COLUMBUS (August 8, 2001) - Governor Bob Taft today issued an Executive Order that will bring Ohio's child support system into compliance with federal policy changes. In addition, the Executive Order upholds the administration's commitment to compensate child support recipients who were on public assistance dating back to October 1997.

"This order corrects serious existing problems with Ohio's child support program," Taft said. "It also illustrates Ohio's commitment to go the extra mile in supporting families who have made the transition from welfare to work."

The Executive Order will correct the state's handling of state income tax refunds that were intercepted between October 1997 and September 2000 to offset the cost of public assistance payments to former welfare recipients. The Executive Order also will facilitate the reimbursement of former welfare recipients, dating back to October 1997, whose child support was intercepted to pay for public assistance benefits.

The Executive Order is based on recommendations made by the Management Review Team that is conducting an assessment of specific areas of the department. The team is headed by Jim Conrad, CEO/Administrator of the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation and includes former Ohio House Speaker Jo Ann Davidson, Jeff Cabot, member of the Columbus Board of Education and former Franklin County Administrator, and Greg Jackson, state Chief Information Officer.

Other accomplishments under the Management Review Team include:

• New leadership at ODJFS including the Child Support Office;
• Waiving $3 check cashing fee; and
• Review of the Support Enforcement Tracking System or SETS.

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Click here to view the Executive Order.

Click here to view background information about the Executive Order.