Federal Parent Locator Service (FPLS) and

Arizona Parent Locator Service (APLS)

DCSS-POL-02-2 v.4

 

1. OVERVIEW

1. The purpose of this policy is to provide staff and members of the public a working knowledge of the purpose and use of information obtained from the Federal Parent Locator Service (FPLS) by the State Parent Locator Service (SPLS). The Arizona Parent Locator Service (APLS) Unit within the Arizona IV-D program is the only authorized requestor of FPLS data.

2. APPLICABILITY

1. This policy applies to all Arizona IV-D program staff performing title IV-D services.

3. POLICY

1. Staff with APLS access submit requests for locate services to the FPLS.
2. The Division of Child Support Services (DCSS) is required to notify the Federal Case Registry (FCR), which is a component of the FPLS, if there is reasonable evidence of Family Violence (FV), such as Domestic Violence (DV) or child abuse. The DCSS reports all cases involving FV to the FCR through the State Case Registry (SCR). Upon notification of FV from the DCSS, the FPLS is prohibited from disclosing any information pertaining to the affected victim in response to locate requests.

4. CRITERIA

1. When it is necessary to locate case participants, the APLS shall request locate information from the FPLS for the following purposes:

1. Locating parents, alleged fathers, or children to establish parentage or to establish, set the amount of, modify, or enforce child support obligations
2. Enforcing federal laws and/or state statutes regarding the unlawful taking or restraint of a child under C.F.R. §303.15 and §303.69
3. Making or enforcing a child custody and/or visitation determination per Section 463(d)(1) of the Social Security Act (the Act)
4. Assisting State agencies to carry out their responsibilities under title IV-D, IV-A, IV-B, and IV-E programs

2. The DCSS Director or designee shall annually attest to the following:

1. The DCSS only obtains information to facilitate locate of individuals under Sections 453(a)(2), 453(a)(3), 453(j)(3), and 463(d)(1) of the Act for the above purposes as authorized
2. Verifies the requesting resident parent, legal guardian, attorney, or agent of a child not receiving assistance under title IV-A complies with provisions of C.F.R. §302.35
3. The DCSS handles any information obtained through the FPLS and/or the APLS as confidential and shall safeguard the information as required by Sections 453(b), 453(I), 454(8), 454(26), and 463(c) of the Act, C.F.R. §303.21, and instructions issued by the Office of Child Support Services (OCSS)

3. The DCSS shall reimburse the federal government for fees required for furnishing FPLS services:

1. To a resident parent, legal guardian, attorney, or agent not receiving title IV-A assistance
2. In parental kidnapping and child custody or visitation determination
3. When FPLS information is provided to a requesting state agency

4. The DCSS may charge the requester of information, pay without charging the requester, or recover the fee from the NCP, and repay to the requester or the DCSS.

Only staff with APLS access are authorized to contact, request, and/or receive information from the FPLS regarding parties in a IV-D and/or non-IV-D case.

5. PROCEDURE

1. This policy is supported by staff procedures, which identify how action related to this policy will be conducted, including responsibilities, time frames, and required actions.

6. AUTHORITY

Federal Authority
42 U.S.C. § 653	Federal Parent Locator Service
42 U.S.C. § 654	State plan for child and spousal support
42 U.S.C. § 663	Use of Federal Parent Locator Service in connection with enforcement or determination of child custody in cases of parental kidnaping of child
45 C.F.R. § 302.35	State parent locator service
45 C.F.R. § 303.15	Agreements to use the Federal Parent Locator Service (PLS) in parental kidnapping and child custody or visitation cases
45 C.F.R. § 303.20	Minimum organizational and staffing requirements
45 C.F.R. § 303.21	Safeguarding and disclosure of confidential information
45 C.F.R. § 303.69	Requests by agents or attorneys of the United States for information from the Federal Parent Locator Service (FPLS)
45 C.F.R. § 303.70	Procedures for submissions to the State Parent Locator Services (State PLS) or the Federal Parent Locator Service (Federal PLS).
O.C.S.E. AT-81-12	Use of the FPLS in Parental Kidnapping and Child Custody Cases
O.C.S.E. AT-83-17	Final Rule: Requests to Use the FPLS in Parental Kidnapping and Child Custody Cases
O.C.S.E. AT-92-01	Final Rule: Federal Parent Locator Service Fees
O.C.S.E. AT-92-04	Fees for Submitting Cases to the Federal Parent Locator Service
O.C.S.E. AT-98-27	PRWORA Requiring the Placement of a Family Violence Indicator
O.C.S.E. DCL-98-122	Family Violence (FV) Indicator Override
O.C.S.E. IM-99-01	Use of the Federal Parent Locator Service for Child Welfare Services
O.C.S.E. AT-99-09	Policy Questions and Responses Regarding Requests for Information from the FPLS
O.C.S.E. AT-02-04	Providing FPLS Locate Services to an “Agent of the Child” for Child Support Purposes
O.C.S.E. AT-03-06	Requests for Information from the FPLS for Parental Kidnapping, Child Custody or Visitation Purposes
O.C.S.E. PIQ-07-03	Disclosures of Child Support Enforcement Information to State IV-B & IV-E Child Welfare Agencies
O.C.S.E. AT-08-11	Final Rule: State Parent Locator Service; Safeguarding Child Support Information
O.C.S.E. AT-10-03	NPRM: Safeguarding Child Support Information
O.C.S.E. AT-10-12	Final Rule: Safeguarding Child Support Information
O.C.S.E. IM-12-02	Requests for Locate Services, Referrals, and Electronic Interface

Return to beginning of FPLS/APLS Policy

Policy Revision Date: 12/13/2022

Policy Review Date: 11/29/2022

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