This part establishes standards and criteria for the State self-assessment review and report process required under section 454(15)(A) of the Act.

(a) The IV-D agency must ensure the review meets Federal requirements and must maintain responsibility for and control of the results produced and contents of the annual report.

(b) Sampling. A State must either review all of its cases or conduct sampling which meets the following conditions:

(1) The sampling methodology maintains a minimum confidence level of 90 percent for each criterion;

(2) The State selects statistically valid samples of cases from the IV-D program universe of cases; and

(3) The State establishes a procedure for the design of samples and assures that no portions of the IV-D case universe are omitted from the sample selection process.

(c) Scope of review. A State must conduct an annual review covering all of the required criteria in Sec. 308.2.

(d) Review period. Each review period must cover a 12-month period. The first review period shall begin no later than 12 months after the effective date of the final rule and subsequent reviews shall each cover the same 12-month period thereafter.

(e) Reporting. (1) The State must provide a report of the results of the self-assessment review to the appropriate OCSE Regional Office, with a copy to the Commissioner of OCSE, no later than 6 months after the end of the review period.

(2) The report must include, but is not limited to:

(i) An executive summary, including a summary of the mandatory program criteria findings;

(ii) A description of optional program areas covered by the review;

(iii) A description of sampling methodology used, if applicable;

(iv) The results of the self-assessment reviews; and

(v) A description of the corrective actions proposed and/or taken.

(a) Case closure. (1) The State must have and use procedures for case closure pursuant to Sec. 303.11 of this chapter in at least 90 percent of the closed cases reviewed.

(2) If a IV-D case was closed during the review period, the State must determine whether the case met requirements pursuant to § 303.11 of this chapter.

(b) Establishment of paternity and support order. The State must have and use procedures required in this paragraph in at least 75 percent of the cases reviewed.

(1) If an order for support is required and established during the review period, the case meets the requirements, notwithstanding the timeframes for: establishment of cases as specified in Sec. 303.2(b) of this chapter; provision of services in intergovernmental IV-D cases per § 303.7(a)(4) through (8), (b), (c), (d)(2) through (5) and (7) and (10) of this chapter; and location and support order establishment under §§ 303.3(b)(3) and (5), and 303.4(d) of this chapter.

(2) If an order was required, but not established during the review period, the State must determine the last required action and determine whether the action was taken within the appropriate timeframe. The following is a list of possible last actions:

(i) Opening a case within 20 days pursuant to § 303.2(b) of this chapter;

(ii) If location activities are necessary, using all appropriate sources within 75 days according to § 303.3(b)(3) of this chapter. This includes all the following locate sources as appropriate: custodial parent, Federal and State Parent Locator Services, U.S. Postal Service, State workforce agency, employment data, Department of Motor Vehicles, and credit bureaus;

(iii) Repeating location attempts quarterly and when new information is received in accordance with § 303.3(b)(5) of this chapter;

(iv) Establishing an order or completing service of process necessary to commence proceedings to establish a support order, or if applicable, paternity, within 90 days of locating the non-custodial parent, or documenting unsuccessful attempts to serve process in accordance with the State's guidelines defining diligent efforts pursuant to §§ 303.3(c) and 303.4(d) of this chapter.

(c) Enforcement of orders. A State must have and use procedures required under this paragraph in at least 75 percent of the cases reviewed. Enforcement cases include cases in which ongoing income withholding is in place as well as cases in which new or repeated enforcement actions were required during the review period.

(1) If income withholding was appropriate and a withholding collection was received during the last quarter of the review period and the case was submitted for Federal and State income tax refund offset, if appropriate, the case meets the requirements of § 303.6(c)(3) of this chapter, notwithstanding the timeframes for: establishment of cases in § 303.2(b) of this chapter; provision of services in intergovernmental IV-D cases under § 303.7(a)(4) through (8), (b), (c), (d)(2) through (5) and (7) and (10) of this chapter; and location and income withholding in §§ 303.3(b)(3) and (5), and 303.100 of this chapter.

(2) If income withholding was not appropriate, and a collection was received during the review period, and the case was submitted for Federal and State income tax refund offset, if appropriate, then the case meets the requirements of § 303.6(c)(3) of this chapter, notwithstanding the timeframes for: establishment of cases in § 303.2(b) of this chapter; provision of services in intergovernmental IV-D cases under § 303.7(a)(4) through (8), (b), (c), (d)(2) through (5) and (7) and (10) of this chapter; and location and enforcement of support obligations in §§ 303.3(b)(3) and (5), and 303.6 of this chapter.

