Thursday, June 24, 2010
SOUTH CAROLINA'S FAILURE TO PASS SENATE BILL 1257--WHY IT MATTERS
As a starting point, those who are interested in this issue should review the South Carolina New Hire Reporting Form and The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA). However, the long and the short of this issue is that The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act mandates that all states which receive certain federal funds both set up a New Hire Reporting Registry and require that all employers—with limited exceptions--report new hires to the state Child Support Enforcement agency. South Carolina has created the requisite forms, but apparently remains the only state that does not require mandatory reporting of new hires.
State Senator Rose’s Bill was apparently an attempt to correct this problem so that South Carolina could continue to receive federal funding. Unfortunately, the Bill's defeat in the South Carolina Senate places South Carolina at risk of losing approximately $80,000,000 in yearly federal funding.
Labels: Child Support Collection, Federal Fines, New Hire Reporting, Welfare Reform
Monday, June 21, 2010
THIRD READING OF SOUTH CAROLINA SENATE BILL 1257 FAILS
We not know whether any of our readers are aware of the failed status of S. 1257 or whether they care that this Bill failed to [pass. However, this legislation amended prior South Carolina statutes to conform to federal law; presumably the amendments were intended to increase child support collections in the State, reduce the child support arrearages, reduce the Welfare rolls, and help avoid more federal sanctions for continued failure to comply with the 1996 Welfare Reform Act.
Frankly, we are baffled by the actions of a group that purports to be for family values and ending welfare--think Senators Grooms and Knotts for example--but that will not take steps to require that South Carolina non-custodial parents support their children. Moreover, because Governor Sanford has received severe criticism for the Mess at DSS, it comes as a surprise to us that many of his allies—including Senators Davis, Ryberg, and Campsen--voted against this Bill. Readers can see below which Senators voted for and against it. They would have to ask those who did so why they voted "Nay." We can only assume that those nay saying senators do not understand Senator Rose’s Bill. Or they want to prolong employment of illegal aliens for awhile. Or they want South Carolina to have to keep paying fines to the Feds. Or they do not understand federal law.
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THIRD READING FAILS
S. 1257 (Word version)--Senator Rose: A BILL TO AMEND CHAPTER 5, TITLE 43 OF THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE STATE DIRECTORY OF NEW HIRES AND NEW HIRE REPORTING PROGRAM TO REPEAL SECTION 43-5-598; TO AMEND SECTION 63-17-1210, RELATING TO THE STATE DIRECTORY OF NEW HIRES AND THE NEW HIRE REPORTING PROGRAM, TO REQUIRE THAT BY JULY 1, 2010, THE CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT DIVISION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES CREATE AN EMPLOYER NEW HIRE REPORTING PROGRAM AND A STATE DIRECTORY OF NEW HIRES.
(Abbreviated Title)
The Senate proceeded to a consideration of the Bill, the question being the third reading of the Bill.
The "ayes" and "nays" were demanded and taken, resulting as follows:
Ayes 8; Nays 30
AYES
Frankly, we are baffled by the actions of a group that purports to be for family values and ending welfare--think Senators Grooms and Knotts for example--but that will not take steps to require that South Carolina non-custodial parents support their children. Moreover, because Governor Sanford has received severe criticism for the Mess at DSS, it comes as a surprise to us that many of his allies—including Senators Davis, Ryberg, and Campsen--voted against this Bill. Readers can see below which Senators voted for and against it. They would have to ask those who did so why they voted "Nay." We can only assume that those nay saying senators do not understand Senator Rose’s Bill. Or they want to prolong employment of illegal aliens for awhile. Or they want South Carolina to have to keep paying fines to the Feds. Or they do not understand federal law.
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THIRD READING FAILS
S. 1257 (Word version)--Senator Rose: A BILL TO AMEND CHAPTER 5, TITLE 43 OF THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE STATE DIRECTORY OF NEW HIRES AND NEW HIRE REPORTING PROGRAM TO REPEAL SECTION 43-5-598; TO AMEND SECTION 63-17-1210, RELATING TO THE STATE DIRECTORY OF NEW HIRES AND THE NEW HIRE REPORTING PROGRAM, TO REQUIRE THAT BY JULY 1, 2010, THE CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT DIVISION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES CREATE AN EMPLOYER NEW HIRE REPORTING PROGRAM AND A STATE DIRECTORY OF NEW HIRES.
(Abbreviated Title)
The Senate proceeded to a consideration of the Bill, the question being the third reading of the Bill.
The "ayes" and "nays" were demanded and taken, resulting as follows:
Ayes 8; Nays 30
AYES
Anderson
Campbell
Elliott
Fair
Hayes
Martin, Larry
Massey
Rose
Total--8
NAYS
Alexander
Bright
Bryant
Campsen
Cleary
Coleman
Cromer
Davis
Grooms
Hutto
Knotts
Land
Leatherman
Malloy
McConnell
McGill
Mulvaney
Nicholson
O'Dell
Peeler
Pinckney
Rankin
Reese
Ryberg
Scott
Setzler
Shoopman
Thomas
Verdin
Williams
Total—30
Having failed to receive the necessary vote, third reading of the Bill failed.
Expression of Personal Interest
Senator ROSE rose for an Expression of Personal Interest.
Labels: Child Support Collection, New Hire Reporting, Welfare Reform
