cooperative agreements with an Indian tribe or tribal organization 
    (as defined in subsections (e) and (l) of section 450b of title 25), 
    if the Indian tribe or tribal organization demonstrates that such 
    tribe or organization has an established tribal court system or a 
    Court of Indian Offenses with the authority to establish paternity, 
    establish, modify, or enforce support orders, or to enter support 
    orders in accordance with child support guidelines established or 
    adopted by such tribe or organization, under which the State and 
    tribe or organization shall provide for the cooperative delivery of 
    child support enforcement services in Indian country and for the 
    forwarding of all collections pursuant to the functions performed by 
    the tribe or organization to the State agency, or conversely, by the 
    State agency to the tribe or organization, which shall distribute 
    such collections in accordance with such agreement.

The State may allow the jurisdiction which makes the collection involved 
to retain any application fee under paragraph (6)(B) or any late payment 
fee under paragraph (21). Nothing in paragraph (33) shall void any 
provision of any cooperative agreement entered into before August 22, 
1996, nor shall such paragraph deprive any State of jurisdiction over 
Indian country (as so defined) that is lawfully exercised under section 
1322 of title 25.

(Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, title IV, Sec. 454, as added Pub. L. 93-647, 
Sec. 101(a), Jan. 4, 1975, 88 Stat. 2354; amended Pub. L. 94-88, title 
II, Sec. 208(b), (c), Aug. 9, 1975, 89 Stat. 436; Pub. L. 95-30, title 
V, Sec. 502(a), May 23, 1977, 91 Stat. 162; Pub. L. 96-265, title IV, 
Sec. 405(b), June 9, 1980, 94 Stat. 463; Pub. L. 96-611, Sec. 9(a), Dec. 
28, 1980, 94 Stat. 3571; Pub. L. 97-35, title XXIII, Secs. 2331(b), 
2332(d), 2333(a), (b), 2335(a), Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 860, 862, 863; 
Pub. L. 97-248, title I, Secs. 171(a), (b)(1), 173(a), Sept. 3, 1982, 96 
Stat. 401, 403; Pub. L. 98-369, div. B, title VI, Sec. 2663(c)(14), 
(j)(2)(B)(x), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 1166, 1170; Pub. L. 98-378, 
Secs. 3(a), (c)-(f), 5(b), 6(a), 11(b)(1), 12(a), (b), 14(a), 21(d), 
Aug. 16, 1984, 98 Stat. 1306, 1310, 1311, 1314, 1318, 1319, 1320, 1324; 
Pub. L. 100-203, title IX, Secs. 9141(a)(2), 9142(a), Dec. 22, 1987, 101 
Stat. 1330-321; Pub. L. 100-485, title I, Secs. 104(a), 111(c), 123(a), 
(d), Oct. 13, 1988, 102 Stat. 2348, 2349, 2352, 2353; Pub. L. 104-35, 
Sec. 1(a), Oct. 12, 1995, 109 Stat. 294; Pub. L. 104-193, title I, 
Sec. 108(c)(11), (12), title III, Secs. 301(a), (b), 302(b)(2), 303(a), 
304(a), 312(a), 313(a), 316(g)(1), 324(b), 332, 333, 342(a), 343(b), 
344(a)(1), (4), 370(a)(2), 371(b), 375(a), (c), 395(d)(1)(D), (2)(B), 
Aug. 22, 1996, 110 Stat. 2166, 2199, 2204, 2205, 2207, 2209, 2218, 2223, 
2230, 2233, 2234, 2236, 2252, 2254, 2256, 2259, 2260; Pub. L. 105-33, 
title V, Secs. 5531(a), 5542(c), 5545, 5546(a), 5548, 5552, 5556(b), 
Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 625, 631, 633, 635, 637; Pub. L. 106-169, title 
IV, Sec. 401(g), (h), Dec. 14, 1999, 113 Stat. 1858.)

                       References in Text

    Parts A and E of this subchapter, referred to in pars. (4)(A)(i), 
(6)(B), (D), (25), and (29)(A), (D), (E), are classified to section 601 
et seq. and 670 et seq., respectively, of this title.
    Section 508 of the Unemployment Compensation Amendments of 1976, 
referred to in par. (19), is section 508 of Pub. L. 94-566, Oct. 20, 
1976, 90 Stat. 2689, which enacted section 603a of this title and 
amended section 49b of Title 29, Labor.
    Section 344(a)(3) of the Personal Responsibility and Work 
Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, referred to in par. (24), is 
section 344(a)(3) of Pub. L. 104-193, which is set out as a Regulations 
note under section 654a of this title.


