Contact: Colleen Roche (212) 788-2958 or Maggie Lear (212) 266-2255 (ACS)
Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta today announced that New York City achieved record child support collections in calendar year 1996. The Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) collected $235 million from absent parents on behalf of 135,000 children, representing an increase of $29 million, or 14%, more than OCSE collected in 1995.
Mayor Giuliani said, “ACS’ accomplishments are more than just good accounting practices; they translate into real and meaningful improvements in the lives of New York City’s children. When a parent fails in the obligation to pay required child support, a very heavy burden is placed on the smallest shoulders. Through ACS’ actions in the past year, the burden has been eased for many children. In the coming year, the agency will continue its aggressive efforts in collecting child support arrears.” Commissioner Scoppetta said, “This is an important step in demonstrating that parents who neglect their obligations to their children will be held accountable. We will continue to step up our efforts in this area on behalf of the City’s children.”
According to Commissioner Scoppetta, several initiatives led to the successful increase of child support collections:
The Driver’s License Suspension Program and the Professional and Occupational License Non-Insurance Program threatened delinquents with suspension of their New York State driver’s licenses and withholding of New York City occupational licenses.
In 1996, a record number of new child support orders were established, up approximately 30% over 1995 (from 14,919 to 19,397.) These orders constitute the legal basis on which child support is paid. There was a record increase in the number of children for whom legal fatherhood was established. ‘Paternity establishments’ were up by 26%, from 15,556 in 1995 to 19,679 in 1996.
The successes of the past year were also attributable to newly enacted legislation requiring employers to report new employees within 15 days of their hiring. This has assisted OCSE significantly in locating parents and, when appropriate, establishing income executions against wages.
Also contributing to the increased collections was the OCSE’s Ten Most Wanted Child Support Delinquents poster unveiled by the Mayor on April 30, 1996. The posters, which were distributed city-wide, feature a photograph and background information on each deadbeat parent.
The ACS World Wide Web Site, currently under construction, will have a variety of new features including the OCSE “Deadbeat Hall of Shame.” With a click of a mouse, computer users can view a detailed history of each deadbeat parent. The public will have access to the vital statistics of each delinquent parent and the amount of child support that he/she owes.