(1) The Department of Justice is responsible for the administration, supervision and operation of the program authorized by Title IV-D of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. § 651 et seq.), hereinafter the Child Support Program. The Administrator of the Division of Child Support of the Department of Justice is the Child Support Program Director for the State of Oregon.

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(2) The Department of Justice, by and through the director, may:

(a) Enter into cooperative agreements with appropriate courts, law enforcement officials, district attorneys, Indian tribes or tribal organizations and state agencies to provide assistance in carrying out Child Support Program services and any other matters of common concern;

(b) Provide billing, receipting, record keeping, accounting and distribution services for child and spousal support cases that receive services required under state and federal law;

(c) Maintain the state plan required under federal law and act as the liaison for the Child Support Program with the United States Department of Health and Human Services;

(d) Establish policy and adopt rules for the operation of the Child Support Program by the Department of Justice and by entities entering into cooperative agreements under this section;

(e) Conduct performance and program audits of entities entering into cooperative agreements under this section; and

(f) Perform any other act necessary or desirable to ensure the effective administration of the Child Support Program under state and federal law.

(3) The Department of Justice shall accept and disburse federal funds made available to the state for provision of the Child Support Program and all related functions in a manner consistent with federal law. The department may retain the state share of moneys recovered under child support assignments for the administration of the Child Support Program as allowed under federal regulations.

(4) It is the policy of the Child Support Program to inform persons served by the program, in a manner consistent with federal law, of resources not provided by the program that are available for assistance in family law matters including, but not limited to, services provided through the courts of this state, the Oregon State Bar, law schools and legal service providers that receive funding from the Legal Services Program established under ORS § 9.572. The program shall consult with the local family law advisory committees established under ORS § 3.434 to ensure that eligible individuals are aware of the services offered by the program. The policy described in this subsection shall be incorporated into staff training and is applicable to all entities that have entered into cooperative agreements with the Department of Justice under this section.

(5) The director shall ensure that Child Support Program policy and rules, to the maximum extent practicable, meet the needs of the majority of families served by the program. The director shall guide program staff regarding implementation of the policy and rules. [2003 c.73 § 2; 2011 c.595 § 102]