                               Amendments

    1999--Par. (6)(E)(i). Pub. L. 106-169, Sec. 401(g)(1), substituted 
``; or'' for ``, or'' at end.
    Par. (9)(A) to (C). Pub. L. 106-169, Sec. 401(g)(2), substituted 
semicolon for comma at end.
    Par. (19)(A). Pub. L. 106-169, Sec. 401(g)(3), substituted ``; and'' 
for ``, and'' at end.
    Par. (19)(B)(i). Pub. L. 106-169, Sec. 401(g)(1), substituted ``; 
or'' for ``, or'' at end.
    Par. (24)(A). Pub. L. 106-169, Sec. 401(g)(3), substituted ``; and'' 
for ``, and'' at end.
    Par. (24)(B). Pub. L. 106-169, Sec. 401(h), made technical amendment 
to reference in original act which appears in text as reference to 
August 22, 1996.
    1997--Par. (4)(A)(i)(IV). Pub. L. 105-33, Sec. 5548(a), added subcl. 
(IV).
    Par. (6)(B). Pub. L. 105-33, Sec. 5531(a), substituted ``an 
individual, other than an individual receiving assistance under a State 
program funded under part A or E of this subchapter, or under a State 
plan approved under subchapter XIX of this chapter, or who is required 
by the State to cooperate with the State agency administering the 
program under this part pursuant to subsection (l) or (m) of section 
2015 of title 7, and'' for ``individuals not receiving assistance under 
any State program funded under part A of this subchapter, which''.
    Par. (8). Pub. L. 105-33, Sec. 5552(1)(D), inserted concluding 
provisions.
    Pub. L. 105-33, Sec. 5552(1)(A), in introductory provisions, 
inserted ``, for the purpose of establishing parentage, establishing, 
setting the amount of, modifying, or enforcing child support 
obligations, or making or enforcing a child custody or visitation 
determination, as defined in section 663(d)(1) of this title'' after 
``provide that'' and struck out ``noncustodial'' before ``parents''.
    Par. (8)(A). Pub. L. 105-33, Sec. 5552(1)(B), substituted ``records; 
and'' for ``records, and''.
    Par. (8)(B). Pub. L. 105-33, Sec. 5552(1)(C), substituted ``title,'' 
for ``title;''.
    Par. (16). Pub. L. 105-33, Sec. 5556(b), made technical amendment to 
directory language of Pub. L. 104-193, Sec. 344(a)(1)(F). See 1996 
Amendment note below.
    Par. (17). Pub. L. 105-33, Sec. 5552(2), substituted ``provide that 
the State will have'' for ``in the case of a State which has'' and 
inserted ``and'' after ``section 653 of this title,''.
    Par. (19)(B)(ii). Pub. L. 105-33, Sec. 5542(c), substituted 
``section 659(i)(5)'' for ``section 662(e)''.
    Par. (26). Pub. L. 105-33, Sec. 5552(3)(A), struck out ``will'' 
before ``have in effect'' in introductory provisions.
    Par. (26)(A). Pub. L. 105-33, Sec. 5552(3)(B), inserted ``, 
modify,'' after ``or to establish'' and ``, or to make or enforce a 
child custody determination'' after ``support''.
    Par. (26)(B). Pub. L. 105-33, Sec. 5552(3)(C)(i), (ii), inserted 
``or the child'' after ``1 party'' and after ``former party''.
    Par. (26)(C). Pub. L. 105-33, Sec. 5552(3)(D), inserted ``or the 
child'' after ``1 party'', substituted ``another person'' for ``another 
party'', inserted ``to that person'' after ``release of the 
information'', and substituted ``party or the child'' for ``former 
party''.
    Par. (26)(D), (E). Pub. L. 105-33, Sec. 5552(3)(C)(iii), (E), added 
subpars. (D) and (E).
    Par. (29)(A). Pub. L. 105-33, Sec. 5548(b)(1)(B), substituted cls. 
(i) and (ii) for
        ``(i) shall be defined, taking into account the best interests 
    of the child, and
        ``(ii) shall be applied in each case,
by, at the option of the State, the State agency administering the State 
program under part A of this subchapter, this part, or subchapter XIX of 
this chapter;''.
    Pub. L. 105-33, Sec. 5548(b)(1)(A), in introductory provisions, 
substituted ``part A of this subchapter, the State program under part E 
of this subchapter, the State program under subchapter XIX of this 
chapter, or the food stamp program, as defined under section 2012(h) of 
title 7,'' for ``part A of this subchapter or the State program under 
subchapter XIX of this chapter''.
    Par. (29)(D). Pub. L. 105-33, Sec. 5548(b)(2), substituted ``the 
State program under part E of this subchapter, the State program under 
subchapter XIX of this chapter, or the food stamp program, as defined 
under section 2012(h) of title 7'' for ``or the State program under 
subchapter XIX of this chapter''.
    Par. (29)(E). Pub. L. 105-33, Sec. 5548(b)(3), substituted 
``individual and the State agency administering the State program funded 
under part A of this subchapter, the State agency administering the 
State program under part E of this subchapter, the State agency 
administering the State program under subchapter XIX of this chapter, or 
the State agency administering the food stamp program, as defined under 
section 2012(h) of title 7,'' for ``individual, the State agency 
administering the State program funded under part A of this subchapter, 
and the State agency administering the State program under subchapter 
XIX of this chapter,''.
    Par. (32)(A). Pub. L. 105-33, Sec. 5545, substituted ``section 
659a(d)'' for ``section 659a(d)(2)''.
