2011-12 Federal Budget

February 24, 2011

Last week President Obama released the FFY 2012 Budget. Concerning the nation's Child Support Program, highlights include:

A new child support and fatherhood Initiative - This budget proposal would invest $305 million Federal Fiscal Year 2012 and $2.4 billion over the next ten years, to encourage fathers to take responsibility for their children and promote strong family relationships, while continuing a commitment to vigorous enforcement and an emphasis on program outcomes and efficiencies.

A recommendation to improve distribution policies to ensure that when non-custodial parents do the right thing, and pay child support, their children benefit - This proposal encourages states to distribute more child support payments to families so that more of the support paid by fathers reaches their children.

Fostering father's engagement in their children's lives - This budget proposal provides $570 million over ten years to support increased access and visitation services and integrates these services into the core child support program. The proposal would also require states to establish access and visitation responsibilities in all court orders.

Short-term increase to the incentive pool - The budget proposal includes $600 million for a temporary increase in incentive payments to states based on performance in FFY 2012 and FFY 2013.

***Note*** The match on federal incentives was NOT included in the budget. For more information, including information about the Health and Human Services budget, please see Oppenheim's memo to the CSDA Membership on February 14th. Health and Human Services has also published the following budget proposal and subsequent budget brief after the release of the HHS Budget.

Legislation

S 195 - Child Support Protection Act

Sponsors: Rockefeller (D-WV), Cornyn (R-TX), Kohl (D-WI) and Snowe (R-ME)

Status: Committee on Finance

Co-Sponsors: 7

Summary: This bill would permanently restore the ability to use earned performance incentive funds as match for additional investments in the child support program.

NCSEA urges its members to contact their Senators to co-sponsor this legislation. Previous co-sponsors must take affirmative steps to co-sponsor again. The following is a fact sheet to educate new legislative members about the Child Support Program