(3) I f an order needed enforcement during the review period, but income was not withheld or other collections were not received (when income withholding could not be implemented), the State must determine the last required action and determine whether the action was taken within the appropriate timeframes. The following is a list of possible last required actions:

(i) If location activities are necessary, using all appropriate location sources within 75 days according to § 303.3(b)(3) of this chapter. Location sources include: custodial parent, Federal and State Parent Locator Services, U.S. Postal Service, State workforce agency, Department of Motor Vehicles, and credit bureaus;

(ii) Repeating attempts to locate quarterly and when new information is received pursuant to § 303.3(b)(5) of this chapter;

(iii) If there is no immediate income withholding order, initiating income withholding upon identifying a delinquency equal to one month's arrears, in accordance with Sec. 303.100(c) of this chapter;

(iv) If immediate income withholding is ordered, sending a notice to the employer directing the employer to withhold from the income of the employee an amount equal to the monthly (or other periodic) support obligation (including any past due support obligation) of the employee, within:

(A) Two business days after the date information regarding a newly hired employee is entered into the State Directory of New Hires and in which an information comparison conducted under section 453A(f) of the Act reveals a match;

(B) Two business days after receipt of notice of, and the income source subject to withholding from a court, another State, an employer, the FPLS or another source recognized by the State.

(v) If income withholding is not appropriate or cannot be implemented, taking an appropriate enforcement action (other than Federal and State income tax refund offset), unless service of process is necessary, within no more than 30 days of identifying a delinquency or identifying the location of the non-custodial parent, whichever occurs later in accordance with § 303.6(c)(2) of this chapter;

(vi) If income withholding is not appropriate or cannot be implemented and service of process is needed, taking an appropriate enforcement action (other than Federal and State income tax refund offset), within no more than 60 days of identifying a delinquency or locating the non-custodial parent, whichever occurs later, or documenting unsuccessful attempts to serve process in accordance with the State's guidelines for defining diligent efforts and § 303.6(c)(2) of this chapter;

(vii) If the case has arrearages, submitting the case for Federal and State income tax refund offset during the review period, if appropriate, in accordance with §§ 303.72, 303.102 and 303.6(c)(3) of this chapter.

(d) Disbursement of collections. A State must have and use procedures required in this paragraph in at least 75 percent of the cases reviewed. With respect to the last payment received for each case:

(1) States must determine whether disbursement of collection was made within two business days after receipt by the State Disbursement Unit from the employer or other source of periodic income in accordance with section 457(a) of the Act, if sufficient information identifying the payee is provided pursuant to section 454B(c) of the Act.

(2) States may delay the distribution of collections toward arrearages until resolution of any timely appeals with respect to such arrearages pursuant to section 454B(c)(2) of the Act.

(e) Securing and enforcing medical support orders. A State must have and use procedures required under this paragraph in at least 75 percent of the cases reviewed. A State must:

(1) Determine whether support orders established or modified during the review period include medical support in accordance with § 303.31(b) of this chapter.

(2) If reasonable in cost and accessible private health insurance was available and required in the order, but not obtained, determine whether the National Medical Support Notice was used to enforce the order in accordance with requirements in § 303.32 of this chapter.

(3) Determine whether the State transferred notice of the health care provision, using the National Medical Support Notice required under § 303.32 of this chapter, to a new employer when a noncustodial parent, or at State option a custodial parent, was ordered to provide health insurance coverage and changed employment.

(f) Review and adjustment of orders. A State must have and use procedures required under this paragraph in at least 75 percent of the cases reviewed.

(1) If a case has been reviewed and meets the conditions for adjustment under State laws and procedures and § 303.8 of this chapter and the order is adjusted or a determination is made as a result of a review during the self-assessment period that an adjustment is not needed in accordance with the State's guidelines for setting child support awards, the State will be considered to have taken appropriate action in that case, notwithstanding the timeframes for: establishment of cases in § 303.2(b) of this chapter; provision of services in intergovernmental IV-D cases under § 303.7(a)(4) through (8), (b), (c), (d)(2) through (5) and (7) and (10) of this chapter; and location and review and adjustment of support orders contained in §§ 303.3(b)(3) and (5), and 303.8 of this chapter.

(2) If a case has not been reviewed, the State must determine the last required action and determine whether the action was taken within the appropriate timeframe. The following is a list of possible last required actions:

(i) If location is necessary to conduct a review, using all appropriate location sources within 75 days of opening the case pursuant to § 303.3(b)(3) of this chapter. Location sources include: custodial parent, Federal and State Parent Locator Services, U.S. Postal Service, State workforce agency, unemployment data, Department of Motor Vehicles, and credit bureaus;

(ii) Repeating location attempts quarterly and when new information is received pursuant to § 303.3(b)(5) of this chapter;

(iii) Within 180 calendar days of receiving a request for a review or locating the non-requesting parent, whichever occurs later, conducting a review of the order and adjusting the order or determining that the order should not be adjusted pursuant to sec. 303.8(e) of this chapter;

(iv) If an adjustment was made during the review period using cost of living or automated methods, giving both parties 30 days to contest any adjustment to that support order pursuant to sec. 466(a)(10)(A)(ii) of the Act.

(3) The State must provide the custodial and non-custodial parents notices, not less often than once every three years, informing them of their right to request the State to review and, if appropriate, adjust the order. The first notice may be included in the order pursuant to sec. 466(a)(10)(C) of the Act.