    Par. (33). Pub. L. 105-33, Sec. 5546(a), substituted ``or enforce 
support orders, or'' for ``and enforce support orders, and'', 
``guidelines established or adopted by such tribe or organization'' for 
``guidelines established by such tribe or organization'', ``all 
collections'' for ``all funding collected'', and ``such collections'' 
for ``such funding''.
    1996--Pub. L. 104-193, Sec. 375(a)(4), inserted at end of closing 
provisions ``Nothing in paragraph (33) shall void any provision of any 
cooperative agreement entered into before August 22, 1996, nor shall 
such paragraph deprive any State of jurisdiction over Indian country (as 
so defined) that is lawfully exercised under section 1322 of title 25.''
    Par. (4). Pub. L. 104-193, Sec. 301(a)(1), amended par. (4) 
generally. Prior to amendment, par. (4) read as follows: ``provide that 
such State will undertake--
        ``(A) in the case of a child born out of wedlock with respect to 
    whom an assignment under section 602(a)(26) of this title or section 
    1396k of this title is effective, to establish the paternity of such 
    child, unless the agency administering the plan of the State under 
    part A of this subchapter determines in accordance with the 
    standards prescribed by the Secretary pursuant to section 
    602(a)(26)(B) of this title that it is against the best interests of 
    the child to do so, or, in the case of such a child with respect to 
    whom an assignment under section 1396k of this title is in effect, 
    the State agency administering the plan approved under subchapter 
    XIX of this chapter determines pursuant to section 1396k(a)(1)(B) of 
    this title that it is against the best interests of the child to do 
    so, and
        ``(B) in the case of any child with respect to whom such 
    assignment is effective, including an assignment with respect to a 
    child on whose behalf a State agency is making foster care 
    maintenance payments under part E of this subchapter, to secure 
    support for such child from his parent (or from any other person 
    legally liable for such support), and from such parent for his 
    spouse (or former spouse) receiving aid to families with dependent 
    children or medical assistance under a State plan approved under 
    subchapter XIX of this chapter (but only if a support obligation has 
    been established with respect to such spouse, and only if the 
    support obligation established with respect to the child is being 
    enforced under the plan), utilizing any reciprocal arrangements 
    adopted with other States (unless the agency administering the plan 
    of the State under part A or E of this subchapter determines in 
    accordance with the standards prescribed by the Secretary pursuant 
    to section 602(a)(26)(B) of this title that it is against the best 
    interests of the child to do so), except that when such arrangements 
    and other means have proven ineffective, the State may utilize the 
    Federal courts to obtain or enforce court orders for support;''.
    Par. (5)(A). Pub. L. 104-193, Sec. 108(c)(11), substituted 
``pursuant to section 608(a)(3) of this title'' for ``under section 
602(a)(26) of this title'' and ``payments collected,'' for ``payments 
collected; except that this paragraph shall not apply to such payments 
for any month following the first month in which the amount collected is 
sufficient to make such family ineligible for assistance under the State 
plan approved under part A of this subchapter;''.
    Par. (6). Pub. L. 104-193, Sec. 301(a)(2)(A), substituted ``provide 
that--'' for ``provide that'' in introductory provisions.
    Par. (6)(A). Pub. L. 104-193, Sec. 301(a)(2)(B), added subpar. (A) 
and struck out former subpar. (A) which read as follows: ``the child 
support collection or paternity determination services established under 
the plan shall be made available to any individual not otherwise 
eligible for such services upon application filed by such individual 
with the State, including support collection services for the spouse (or 
former spouse) with whom the absent parent's child is living (but only 
if a support obligation has been established with respect to such 
spouse, and only if the support obligation established with respect to 
the child is being enforced under the plan),''.
    Par. (6)(B). Pub. L. 104-193, Sec. 301(a)(2)(C), (D), inserted ``on 
individuals not receiving assistance under any State program funded 
under part A of this subchapter'' after ``such services shall be 
imposed'', realigned margins, and substituted semicolon for comma at 
end.
    Par. (6)(C). Pub. L. 104-193, Sec. 301(a)(2)(D), realigned margins 
and substituted semicolon for comma at end.
    Par. (6)(D). Pub. L. 104-193, Sec. 301(a)(2)(D), realigned margins 
and substituted semicolon for comma before ``and'' at end.
    Pub. L. 104-193, Sec. 108(c)(12), substituted ``assistance under a 
State program funded'' for ``aid under a State plan approved''.
    Par. (6)(E). Pub. L. 104-193, Sec. 301(a)(2)(D)(i), (E), realigned 
margins.
    Pub. L. 104-193, Sec. 301(a)(2)(D)(ii), which directed substitution 
