BILL NUMBER: ACR 21	ENROLLED
	BILL TEXT

	ADOPTED IN SENATE  AUGUST 29, 2012
	ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 22, 2012
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 7, 2012

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Davis

                        FEBRUARY 16, 2011

   Relative to Child Support Awareness Month.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   ACR 21, Davis. Family law: Child Support Awareness Month.
   This measure would make findings regarding California's child
support services program and the importance of child support to
children and families, and would declare August 2012 as Child Support
Awareness Month.



   WHEREAS, The mission of the California Department of Child Support
Services is to enhance the well-being of children and the
self-sufficiency of families by providing professional services to
locate parents, establish paternity, and establish and enforce orders
for financial and medical support; and
   WHEREAS, California's child support services program works with
parents, whether they are paying or receiving child support, to
ensure that children and families receive court-ordered financial and
medical support; and
   WHEREAS, Child support services are available to the public
through a network of 51 county and regional child support agencies.
County professionals work very hard to ensure that the children in
the program can rely on their parents for the financial and medical
support that they need to be healthy and successful; and
   WHEREAS, Child support collections in California increased by $37
million in the state fiscal year ending in June 2011, with the total
distributed collections at $2.3 billion. Of that $2.3 billion, $1.8
billion was distributed directly to families, and $500 million was
distributed to the state and federal government for recoupment of
public assistance and foster care expenses; and
   WHEREAS, Child support is an effective investment in California's
future. The child support program increases family self-sufficiency,
reduces child poverty, and has a positive effect on children's
educational achievement. Nationally, one in four children are served
by child support programs; and
   WHEREAS, The focus in 2012 of Child Support Awareness Month is the
very important role of parents in creating a positive environment
for their children. Child support provides security, instills
confidence, maintains trust, and helps to make childhood dreams come
true; and
   WHEREAS, During the month of August 2012, parents who have fallen
behind in making their child support payments are encouraged to drop
by their local child support agency to make a payment, seek
modification of their child support order, obtain a repayment plan,
and find out whether they qualify for a compromise on an overdue
balance; now, therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the Legislature proclaims the month of
August 2012 as Child Support Awareness Month, and encourages all
Californians to recognize the importance of child support to the
happiness and security of our children; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of
this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.