Res. No. 608
Resolution calling upon the New York State Legislature to enact legislation that requires a father to be named on a child's birth certificate before the mother of such a child is considered eligible to receive child support.
By Council Members Vallone Jr., Cabrera, Mealy, Rose, Vacca, Williams, Halloran, Koo and Ulrich
Whereas, Child support is financial support provided by a noncustodial parent, which includes, but is not limited to: cash payments, child care, and health insurance for a child; and
Whereas, Child support helps parents promote the well being and development of their children; and
Whereas, The New York State Office of Child Support Enforcement ("OCSE") helps to strengthen families by securing financial support from noncustodial parents and to lower the cost to the state and local government of providing benefits to families with absent parents; and
Whereas, OCSE is responsible for the collection and distribution of child support payments to custodial parents; and
Whereas, According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, during Fiscal Year 2009, OCSE collected and distributed $1,622,629,967 and reported an arrears amount of $4,962,424,065; and
Whereas, It is often difficult for the state to locate and collect child support payments from non-custodial parents; and
Whereas, Fathers who have the financial means to contribute child support to a custodial parent, but evade such duties are often termed "Deadbeat Dads;" and
Whereas, Deadbeat Dads cost the state millions of dollars each year by failing to pay child support, thus placing the financial burden on the state of supporting their children; and
Whereas, According to OCSE, the most important piece of information that the custodial parent can provide to assist OCSE in identifying and locating a noncustodial parent is a document showing the noncustodial parent's name; and
Whereas, Requiring a mother to include a father's name on a child's birth certificate before a mother can be considered eligible for child support will assist the state to locate estranged noncustodial parents and collect delinquent child support payments; and
Whereas, Regular collection of noncustodial parents' payments will help the state and New York City save millions of dollars annually, allowing the state to properly reinvest such monies into alternate public services; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York State Legislature to enact legislation that requires a father to be named on a child's birth certificate before the mother of such a child is considered eligible to receive child support.
WJH
LS# 1384
11/9/10