Legislative Audit Commission

Resolution Number 117

Presented by Representatives Curry - O'Brien

          WHEREAS, on July 20, 1999, the Governor signed into law Senate Bill 1063 (P.A. 91-212) in order to bring Illinois into compliance with the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 which mandated that the State of Illinois establish a State Disbursement Unit by October 1,1999;

          WHEREAS, Senate Bill 1063 created the Child Support State Disbursement Unit centralizing the collection of child support payments through one agency rather than through 102 separate Circuit Clerk Offices throughout the State;

          WHEREAS, on February 26, 1999, the State Department of Public Aid executed a contract with the DuPage County Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court to establish the State Disbursement Unit;

          WHEREAS, due to problems in implementing the State Disbursement Unit, thousands of child support checks have been delayed; and

          WHEREAS, millions of dollars in emergency funds have been expended to assist custodial parents whose child support checks have been delayed; therefore be it

          RESOLVED by the Legislative Audit Commission that the Auditor General be directed to conduct a management audit of the Illinois Department of Public Aid's Child Support State Disbursement Unit; and be it further

          RESOLVED, that this audit shall include but need not be limited to the following determinations:

  • Possible causes of the problems in implementing the State Disbursement Unit, such as the adequacy of the computer interface system, management planning and staffing;
  • The manner in which the contract establishing the State Disbursement Unit was procured and whether the contract establishing the State Disbursement Unit contains terms and conditions sufficient to protect the State's interests; and
  • The extent of emergency payments made by the Department of Public Aid; its authority for making such payments; the source of funds for such payments; and what issues may affect the Department's ability to require and/or obtain repayment of emergency payments; and be it further

          RESOLVED, that the Department of Public Aid, the State Disbursement Unit, and any other entity that may have information relevant to this audit shall cooperate fully and promptly with the Office of the Auditor General in the conduct of this audit; and be it further

          RESOLVED, that the Auditor General commence this audit as soon as possible and report his findings and recommendations by March 15, 2000, or as soon thereafter as possible, in accordance with the Illinois State Auditing Act.

 

          Adopted this 11th day of January, 2000.