of a semicolon for the final comma, could not be executed because 
subpar. (E) already ended in a semicolon and not a comma.
    Par. (7). Pub. L. 104-193, Sec. 375(c), inserted ``and Indian tribes 
or tribal organizations (as defined in subsections (e) and (l) of 
section 450b of title 25)'' after ``law enforcement officials''.
    Par. (8). Pub. L. 104-193, Sec. 395(d)(1)(D), substituted 
``noncustodial'' for ``absent'' in introductory provisions.
    Par. (8)(B). Pub. L. 104-193, Sec. 316(g)(1)(A), amended subpar. (B) 
generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (B) read as follows: ``the Parent 
Locator Service in the Department of Health and Human Services;''.
    Par. (9)(B), (C). Pub. L. 104-193, Sec. 395(d)(2)(B), substituted 
``a noncustodial parent'' for ``an absent parent''.
    Par. (9)(E). Pub. L. 104-193, Sec. 324(b), added subpar. (E).
    Par. (11). Pub. L. 104-193, Sec. 302(b)(2), designated existing 
provisions as subpar. (A), inserted ``and'' after semicolon at end, and 
redesignated par. (12) as subpar. (B).
    Par. (12). Pub. L. 104-193, Sec. 304(a), added par. (12). Former 
par. (12) redesignated (11)(B).
    Pub. L. 104-193, Sec. 302(b)(2)(B), redesignated par. (12) as 
(11)(B).
    Par. (13). Pub. L. 104-193, Secs. 316(g)(1)(B), 395(d)(1)(D), 
substituted ``noncustodial parents'' for ``absent parents'' and inserted 
before semicolon at end ``and provide that information requests by 
parents who are residents of other States be treated with the same 
priority as requests by parents who are residents of the State 
submitting the plan''.
    Par. (14). Pub. L. 104-193, Sec. 342(a)(1), (2), designated existing 
provisions as subpar. (A) and redesignated par. (15) as subpar. (B).
    Par. (15). Pub. L. 104-193, Sec. 342(a)(3), added par. (15). Former 
par. (15) redesignated (14)(B).
    Pub. L. 104-193, Sec. 342(a)(2), redesignated par. (15) as (14)(B).
    Par. (16). Pub. L. 104-193, Sec. 344(a)(1), as amended by Pub. L. 
105-33, Sec. 5556(b), struck out ``, at the option of the State,'' 
before ``for the establishment'', inserted ``and operation by the State 
agency'' after ``for the establishment'' and ``meeting the requirements 
of section 654a of this title'' after ``information retrieval system'', 
substituted ``so as to control'' for ``in the State and localities 
thereof, so as (A) to control'', struck out ``(i)'' before ``all the 
factors in the support enforcement collection'', and struck out before 
semicolon at end ``(including, but not limited to, (I) identifiable 
correlation factors (such as social security numbers, names, dates of 
birth, home addresses and mailing addresses (including postal ZIP codes) 
of any individual with respect to whom support obligations are sought to 
be established or enforced and with respect to any person to whom such 
support obligations are owing) to assure sufficient compatibility among 
the systems of different jurisdictions to permit periodic screening to 
determine whether such individual is paying or is obligated to pay 
support in more than one jurisdiction, (II) checking of records of such 
individuals on a periodic basis with Federal, intra- and inter-State, 
and local agencies, (III) maintaining the data necessary to meet the 
Federal reporting requirements on a timely basis, and (IV) delinquency 
and enforcement activities), (ii) the collection and distribution of 
support payments (both intra- and inter-State), the determination, 
collection, and distribution of incentive payments both inter- and 
intra-State, and the maintenance of accounts receivable on all amounts 
owed, collected and distributed, and (iii) the costs of all services 
rendered, either directly or by interfacing with State financial 
management and expenditure information, (B) to provide interface with 
records of the State's aid to families with dependent children program 
in order to determine if a collection of a support payment causes a 
change affecting eligibility for or the amount of aid under such 
program, (C) to provide for security against unauthorized access to, or 
use of, the data in such system, (D) to facilitate the development and 
improvement of the income withholding and other procedures required 
under section 666(a) of this title through the monitoring of support 
payments, the maintenance of accurate records regarding the payment of 
support, and the prompt provision of notice to appropriate officials 
with respect to any arrearages in support payments which may occur, and 
(E) to provide management information on all cases under the State plan 
from initial referral or application through collection and 
enforcement''.
    Par. (21)(A). Pub. L. 104-193, Sec. 395(d)(1)(D), substituted 
``noncustodial parent'' for ``absent parent''.
    Par. (23). Pub. L. 104-193, Sec. 332, inserted ``and will publicize 
the availability and encourage the use of procedures for voluntary 
establishment of paternity and child support by means the State deems 
appropriate'' before semicolon.
    Par. (24). Pub. L. 104-193, Sec. 344(a)(4), amended par. (24) 
generally. Prior to amendment, par. (24) read as follows: ``provide that 
