§ 654a. Automated data processing
(a)
In general
In order for a State to meet the requirements of this section, the State agency administering the State program under this part shall have in operation a single statewide automated data processing and information retrieval system which has the capability to perform the tasks specified in this section with the frequency and in the manner required by or under this part.
(b)
Program management
The automated system required by this section shall perform such functions as the Secretary may specify relating to management of the State program under this part, including—
(c)
Calculation of performance indicators
In order to enable the Secretary to determine the incentive payments and penalty adjustments required by sections
652
(g) and
658a of this title, the State agency shall—
(d)
Information integrity and security
The State agency shall have in effect safeguards on the integrity, accuracy, and completeness of, access to, and use of data in the automated system required by this section, which shall include the following (in addition to such other safeguards as the Secretary may specify in regulations):
(1)
Policies restricting access
Written policies concerning access to data by State agency personnel, and sharing of data with other persons, which—
(2)
Systems controls
Systems controls (such as passwords or blocking of fields) to ensure strict adherence to the policies described in paragraph (1).
(3)
Monitoring of access
Routine monitoring of access to and use of the automated system, through methods such as audit trails and feedback mechanisms, to guard against and promptly identify unauthorized access or use.
(4)
Training and information
Procedures to ensure that all personnel (including State and local agency staff and contractors) who may have access to or be required to use confidential program data are informed of applicable requirements and penalties (including those in section 6103 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986), and are adequately trained in security procedures.
(e)
State case registry
(1)
Contents
The automated system required by this section shall include a registry (which shall be known as the “State case registry”) that contains records with respect to—
(2)
Linking of local registries
The State case registry may be established by linking local case registries of support orders through an automated information network, subject to this section.
(3)
Use of standardized data elements
Such records shall use standardized data elements for both parents (such as names, social security numbers and other uniform identification numbers, dates of birth, and case identification numbers), and contain such other information (such as on case status) as the Secretary may require.
(4)
Payment records
Each case record in the State case registry with respect to which services are being provided under the State plan approved under this part and with respect to which a support order has been established shall include a record of—
(A)
the amount of monthly (or other periodic) support owed under the order, and other amounts (including arrearages, interest or late payment penalties, and fees) due or overdue under the order;
(5)
Updating and monitoring
The State agency operating the automated system required by this section shall promptly establish and update, maintain, and regularly monitor, case records in the State case registry with respect to which services are being provided under the State plan approved under this part, on the basis of—
(f)
Information comparisons and other disclosures of information
The State shall use the automated system required by this section to extract information from (at such times, and in such standardized format or formats, as may be required by the Secretary), to share and compare information with, and to receive information from, other data bases and information comparison services, in order to obtain (or provide) information necessary to enable the State agency (or the Secretary or other State or Federal agencies) to carry out this part, subject to section 6103 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. Such information comparison activities shall include the following:
(1)
Federal Case Registry of Child Support Orders
Furnishing to the Federal Case Registry of Child Support Orders established under section
653
(h) of this title (and update as necessary, with information including notice of expiration of orders) the minimum amount of information on child support cases recorded in the State case registry that is necessary to operate the registry (as specified by the Secretary in regulations).
(2)
Federal Parent Locator Service
Exchanging information with the Federal Parent Locator Service for the purposes specified in section
653 of this title.
(3)
Temporary family assistance and medicaid agencies
Exchanging information with State agencies (of the State and of other States) administering programs funded under part A of this subchapter, programs operated under a State plan approved under subchapter XIX of this chapter, and other programs designated by the Secretary, as necessary to perform State agency responsibilities under this part and under such programs.
(4)
Intrastate and interstate information comparisons
Exchanging information with other agencies of the State, agencies of other States, and interstate information networks, as necessary and appropriate to carry out (or assist other States to carry out) the purposes of this part.
(5)
Private industry councils receiving welfare-to-work grants
Disclosing to a private industry council (as defined in section
603
(a)(5)(D)(ii) of this title) to which funds are provided under section
603
(a)(5) of this title the names, addresses, telephone numbers, and identifying case number information in the State program funded under part A of this subchapter, of noncustodial parents residing in the service delivery area of the private industry council, for the purpose of identifying and contacting noncustodial parents regarding participation in the program under section
603
(a)(5) of this title.
(g)
Collection and distribution of support payments
(1)
In general
The State shall use the automated system required by this section, to the maximum extent feasible, to assist and facilitate the collection and disbursement of support payments through the State disbursement unit operated under section
654b of this title, through the performance of functions, including, at a minimum—
(A)
transmission of orders and notices to employers (and other debtors) for the withholding of income—