Department: Domestic Relations
Department Head/Elected Official: David W. Simpson, J.D., Executive Director
Regular or Supplemental RCA:
☒ Regular RCA
☐ Supplemental RCA
Type of Request: Grant
Project ID (if applicable): Contract Number: 22-C0086
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): Office of the Texas Attorney General
MWDBE Participation (if applicable): N/A
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
title
Request by Domestic Relations for approval to accept an award from the Office of the Attorney General of Texas grant funds in the estimated amount of $2,500,238 up to a maximum of $15,812,975, with a discretionary match of $220,996, for the FY 2021-23 Integrated Child Support System Title IV-D Program.
end
Background and Discussion:
In 2003, Harris County enhanced its child support services by creating the FOCAS (Focus on Collections and Services) Program. FOCAS is a partnership of the Family District Courts, Domestic Relations Office (DRO) and the OAG using federal funds. FOCAS monitors and enforces child support through income withholding, tax intercept, liens, contempt and other methods; provides parent locator services; enforces medical support; assists with enrolling children in health insurance plans; provides employment referrals; provides review and adjustment of child support orders; and more. The renewal of the grant for Integrated Child Support System Cooperative Services between the OAG and the County would continue providing comprehensive, effective and efficient child support services. The DRO has provided these services for eighteen years. The contract is retroactive to September 1, 2021.
Expected Impact:
The contract pays Harris County to monitor/enforce child support with the competence and experience of its partner agencies together with the comprehensive arsenal of enforcement services provided by the federal government. Federal legislation allows the OAG to pass through federal dollars at 66% reimbursement to counties that provide child support enforcement services. The agreement provides funding of $11.71 a case per month. In addition, the contract provides for $.40 per case per month that meets quality control. There are over 17,000 open cases in the FOCAS Program.
Alternative Options:
The DRO provides child support services in Harris County and case management is one aspect of the Integrated Child Support System. The alternative is to refuse the federal funding and not provide the service to Harris County citizens. That scenario would create child support delinquencies, inconsistent and unreliable support for families, an increase in the family court enforcement docket, and a failure to carry out the DRO’s mission. This partnership and contract have existed for over eighteen years.
Alignment with Goal(s):
☒ Justice and Safety
☐ Economic Opportunity
☐ Housing
☐ Public Health
☐ Transportation
☐ Flooding
☐ Environment
☐ Governance and Customer Service
Prior Court Action (if any):
Location:
Address (if applicable list below):
☒ Countywide
☐ Precinct 1
☐ Precinct 2
☐ Precinct 3
☐ Precinct 4
|
Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
|
Service Name |
- |
FY 21-22 |
Estimates |
|
|
|
|
FY 22 |
Next 3 FYs |
|
Incremental Expenditures |
|
Labor Expenditures |
2645.110- |
1322.55- |
7935.33- |
|
Non-Labor Expenditures |
76.124- |
38.06- |
228.37- |
|
Total Incremental Expenditures |
2721.234- |
1360.61- |
8163.70- |
|
Funding Sources (General Fund, PIC Fund, Debt or CP, Grants, or Other - Please Specify) |
|
Existing Budget |
Grant- |
2500.238- |
1250.12- |
7500.714- |
|
|
General Fund- |
221- |
110.49- |
662.986- |
|
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Total Current Budget |
2721.234- |
1360.61- |
8163.70- |
|
Additional Budget Requested |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Total Additional Budget Requested |
- |
- |
- |
|
Total Funding Sources |
2721.234- |
1360.61- |
8163.70- |
|
Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new PCNs) |
|
Current Position Count for Service |
- |
- |
- |
|
Additional Positions Requested |
- |
- |
- |
|
Total Personnel |
- |
- |
- |
Anticipated Implementation Date: September 1, 2021
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note:
☒ Not an emergency, disaster recovery, or COVID-19 related item
☐ Emergency Item
☐ COVID-19 related Item
☐ Disaster Recovery related Item
Contact(s) name, title, department:
David W. Simpson, J.D., Executive Director, Domestic Relations Office
Attachments (if applicable):
22-C0086_Harris_ICSS-ccORDER (Integrated Child Support System
Cooperative Agreement between The Office of the Attorney General of the State of Texas
and Harris County, Texas and Commissioners Court Order)