ROBERT L. EHRLICH, JR., Governor

Ch. 392

FOR the purpose of establishing the Child Support Enforcement Privatization Pilot
Program; requiring the Secretary of Human Resources to provide a certain
report to the Governor and the General Assembly by a certain date; establishing
certain rights for certain employees; authorizing the Pilot Program to conduct a
conciliation conference; requiring the Secretary to establish certain
demonstration sites according to a certain schedule; requiring the Secretary to
appoint a director of child support services in a demonstration site; authorizing
the Secretary to sever certain contracts under certain circumstances; classifying
certain employment positions in a demonstration site; requiring the Secretary to
establish a certain performance incentive program; authorizing a demonstration
site to conduct a conciliation conference; requiring the Secretary to adopt certain
regulations; providing for the term of a certain privatization contract between
the Department of Human Resources and a private contractor; defining certain
terms; providing for the termination of this Act; and generally relating to child
support enforcement.

BY adding to

Article — Family Law

Section 10-119.1 and 10-119.2

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1999 Replacement Volume and 2002 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article - Family Law

10-119.1.

(A)     IN THIS SECTION, "CONCILIATION CONFERENCE" MEANS A CONFERENCE
CONDUCTED AT A SITE DESIGNATED BY THE PILOT PROGRAM ESTABLISHED UNDER
SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION TO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PARTIES
TO RESOLVE ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH AN ACTION TO MODIFY OR ENFORCE A DUTY
OF SUPPORT PRIOR TO GOING TO A COURT PROCEEDING.

(B)     (1) NOTWITHSTANDING § 13-405 OF THE STATE PERSONNEL AND
PENSIONS ARTICLE, THERE IS A CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT PRIVATIZATION
PILOT PROGRAM WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT.

(2) THE PILOT PROGRAM SHALL OPERATE IN BALTIMORE CITY AND
QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY.

(C)     THE PURPOSE OF THE PILOT PROGRAM IS TO AUTHORIZE THE SECRETARY
OF THE DEPARTMENT TO ENTER INTO CONTRACTS WITH PRIVATE COMPANIES TO
PRIVATIZE ALL ASPECTS OF CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT FUNCTIONS OF THE
DEPARTMENT, INCLUDING:

(1)      LOCATING ABSENT PARENTS;

(2)      ESTABLISHING PATERNITIES;

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