Monday, December 29, 1997 Governor Secretary |
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Although Wisconsin's collection rate of child support payments is one of the highest in the nation, the state is only able to collect payments in about one-third of all cases. One reason rates is difficulty locating non-custodial parents.
"Employers will play a key role in the New Hire program," Hlavacek said. "Prompt reporting of information enables the Department to quickly locate non-custodial parents with child support obligations."
Wisconsin's New Hire Directory will contain basic information about all newly hired employees. Using New Hire data, income withholding for child support will be executed immediately against a new employee's paycheck when the Department finds a match. To assure the highest degree of accuracy while the computer system is being phased in during the program's first two months, no court order will be executed until it has been matched by hand with the New Hire information.
Over 30 percent of all child support cases involve parents who do not live in the same state as their children. Matching information from the national directory enables the Federal Office of Child Support Enforcement to assist states in locating parents nationwide.
Hlavacek pointed out that Wisconsin's children are the real beneficiaries of the new child support enforcement activities. "Their lives will be more secure because non-custodial parents are paying child support through wage withholding. New Hire reporting by Wisconsin employers is essential to this effort."
Governor Tommy G. Thompson signed Wisconsin's New Hire legislation into law on October 11, 1997.
Employers are encouraged to visit the Department of Workforce Development's website at www.dwd.state.wi.us/ui or call toll free 1 888-300-HIRE (4473) for more information.