Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 102 Part 3.djvu/399

 PUBLIC LAW 100-485—OCT. 13, 1988

102 STAT. 2351

Subtitle C—Improved Procedures for Child Support Enforcement and Establishment of Paternity SEC. 121. REQUIREMENT OF PROMPT STATE RESPONSE TO REQUESTS FOR CHILD SUPPORT ASSISTANCE.

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 452 of the Social Security Act (as amended by section 111(a) of this Act) is further amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: "(h) The standards required by subsection (a)(1) shall include standards establishing time limits governing the period or periods within which a State must accept and respond to requests (from States, jurisdictions thereof, or individuals who apply for services furnished by the State agency under this part or with respect to whom an assignment under section 402(a)(26) is in effect) for assistance in establishing and enforcing support orders, including requests to locate absent parents, establish paternity, and initiate proceedings to establish and collect child support awards.". (b) ADVISORY COMMITTEE; REGULATIONS.—(1) Not later than 60 42 USC 652 note. days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall establish an advisory committee. The committee shall include representatives of organizations representing State governors, State welfare administrators, and State directors of programs under part D of title IV of the Social Security Act. The Secretary shall consult with the advisory committee before issuing any regulations with respect to the standards required by the amendment made by subsection (a) (including regulations regarding what constitutes an adequate response on the part of a State to the request of an individual. State, or jurisdiction). (2) Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall issue a notice of proposed rulemaking with respect to the standards required by the amendment made by subsection (a), and, after allowing not less than 60 days for public comment, shall issue final regulations not later than the first day of the 10th month beginning after such date of enactment. SEC. 122. REQUIREMENT OF PROMPT STATE DISTRIBUTION OF AMOUNTS COLLECTED AS CHILD SUPPORT.

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 452 of the Social Security Act (as amended by the preceding provisions of this Act) is further amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: "(i) The standards required by subsection (a)(l) shall include standards establishing time limits governing the period or periods within which a State must distribute, in accordance with section 457, amounts collected as child support pursuant to the State's plan approved under this part.". (b) REGULATIONS.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall issue a notice of proposed rulemaking with respect to the standards required by the amendment made by subsection (a), and, after allowing not less than 60 days for public comment, shall issue final regulations not later than the first day of the 10th month to begin after such date of enactment.

42 USC 652 note.

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