Senate Joint Resolution No. 125 of the 1973 session of the General Assembly directed the Department of Welfare and Institutions to conduct a study of the laws relating to the support of children by their parents. As a part of this study, the Department was also directed to recommend amendments to these laws to insure that all parents will assume their basic responsibilities to support their children.

The study was begun by the Department of Welfare and Institutions in the Summer of 1973. At that time an exhaustive survey was made of all current laws relating to the support of children, and an extensive literature search was completed. The existing laws were compiled, as was basic information on programs in other states.

With the completion of this preliminary phase, the study committee cited above was formed by the Department in early Fall. This diverse group was able. to provide expertise on all matters relating to the support of children by their parents and the difficulties encountered by individuals attempting to insure that support.

The study committee directed the following activities:

1. A questionnaire was sent to a representative sample of welfare agencies and juvenile and domestic relations district courts in the State in an effort to identify potential problem areas and acquire basic data.

2. Information was obtained from states known to have successful programs for securing child support.

3. Other information was received by the Study Committee, which included potential V ALC Study Committee recommendations, hearings of the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance on pending Congressional child support legislation, an AFDC client characteristics study made in Virginia for January, 1973 caseloads, and other pertinent material.

4. A subcommittee was formed to analyze Virginia's existing child support statutes and to make appropriate recommendations for needed amendments.

5. Another subcommittee analyzed the problems relating to the investigation and potential prosecution, if necessary, of absent parents who provide no support for their children.

6. Subcommittee recommendations were made to the entire Study Committee, which acted upon them and achieved a consensus, the results of which are the Department's recommendations in Section I below.

This report is organized as follows:

Section I - Recommendations

Section II - Child support Investigation and Enforcement Unit

Section III - Amendments and Additions to Existing Child Support Statutes in the Code of Virginia

Appendix I - A Legislative Bill to Provide Enforcement Provisions for and Establishment of the Child Support Investigation and Enforcement Unit

Appendix II - A Legislative Bill to Provide Appropriate Amendments and Additions to Existing Child Support Statutes

Appendix III - 1974-76 Biennium Budget Exhibit for the Child Support Investigation and Enforcement Unit

Appendix IV - Child Support Questionnaire-Social Service Bureaus

Appendix V - Child Support Questionnaire-Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts

Appendix VI - Collection of Child Support in the State of Washington - GAO Report

Appendix VII - Statements to the Senate Finance Committee

Appendix VIII - Social Security Act-Aid to Dependent Children, Title IV A, 1967

Appendix IX - Regulations for Establishing Paternity and Securing Support as Proposed by the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare

                    - AFDC Families by Status of Father, 1961, 1967, 1969, and 1971

Acknowledgement is made of those agencies and individuals who have contributed time, effort, and guidance to this study. As indicated above, the study effort was accomplished with the expertise of State, regional, and local staff members throughout the Department of Welfare and Institutions, as well as members of the· Office of the Attorney General and the local Commonwealth's attorneys.

Too numerous to mention are the various groups and individuals in the Department, ot4er than those previously mentioned, who assisted in the acquisition of information and data and in the preparation of this report.