if the State, as of October 13, 1988, does not have in effect an 
automated data processing and information retrieval system meeting all 
of the requirements of paragraph (16), the State--
        ``(A) will submit to the Secretary by October 1, 1991, for 
    review and approval by the Secretary within 9 months after submittal 
    an advance automated data processing planning document of the type 
    referred to in such paragraph; and
        ``(B) will have in effect by October 1, 1997, an operational 
    automated data processing and information retrieval system, meeting 
    all the requirements of that paragraph, which has been approved by 
    the Secretary;''.
    Par. (25). Pub. L. 104-193, Sec. 301(b), added par. (25).
    Par. (26). Pub. L. 104-193, Sec. 303(a), added par. (26).
    Par. (27). Pub. L. 104-193, Sec. 312(a), added par. (27).
    Par. (28). Pub. L. 104-193, Sec. 313(a), added par. (28).
    Par. (29). Pub. L. 104-193, Sec. 333, added par. (29).
    Par. (30). Pub. L. 104-193, Sec. 343(b), added par. (30).
    Par. (31). Pub. L. 104-193, Sec. 370(a)(2), added par. (31).
    Par. (32). Pub. L. 104-193, Sec. 371(b), added par. (32).
    Par. (33). Pub. L. 104-193, Sec. 375(a)(1)-(3), added par. (33).
    1995--Par. (24)(B). Pub. L. 104-35 substituted ``1997'' for 
``1995''.
    1988--Par. (5)(A). Pub. L. 100-485, Sec. 104(a), substituted ``on a 
monthly basis (or on a quarterly basis for so long as the Secretary 
determines with respect to a State that requiring such notice on a 
monthly basis would impose an unreasonable administrative burden)'' for 
``at least annually''.
    Par. (6)(D), (E). Pub. L. 100-485, Sec. 111(c), added cl. (D) and 
redesignated former cl. (D) as (E).
    Par. (16). Pub. L. 100-485, Sec. 123(d), substituted ``advance 
automated'' for ``advance automatic'' in introductory provisions.
    Pub. L. 100-485, Sec. 123(a)(2), substituted ``a statewide 
automated'' for ``an automatic''.
    Par. (24). Pub. L. 100-485, Sec. 123(a)(1), added par. (24).
    1987--Par. (4)(A). Pub. L. 100-203, Sec. 9142(a)(1)(A), (B), 
substituted ``an assignment under section 602(a)(26) of this title or 
section 1396k of this title'' for ``an assignment under section 
602(a)(26) of this title'' and ``, or, in the case of such a child with 
respect to whom an assignment under section 1396k of this title is in 
effect, the State agency administering the plan approved under 
subchapter XIX of this chapter determines pursuant to section 
1396k(a)(1)(B) of this title that it is against the best interests of 
the child to do so, and'' for ``, and''.
    Par. (4)(B). Pub. L. 100-203, Sec. 9142(a)(1)(C), inserted ``or 
medical assistance under a State plan approved under subchapter XIX of 
this chapter'' after ``children''.
    Par. (5). Pub. L. 100-203, Sec. 9142(a)(2), substituted ``provide 
that (A)'' for ``provide that,'' and added cl. (B).
    Pub. L. 100-203, Sec. 9141(a)(2), struck out ``(except as provided 
in section 657(c) of this title)'' after ``apply to such payments''.
    1984--Par. (4)(B). Pub. L. 98-378, Sec. 11(b)(1), inserted 
``including an assignment with respect to a child on whose behalf a 
State agency is making foster care maintenance payments under part E of 
this subchapter,'' after ``such assignment is effective,'' and inserted 
``or E'' after ``part A''.
    Par. (4)(B). Pub. L. 98-378, Sec. 12(a), substituted ``, and'' for 
``and, at the option of the State,'' before ``from such parent'' and 
inserted ``, and only if the support obligation established with respect 
to the child is being enforced under the plan''.
    Par. (5). Pub. L. 98-378, Sec. 3(e), inserted ``, and the individual 
will be notified at least annually of the amount of the support payments 
collected;''.
    Par. (6)(A). Pub. L. 98-378, Sec. 12(b), struck out ``, at the 
option of the State,'' before ``support collection services'' and 
inserted ``, and only if the support obligation established with respect 
to the child is being enforced under the plan''.
    Par. (6)(B). Pub. L. 98-378, Sec. 3(c), substituted ``shall be 
imposed, which shall be paid by the individual applying for such 
services, or recovered from the absent parent, or paid by the State out 
of its own funds (the payment of which from State funds shall not be 
considered as an administrative cost of the State for the operation of 
the plan, and shall be considered income to the program), the amount of 
which (i) will not exceed $25 (or such higher or lower amount (which 
shall be uniform for all States) as the Secretary may determine to be 
appropriate for any fiscal year to reflect increases or decreases in 
administrative costs), and (ii) may vary among such individuals on the 
basis of ability to pay (as determined by the State), and'' for ``may be 
imposed, except that the amount of any such application fee shall be 
reasonable, as determined under regulations of the Secretary,''.
    Par. (6)(C). Pub. L. 98-378, Sec. 21(d)(1), (3), added cl. (C). 
Former cl. (C) redesignated (D).
    Par. (6)(D). Pub. L. 98-378, Sec. 21(d)(1), (2), redesignated former 
cl. (C) as (D) and substituted ``fees'' for ``fee'' before ``so 