(g) Intergovernmental services. A State must have and use procedures required under this paragraph in at least 75 percent of the cases reviewed. For all intergovernmental cases requiring services during the review period, determine the last required action and determine whether the action was taken during the appropriate time frame:

(1) Initiating intergovernmental cases:

(i) Except when a State has determined that use of one-state remedies is appropriate in accordance with § 303.7(c)(3) of this chapter, within 20 calendar days of completing the actions required in § 303.7(c)(1) through (3) of the chapter, and, if appropriate, receipt of any necessary information needed to process the case, ask the appropriate intrastate tribunal or refer the case to the responding State agency, for a determination of the controlling order and a reconciliation of arrearages if such a determination is necessary, and refer any intergovernmental IV-D case to the appropriate State Central Registry, Tribal IV-D program, or Central Authority of a country for action, if one-state remedies are not appropriate;

(ii) If additional information is requested, providing the responding agency with an updated form and any necessary additional documentation, or notify the responding agency when the information will be provided, within 30 calendar days of the request pursuant to § 303.7(c)(6) of this chapter;

(iii) Within 20 calendar days after determining that a request for review of the order should be sent to another State IV-D agency and of receipt of information necessary to conduct the review, sending a request for review and adjustment pursuant to § 303.7(c)(9) of this chapter;

(iv) Within 10 working days of closing its case pursuant to § 303.11 of this chapter, notifying the responding agency pursuant to § 303.7(c)(11) of this chapter;

(v) Within 10 working days of receipt of new information on a case, notifying the responding State pursuant to § 303.7(a)(7) of this chapter;

(vi) Within 30 working days of receiving a request, providing any order and payment record information requested by a responding agency for a controlling order determination and reconciliation of arrearages, or notify the State IV-D agency when the information will be provided pursuant to § 303.7(a)(6) of this chapter.

(2) Responding intergovernmental cases:

(i) Within 10 working days of receipt of an intergovernmental IV-D case, the central registry reviewing submitted documentation for completeness, forwarding the case to the State Parent Locator Service (SPLS) for location services or to the appropriate agency for processing, acknowledging receipt of the case, and requesting any missing documentation from the initiating agency, and informing the initiating agency where the case was sent for action, pursuant to § 303.7(b)(2) of this chapter;

(ii) The central registry responding to inquiries from initiating agencies within 5 working days of a receipt of request for case status review pursuant to § 303.7(b)(4) of this chapter;

(iii) Within 10 working days of locating the noncustodial parent in a different jurisdiction within the State or in a different State, forwarding/transmitting the forms and documentation in accordance with Federal requirements pursuant to § 303.7(d)(3) and (4) of this chapter;

(iv) Within two business days of receipt of collections, forwarding any support payments to the initiating jurisdiction pursuant to section 454B(c)(1) of the Act;

(v) Within 10 working days of receipt of new information notifying the initiating jurisdiction of that new information pursuant to § 303.7(a)(7) of this chapter;

(vi) Within 30 working days of receiving a request, providing any order and payment record information requested by an initiating agency for a controlling order determination and reconciliation of arrearages, or notify the State IV-D agency when the information will be provided pursuant to § 303.7(a)(6) of this chapter;

(vii) Within 10 working days of receipt of instructions for case closure from an initiating agency under § 303.7(c)(12) of this chapter, stopping the responding State's income withholding order or notice and closing the responding State's case, pursuant to § 303.7(d)(9) of this chapter, unless the two States reach an alternative agreement on how to proceed.

(h) Expedited processes. The State must have and use procedures required under this paragraph in the amounts specified in this paragraph in the cases reviewed for the expedited processes criterion.

(1) In IV-D cases needing support orders established, regardless of whether paternity has been established, action to establish support orders must be completed from the date of service of process to the time of disposition within the following timeframes pursuant to Sec. 303.101(b)(2)(i) of this chapter:

(i) 75 percent in 6 months; and

(ii) 90 percent in 12 months.

(2) States may count as a success for the 6-month standard cases where the IV-D agency uses long-arm jurisdiction and disposition occurs within 12 months of service of process on the alleged father or non-custodial parent.

(a) Program direction. A State may include a program direction review in its self-assessment for the purpose of analyzing the relationships between case results relating to program compliance areas, and performance and program outcome indicators. This review is an opportunity for States to demonstrate how they are trying to manage their resources to achieve the best performance possible. A program direction analysis could describe the following:

(1) Initiatives that resulted in improved and achievable performance accompanied with supporting data;

(2) Barriers impeding progress; and

(3) Efforts to improve performance.

(b) Program service enhancement. A State may include a program service enhancement report in its self-assessment that describes initiatives put into practice that improved program performance and customer service. This is an opportunity for States to promote their programs and innovative practices. Some examples of innovative activities that States may elect to discuss in the report include:

(1) Steps taken to make the program more efficient and effective;

(2) Efforts to improve client services;

(3) Demonstration projects testing creative new ways of doing business;

(4) Collaborative efforts being taken with partners and customers;

(5) Innovative practices which have resulted in improved program performance;

(6) Actions taken to improve public image;

(7) Access/visitation projects initiated to improve non-custodial parents' involvement with the children and;

(8) Efforts to engage non-custodial parents who owe overdue child support to pay that support or engage in work activities, such as subsidized employment, work experience, or job search.

(c) A State may provide any of the optional information in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section in narrative form.