2017 Minnesota Statutes

518A.79 CHILD SUPPORT TASK FORCE.

Subdivision 1.Establishment; purpose.

There is established the Child Support Task Force for the Department of Human Services. The purpose of the task force is to advise the commissioner of human services on matters relevant to maintaining effective and efficient child support guidelines that will best serve the children of Minnesota and take into account the changing dynamics of families.

Subd. 2.Members.

(a) The task force must consist of:

(1) two members of the house of representatives, one appointed by the speaker of the house and one appointed by the minority leader;

(2) two members of the senate, one appointed by the majority leader and one appointed by the minority leader;

(3) one representative from the Minnesota County Attorneys Association;

(4) one staff member from the Department of Human Services Child Support Division;

(5) one representative from a tribe with an approved IV-D program appointed by resolution of the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council;

(6) one representative from the Minnesota Family Support Recovery Council;

(7) one child support magistrate, family court referee, or one district court judge or retired judge with experience in child support matters, appointed by the chief justice of the Supreme Court;

(8) four parents, at least two of whom represent diverse cultural and social communities, appointed by the commissioner with equal representation between custodial and noncustodial parents;

(9) one representative from the Minnesota Legal Services Coalition; and

(10) one representative from the Family Law Section of the Minnesota Bar Association.

(b) Section 15.059 governs the Child Support Task Force.

(c) Members of the task force shall be compensated as provided in section 15.059, subdivision 3.

Subd. 3.Organization.

(a) The commissioner or the commissioner's designee shall convene the first meeting of the task force.

(b) The members of the task force shall annually elect a chair and other officers as the members deem necessary.

(c) The task force shall meet at least three times per year, with one meeting devoted to collecting input from the public.

Subd. 3a.Open meetings.

Except as otherwise provided in this section, the task force is subject to chapter 13D. A meeting of the task force occurs when a quorum is present and the members receive information, discuss, or take action on any matter relating to the duties of the task force. The task force may conduct meetings as provided in section 13D.015 or 13D.02. The task force may conduct meetings at any location in the state that is appropriate for the purposes of the task force as long as the location is open and accessible to the public. For legislative members of the task force, enforcement of this subdivision is governed by section 3.055, subdivision 2. For nonlegislative members of the task force, enforcement of this subdivision is governed by section 13D.06, subdivisions 1 and 2.

Subd. 4.Staff.

The commissioner shall provide support staff, office space, and administrative services for the task force.

Subd. 5.Duties of the task force.

(a) General duties of the task force include, but are not limited to:

(1) serving in an advisory capacity to the commissioner of human services;

(2) reviewing the effects of implementing the parenting expense adjustment enacted by the 2016 legislature;

(3) at least every four years, preparing for and advising the commissioner on the development of the quadrennial review report;

(4) collecting and studying information and data relating to child support awards; and

(5) conducting a comprehensive review of child support guidelines, economic conditions, and other matters relevant to maintaining effective and efficient child support guidelines.

(b) The task force must review, address, and make recommendations on the following priority issues:

(1) the self-support reserve for custodial and noncustodial parents;

(2) simultaneous child support orders;

(3) obligors who are subject to child support orders in multiple counties;

(4) parents with multiple families;

(5) non-nuclear families, such as grandparents, relatives, and foster parents who are caretakers of children;

(6) standards to apply for modifications; and

(7) updating section 518A.35, subdivision 2, the guideline for basic support.

Subd. 6.Consultation.

The chair of the task force must consult with the Cultural and Ethnic Communities Leadership Council at least annually on the issues under consideration by the task force.

Subd. 7.Report and recommendations.

Beginning February 15, 2018, and biennially thereafter, if the task force is extended by the legislature, the commissioner shall prepare and submit to the chairs and ranking minority members of the committees of the house of representatives and the senate with jurisdiction over child support matters a report that summarizes the activities of the task force, issues identified by the task force, methods taken to address the issues, and recommendations for legislative action, if needed.

Subd. 8.Expiration.

The task force expires June 30, 2019, unless extended by the legislature.

History:

2016 c 189 art 15 s 22; 1Sp2017 c 4 art 2 s 48