imposed''.
    Par. (8)(B). Pub. L. 98-369, Sec. 2663(j)(2)(B)(x), substituted 
``Health and Human Services'' for ``Health, Education, and Welfare''.
    Par. (9)(C). Pub. L. 98-369, Sec. 2663(c)(14)(A), struck out ``of 
such parent'' before ``with respect to whom aid''.
    Par. (16)(A)(ii). Pub. L. 98-369, Sec. 2663(c)(14)(B), substituted 
``collection, and distribution'' for ``collection and distribution,'' 
before ``of incentive payments''.
    Par. (16)(D), (E). Pub. L. 98-378, Sec. 6(a), added cl. (D) and 
redesignated former cl. (D) as (E).
    Par. (17). Pub. L. 98-378, Sec. 2663(c)(14)(C), realigned margin, 
substituted ``provide that the State will accept'' for ``to accept'', 
``will impose'' for ``and to impose'', ``will transmit'' for ``to 
transmit'', and ``will otherwise comply'' for ``, otherwise to comply''.
    Par. (20). Pub. L. 98-378, Sec. 3(a), added par. (20).
    Par. (21). Pub. L. 98-378, Sec. 3(d), added par. (21).
    Par. (22). Pub. L. 98-378, Sec. 5(b), added par. (22).
    Par. (23). Pub. L. 98-378, Sec. 14(a), added par. (23).
    Pub. L. 98-378, Sec. 3(f), inserted after numbered paragraphs 
provision that the State may allow the jurisdiction which makes the 
collection involved to retain any application fee under par. (6)(B) or 
any late payment fee under par. (21).
    1982--Par. (5). Pub. L. 97-248, Sec. 173(a), inserted ``following 
the first month'' after ``for any month''.
    Par. (6). Pub. L. 97-248, Sec. 171(a), in cl. (A) inserted 
provisions relating to inclusion of, at the option of the State, support 
collection services for the spouse or former spouse, in cl. (B) 
substituted ``such services'' for ``services under the State plan (other 
than collection of support)'', and in cl. (C) substituted provisions 
relating to collection of any costs in excess of the fee imposed, for 
provisions relating to the State retaining any fee imposed under State 
law as required under former par. (19).
    Pars. (18) to (20). Pub. L. 97-248, Sec. 171(b)(1), inserted ``and'' 
at end of par. (18), struck out par. (19) relating to imposition of a 
fee on an individual who owes child or spousal support obligation, and 
redesignated par. (20) as (19).
    1981--Pub. L. 97-35, Sec. 2332(d)(2), substituted in provision 
preceding par. (1) ``child and spousal support'' for ``child support''.
    Par. (4)(B). Pub. L. 97-35, Sec. 2332(d)(3), substituted ``such 
support) and, at the option of the State, from such parent for his 
spouse (or former spouse) receiving aid to families with dependent 
children (but only if a support obligation has been established with 
respect to such spouse), utilizing'' for ``such support), utilizing''.
    Par. (5). Pub. L. 97-35, Sec. 2332(d)(4), substituted ``support 
payments'' for ``child support payments'' and ``collected for an 
individual'' for ``collected for a child''.
    Par. (6)(B). Pub. L. 97-35, Sec. 2333(a)(1), substituted ``services 
under the State plan (other than collection of support)'' for ``such 
services''.
    Par. (6)(C). Pub. L. 97-35, Sec. 2333(a)(2), substituted ``the State 
will retain, but only if it is the State which makes the collection, the 
fee imposed under State law as required under paragraph (19)'' for ``any 
costs in excess of the fee so imposed may be collected from such 
individual by deducting such costs from the amount of any recovery 
made''.
    Par. (9)(C). Pub. L. 97-35, Sec. 2332(d)(5), substituted ``of the 
child or children or the parent of such child or children'' for ``of a 
child or children''.
    Par. (11). Pub. L. 97-35, Sec. 2332(d)(6), substituted ``collected 
as support'' for ``collected as child support''.
    Par. (16). Pub. L. 97-35, Sec. 2332(d)(7), substituted ``support 
enforcement'' for ``child support enforcement'', ``whom support 
obligations'' for ``whom child support obligations'', and ``obligated to 
pay support'' for ``obligated to pay child support''.
    Par. (18). Pub. L. 97-35, Sec. 2331(b), added par. (18).
    Par. (19). Pub. L. 97-35, Sec. 2333(b), added par. (19).
    Par. (20). Pub. L. 97-35, Sec. 2335(a), added par. (20).
    1980--Par. (16). Pub. L. 96-265 added par. (16).
    Par. (17). Pub. L. 96-611 added par. (17).
    1977--Pars. (14), (15). Pub. L. 95-30 added pars. (14) and (15).
    1975--Par. (4)(A). Pub. L. 94-88, Sec. 208(b), substituted ``to 
establish the paternity of such child, unless the agency administering 
the plan of the State under part A of this subchapter determines in 
accordance with the standards prescribed by the Secretary pursuant to 
section 602(a)(26)(B) of this title that it is against the best 
interests of the child to do so'' for ``to establish the paternity of 
such child''.
    Par. (4)(B). Pub. L. 94-88, Sec. 208(c), substituted ``reciprocal 
arrangements adopted with other States (unless the agency administering 
the plan of the State under part A of this subchapter determines in 
accordance with the standards prescribed by the Secretary pursuant to 
section 602(a)(26)(B) of this title that it is against the best 
interests of the child to do so)'' for ``reciprocal arrangements adopted 
with other States''.


