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The CSE Program was established in 1975 under Title IV-D of the Social Security Act. The program was designed as a joint partnership between the federal, state, and local governments and involves 54 separate state and territorial systems; however, each of the 54 systems has its own unique laws and procedures. Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act of 1996 (PRWORA): National New Hire Reporting System (Effective 10/1/97): Establishes a Federal Case Registry and National Directory of New Hires, to aid in tracking delinquent parents across state lines. It requires that all employers report new hires to state agencies for transmittal to the National Directory of New Hires. It also expanded and streamlined the procedures for direct withholding of child support from non-custodial parent's wages. Streamlined Paternity Establishment (Effective 10/1/96): The law streamlines the legal process for paternity establishment, with the voluntary in-hospital paternity establishment program. The law also mandates that states publicize the availability and encourage the use of voluntary paternity establishment process. Uniform Interstate Child Support Laws (Effective 1/1/98): Provides the establishment of uniform rules, procedures, and forms for interstate cases. Computerized State-wide Collections (Effective 10/1/98): Establishes a central registry of child support orders and centralized collection and dispersement. It also requires expidited state procedures for child support enforcement. Tougher Penalties: Expanded wage garnishment, requirments for obligated parent to work, seizure of assests, require community service (in some cases), and revocation of driver's, professional, recreational, and occupational licenses. Access and Visitation Programs: Includes grants to states that develop programs that support children's visitation with and access to their non-custodial parents. Deadbeat Parents Punishment Act of 1998: (originally Deadbeat Punishment Act of 1996) Felony Penalties for Egregious Failure to Pay Child Support: Traveling across state or country lines with the intent to evade child support, is now considered a felony, if the obligation has remained unpaid for a period longer than one year or is greater than $5,000.00 When the obligation has remained unpaid for a period of longer than two years or is greater than $10,000.00, willful failure to pay child support to a child residing it in another state is considered a felony. Upon conviction under this act, the court is to order restitution in an amount equal to the total unpaid support obligation as it exists at the time of the sentencing The Facts: The Department of Health and Human Services (federal government) provides technical and financial assistance through the Office of Child Support Enforcement, which also operates the Federal Parent Locator System. Currently, only about 50% of custodial parents due Child Support receive full payment of their support, 25% receive partail payment and the remaining 25% receive nothing despite recent improvements in the law. Under Federal law, all States with State income tax must offset State income tax refunds for past-due support owed to families and to States for cash assistance they have provided. States can request an offset of Federal income tax refunds for past-due support of over $500.00 owed on behalf of minor children not recieving cash assistance as well as over $150.00 owed to States that have provided assistance. Under certain conditions, the IRS can attach a parent's income and other assets for child support payments. The CSE agency can submit the request when the amount owed is over $750.00 and there is good evidence that the obligated parent has assets that can be tapped for collection. Unemployment benefits can also be tapped to pay a parent's child support obligation. By Federal law, the CSE office must periodically report the amount of past due child support to credit reporting agencies.