ENROLLED

H. B. 4255


(By Delegates Douglas, Kuhn, Prunty, Manchin,

McGraw, Leggett and Border)


[Passed February 20, 2002; in effect ninety days from passage.]



AN ACT to amend and reenact section one hundred one, article eighteen, chapter forty-eight of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended; and to amend said article by adding thereto a new section, designated section one hundred thirty-four, all relating to continuing the bureau for child support enforcement.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That section one hundred one, article eighteen, chapter forty- eight of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, be amended and reenacted; and that said article be further amended by adding thereto a new section, designated section one hundred thirty-four, all to read as follows:
ARTICLE 18. BUREAU FOR CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT.
§48-18-101. Establishment of the bureau for child support enforcement; cooperation with the division of human services.

(a) Effective the first day of July, one thousand nine hundred ninety-five, there is hereby established in the department of health and human resources the bureau for child support enforcement. The bureau is under the immediate supervision of the commissioner, who is responsible for the exercise of the duties and powers assigned to the bureau under the provisions of this chapter. The bureau is designated as the single and separate organizational unit within this state to administer the state plan for child and spousal support according to 42 U.S.C. §654(3).
(b) The division of human services shall cooperate with the bureau for child support enforcement. At a minimum, such cooperation shall require that the division of human services:
(1) Notify the bureau for child support enforcement when the division of human services proposes to terminate or provide public assistance payable to any obligee;
(2) Receive support payments made on behalf of a former or current recipient to the extent permitted by Title IV-D, Part D of the Social Security Act; and
(3) Accept the assignment of the right, title or interest in support payments and forward a copy of the assignment to the bureau for child support enforcement.
§48-18-134. Continuation of bureau.
Pursuant to the provisions of article ten, chapter four of this code, the bureau for child support enforcement shall continue to exist until the first day of July, two thousand five, unless sooner terminated, continued or reestablished by act of the Legislature.