BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                      



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                                 THIRD READING


          Bill No:  ACR 21
          Author:   Davis (D)
          Amended:  8/7/12 in Assembly
          Vote:     21

           
           ASSEMBLY FLOOR  :  Read and adopted, 8/16/12


           SUBJECT  :    Family law:  Child Support Awareness Month

           SOURCE  :     Author


           DIGEST  :    This resolution makes findings regarding 
          Californias child support services program and the 
          importance of child support to children and families, and 
          declares August 2012 as Child Support Awareness Month.

           ANALYSIS  :    This resolution makes the following 
          legislative findings:

          1. 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.

          2. 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.
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          3. 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.

          4. 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.

          5. 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.

          6. 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.

          7. 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.

          This resolution 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.

           FISCAL EFFECT  :    Fiscal Com.:  No








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          RJG:k  8/28/12   Senate Floor Analyses 

                       SUPPORT/OPPOSITION:  NONE RECEIVED

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