                    Effective Date of 1999 Amendment

    Amendment by Pub. L. 106-169 effective as if included in the 
enactment of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity 
Reconciliation Act of 1996, Pub. L. 104-193, see section 401(q) of Pub. 
L. 106-169, set out as a note under section 602 of this title.


                    Effective Date of 1997 Amendment

    Amendment by Pub. L. 105-33 effective as if included in the 
enactment of title III of the Personal Responsibility and Work 
Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, Pub. L. 104-193, see section 
5557 of Pub. L. 105-33, set out as a note under section 608 of this 
title.


                    Effective Date of 1996 Amendment

    Amendment by section 108(c)(11), (12) of Pub. L. 104-193 effective 
July 1, 1997, with transition rules relating to State options to 
accelerate such date, rules relating to claims, actions, and proceedings 
commenced before such date, rules relating to closing out of accounts 
for terminated or substantially modified programs and continuance in 
office of Assistant Secretary for Family Support, and provisions 
relating to termination of entitlement under AFDC program, see section 
116 of Pub. L. 104-193, as amended, set out as an Effective Date note 
under section 601 of this title.
    Amendment by section 302(b)(2) of Pub. L. 104-193 effective Aug. 22, 
1996, see section 302(c)(2) of Pub. L. 104-193, set out as a note under 
section 657 of this title.
    Section 303(b) of Pub. L. 104-193 provided that: ``The amendment 
made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall become effective on 
October 1, 1997.''
    Section 304(b) of Pub. L. 104-193 provided that: ``The amendment 
made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall become effective on 
October 1, 1997.''
    Amendment by section 312(a) of Pub. L. 104-193 effective Oct. 1, 
1998, with limited exception for States which, as of Aug. 22, 1996, were 
processing the receipt of child support payments through local courts, 
see section 312(d) of Pub. L. 104-193, set out as an Effective Date note 
under section 654b of this title.
    Amendment by section 342(a) of Pub. L. 104-193 effective with 
respect to calendar quarters beginning 12 months or more after Aug. 22, 
1996, see section 342(c) of Pub. L. 104-193, set out as a note under 
section 652 of this title.
    Amendment by section 370(a)(2) of Pub. L. 104-193 effective Oct. 1, 
1997, see section 370(b) of Pub. L. 104-193, set out as a note under 
section 652 of this title.
    Section 395(a)-(c) of title III of Pub. L. 104-193 provided that:
    ``(a) In General.--Except as otherwise specifically provided (but 
subject to subsections (b) and (c))--
        ``(1) the provisions of this title [see Tables for 
    classification] requiring the enactment or amendment of State laws 
    under section 466 of the Social Security Act [section 666 of this 
    title], or revision of State plans under section 454 of such Act 
    [this section], shall be effective with respect to periods beginning 
    on and after October 1, 1996; and
        ``(2) all other provisions of this title shall become effective 
    upon the date of the enactment of this Act [Aug. 22, 1996].
    ``(b) Grace Period for State Law Changes.--The provisions of this 
title shall become effective with respect to a State on the later of--
        ``(1) the date specified in this title, or
        ``(2) the effective date of laws enacted by the legislature of 
    such State implementing such provisions,
but in no event later than the 1st day of the 1st calendar quarter 
beginning after the close of the 1st regular session of the State 
legislature that begins after the date of the enactment of this Act 
[Aug. 22, 1996]. 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.
    ``(c) Grace Period for State Constitutional Amendment.--A State 
shall not be found out of compliance with any requirement enacted by 
this title if the State is unable to so comply without amending the 
State constitution until the earlier of--
        ``(1) 1 year after the effective date of the necessary State 
    constitutional amendment; or
        ``(2) 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act [Aug. 
    22, 1996].''


                    Effective Date of 1988 Amendment

    Section 104(b) of Pub. L. 100-485 provided that: ``The amendment 
made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall become effective on 
the first day of the first calendar quarter which begins 4 or more years 
after the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 13, 1988].''
    Section 111(f)(2) of Pub. L. 100-485 provided that: ``The amendments 
made by subsections (b) and (c) [amending this section and section 666 
of this title] shall become effective on the first day of the first 
month beginning one year or more after the date of the enactment of this 
Act [Oct. 13, 1988].''


                    Effective Date of 1987 Amendment

    Section 9141(b) of Pub. L. 100-203 provided that: ``The amendments 
made by subsection (a) [amending this section and section 657 of this 
title] shall become effective upon enactment [Dec. 22, 1987].''
    Section 9142(b) of Pub. L. 100-203 provided that: ``The amendments 
made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall become effective on 
July 1, 1988.''


                    Effective Date of 1984 Amendments

    Section 3(g) of Pub. L. 98-378 provided that:
    ``(1) Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3), the amendments 
made by this section [enacting section 666 of this title and amending 
this section] shall become effective on October 1, 1985.
    ``(2) Section 454(21) of the Social Security Act [par. 21 of this 
section] (as added by subsection (d) of this section), and section 
466(e) of such Act [section 666(e) of this title] (as added by 
subsection (b) of this section), shall be effective with respect to 
support owed for any month beginning after the date of the enactment of 
this Act [Aug. 16, 1984].
    ``(3) In the case of a State with respect to which the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services has determined that State legislation is 
required in order to conform the State plan approved under part D of 
title IV of the Social Security Act [this part] to the requirements 
imposed by any amendment made by this section, the State plan shall not 
be regarded as failing to comply with the requirements of such part 
solely by reason of its failure to meet the requirements imposed by such 
amendment prior to the beginning of the fourth month beginning after the 
end of the first session of the State legislature which ends on or after 
October 1, 1985. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the term 
`session' means a regular, special, budget, or other session of a State 
legislature.''
    Amendment by section 5(b) of Pub. L. 98-378 effective Oct. 1, 1985, 
see section 5(c)(1) of Pub. L. 98-378, set out as a note under section 
658 of this title.
    Section 6(c) of Pub. L. 98-378 provided that: ``The amendments made 
by this section [amending this section and section 655 of this title] 
shall apply with respect to quarters beginning on or after October 1, 
1984.''
    Section 11(e) of Pub. L. 98-378 provided that: ``The amendments made 
by this section [amending this section and sections 656, 657, 664, and 
671 of this title] shall become effective October 1, 1984, and shall 
apply to collections made on or after that date.''
    Section 12(c) of Pub. L. 98-378 provided that: ``The amendments made 
by this section [amending this section] shall become effective October 
1, 1985.''
    Section 14(b) of Pub. L. 98-378 provided that: ``The amendments made 
by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall become effective October 
1, 1985.''
    Amendment by section 21(d) of Pub. L. 98-378 applicable with respect 
to refunds payable under section 6402 of Title 26, Internal Revenue 
Code, after Dec. 31, 1985, see section 21(g) of Pub. L. 98-378, set out 
as a note under section 6103 of Title 26.
    Amendment by Pub. L. 98-369 effective July 18, 1984, but not to be 
construed as changing or affecting any right, liability, status, or 
interpretation which existed (under the provisions of law involved) 
before that date, see section 2664(b) of Pub. L. 98-369, set out as a 
note under section 401 of this title.


                    Effective Date of 1982 Amendment

    Amendment by section 171(a), (b)(1) of Pub. L. 97-248 effective on 
and after Aug. 13, 1981, see section 171(c) of Pub. L. 97-248, set out 
as a note under section 503 of this title.
    Section 173(b) of Pub. L. 97-248 provided that: ``The amendment made 
by this section [amending this section] shall become effective on 
October 1, 1982.''


                    Effective Date of 1981 Amendment

    Amendments by sections 2331(b), 2332(d)(2)-(7), and 2333(a), (b) of 
Pub. L. 97-35 effective Oct. 1, 1981, except as otherwise specifically 
provided, see section 2336 of Pub. L. 97-35, set out as a note under 
section 651 of this title.
    Amendment by section 2335(a) of Pub. L. 97-35 effective Aug. 13, 
1981, except that such amendment shall not be requirements under this 
section or section 503 of this title before Oct. 1, 1982, see section 
2335(c) of Pub. L. 97-35, set out as a note under section 503 of this 
title.


                    Effective Date of 1980 Amendment

    Amendment by Pub. L. 96-265 effective July 1, 1981, and to be 
effective only with respect to expenditures, referred to in section 
655(a)(3) of this title, made on or after such date, see section 405(e) 
of Pub. L. 96-265, set out as a note under section 652 of this title.


                    Effective Date of 1977 Amendment

    Section 502(b) of Pub. L. 95-30 provided that: ``The amendments made 
by this section [amending this section] shall take effect on the first 
day of the first calendar month which begins after the date of enactment 
of this Act [May 23, 1977].''


                    Effective Date of 1975 Amendment

    Section 210 of title II of Pub. L. 94-88 provided that: ``The 
amendments made by this title [amending this section and sections 602, 
603, and 655 of this title and enacting provisions set out as notes 
under sections 602 and 655 of this title] shall, unless otherwise 
specified therein, become effective August 1, 1975.''


                   State Commissions on Child Support

    Section 15 of Pub. L. 98-378 provided that:
    ``(a) As a condition of the State's eligibility for Federal payments 
under part A or D of title IV of the Social Security Act [part A of this 
subchapter or this part] for quarters beginning more than 30 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act [Aug. 16, 1984] and ending prior 
to October 1, 1985, the Governor of each State, on or before December 1, 
1984, shall (subject to subsection (f)) appoint a State Commission on 
Child Support.
    ``(b) Each State Commission appointed under subsection (a) shall be 
composed of members appropriately representing all aspects of the child 
support system, including custodial and non-custodial parents, the 
agency or organizational unit administering the State's plan under part 
D of such title IV [this part], the State judiciary, the executive and 
legislative branches of the State government, child welfare and social 
services agencies, and others.
    ``(c) It shall be the function of each State Commission to examine, 
investigate, and study the operation of the State's child support system 
for the primary purpose of determining the extent to which such system 
has been successful in securing support and parental involvement both 
for children who are eligible for aid under a State plan approved under 
part A of title IV of such Act [part A of this subchapter] and for 
children who are not eligible for such aid, giving particular attention 
to such specific problems (among others) as visitation, the 
establishment of appropriate objective standards for support, the 
enforcement of interstate obligations, the availability, cost, and 
effectiveness of services both to children who are eligible for such aid 
and to children who are not, and the need for additional State or 
Federal legislation to obtain support for all children.
    ``(d) Each State Commission shall submit to the Governor of the 
State and make available to the public, no later than October 1, 1985, a 
full and complete report of its findings and recommendations resulting 
from the examination, investigation, and study under this section. The 
Governor shall transmit such report to the Secretary of Health and Human 
Services along with the Governor's comments thereon.
    ``(e) None of the costs incurred in the establishment and operation 
of a State Commission under this section, or incurred by such a 
Commission in carrying out its functions under subsections (c) and (d), 
shall be considered as expenditures qualifying for Federal payments 
under part A or D of title IV of the Social Security Act [part A of this 
subchapter or this part] or be otherwise payable or reimbursable by the 
United States or any agency thereof.
    ``(f) If the Secretary determines, at the request of any State on 
the basis of information submitted by the State and such other 
information as may be available to the Secretary, that such State--
        ``(1) has placed in effect and is implementing objective 
    standards for the determination and enforcement of child support 
    obligations,
        ``(2) has established within the five years prior to the 
    enactment of this Act [Aug. 16, 1984] a commission or council with 
    substantially the same functions as the State Commissions provided 
    for under this section, or
        ``(3) is making satisfactory progress toward fully effective 
    child support enforcement and will continue to do so,
then such State shall not be required to establish a State Commission 
under this section and the preceding provisions of this section shall 
not apply.''


       Delayed Effective Date in Cases Requiring State Legislation

    Section 176 of Pub. L. 97-248 provided that: ``In the case of a 
State with respect to which the Secretary of Health and Human Services 
has determined that State legislation is required in order to conform 
the State plan approved under part D of title IV of the Social Security 
Act [this part] to the requirements imposed by any amendment made by 
this subtitle [subtitle E (Secs. 171-176) of title I of Pub. L. 97-248, 
see Tables for classification], the State plan shall not be regarded as 
failing to comply with the requirements of such part solely by reason of 
its failure to meet the requirements imposed by such amendment prior to 
the end of the first session of the State legislature which begins after 
October 1, 1982, or which began prior to October 1, 1982, and remained 
in session for at least twenty-five calendar days after such date. For 
purposes of the preceding sentence, the term `session' means a regular, 
special, budget, or other session of a State legislature.''

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in sections 503, 608, 609, 652, 653, 
654b, 655, 657, 658, 658a, 663, 664, 666, 1315, 1396k of this title; 
title 26 section 6103.
