Child Support Task Force

Established by the 2016 Legislature, the Child Support Task Force is responsible for making recommendations to the department on maintaining and improving child support guidelines and objectively discussing complex economic data and policy issues. Task force members will include parents, legislators, court and child support professionals, and staff from organizations that work with families paying and receiving child support.

The task force submitted its first report to the Legislature in February 2018 and its final report to the Legislature in October 2019.

If you have questions, please send an email to the task force administrator at DHS.MNChildSupportTF@state.mn.us.

Meetings
Meeting agendas and minutes

To request an accommodation for an upcoming meeting, contact Jessica Raymond at 651-478-8109 or email Jessica.Raymond@state.mn.us within three business days of the scheduled event. Please indicate what type of assistance you need.

Task force meetings are in room 400S of the State Office Building in St. Paul, Minnesota from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. unless noted below.

2019
- June 26 - FINAL MEETING - Please note, this meeting will be from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in room 400S of the State Office Building in St. Paul, Minnesota.
- June 12 - Please note, this meeting will be in room 500S of the State Office Building in St. Paul, Minnesota.
- May 29
- April 24 - Please note, this meeting will be in room 500S of the State Office Building in St. Paul, Minnesota.
- March 27
- February 27
- January 30 - CANCELED DUE TO WEATHER
2018
- December 19
- November 28 - Please note, this meeting will be in room 500N of the State Office Building in St. Paul, Minnesota.
- October 31
- October 4
  - 10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. (The task force will take public comments from 2:00 - 3:30 p.m.)
  - Great River Regional Library, 1300 W. St. Germain Street, St. Cloud, MN 56301
  - Agenda
  - Meeting minutes
  - Adjustments at high incomes
  - Minimum support orders
- August 29 - Note: this meeting starts at 9:30 a.m.
- June 27
- May 30
- CANCELED - May 8, Tuesday - Small group one meeting - discussing the self-support reserve, minimum orders, and adjustments at high incomes
  - 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. - at the Highland Park Library, 1974 Ford Parkway, St. Paul, MN 55116 - Link to map of Highland Park Library location
- April 16, Monday - Small group one meeting - discussing the self-support reserve, minimum orders, and adjustments at high incomes
  - 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. - at the Rondo Community Library, 461 Dale Street North, St. Paul, MN 55104 - Link to map of Rondo Community Library location
  - Agenda
  - Low income adjustment brief - Dr. Venohr
  - Meeting minutes
- April 4, Wednesday - Small group two meeting - discussing tax adjustments and adjustments for non-joint children
  - 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. - at the Hayden Heights Library, 1456 White Bear Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55106 - Link to map of Hayden Heights Library location
  - Agenda
  - Meeting minutes
- CANCELED DUE TO THE WEATHER - April 2, Monday - Small group one meeting - discussing the self-support reserve, minimum orders, and adjustments at high incomes
  - 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. - at the Rondo Community Library, 461 Dale Street North, St. Paul, MN 55104 - Link to map of Rondo Community Library location
  - Agenda
- March 21, Wednesday - Small group two meeting - discussing tax adjustments and adjustments for non-joint children
  - 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. - at the Hayden Heights Library, 1456 White Bear Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55106 - Link to map of Hayden Heights Library location
  - Agenda
  - Meeting minutes
- March 19, Monday - Small group one meeting - discussing the self-support reserve, minimum orders, and adjustments at high incomes
  - 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. - at the Rondo Community Library, 461 Dale Street North, St. Paul, MN 55104 - Link to map of Rondo Community Library location
  - Agenda
  - Meeting minutes
- March 7, Wednesday - Small group two meeting - discussing tax adjustments and adjustments for non-joint children
  - 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. - at the Hayden Heights Library, 1456 White Bear Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55106 - Link to map of Hayden Heights Library location
  - Agenda
  - Meeting minutes
  - Tax Assumption Brief
- CANCELED DUE TO THE WEATHER - March 5, Monday - Small group one meeting - discussing the self-support reserve, minimum orders, and adjustments at high incomes
  - 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. - at the Merriam Park Library, 1831 Marshall Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55104 - Link to map of Merriam Park Library location
- February - no meetings
- January 31
2017
- December 20
- November 29
  - 12:00 - 4:00 p.m. monthly meeting and 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. public comment meeting
  - City Center Building, Council Chambers, 11155 Robinson Drive, Coon Rapids, MN 55433
  - Agenda
  - Meeting minutes
  - November Briefing - Dr. Venohr
- October 25
  - 12:00 - 4:00 p.m. monthly meeting and 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. public comment meeting
  - South Central Technical College - Conference Center C, 1920 Lee Blvd, North Mankato, MN 56003
  - Agenda
  - Economic basis chart
  - Meeting minutes
  - Supplement to the Review of the MN Child Support Guidelines
  - Task Force decisions
- September 27
  - 12:00 - 4:00 p.m. monthly meeting and 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. public comment meeting
  - Land Services Building, Meeting rooms 1 and 2 - lower level, 322 Laurel Street, Brainerd, MN 56401
  - Agenda
  - Meeting minutes
  - Guidelines models chart
  - Cost Shares Child Cost Schedules presentation
- September 19 Public Comment Meeting
  - 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
  - NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center, 1315 Penn Avenue North, Minneapolis, MN 55411
- August 30
  - Agenda
  - Meeting minutes
- July 26
- June 28
- May 31
- April 26
- March 29
- February 22
- January 25
  - Agenda
  - Meeting minutes
  - Chart one - Child Support Obligation and Percentage of Income Assumptions: Obligor with income and Obligee with no income (See 'Advanced Guidelines Issues' presentation for context)
  - Chart two - Child Support Obligation and Percentage of Income Assumptions: Obligor and Obligee with equal income (See 'Advanced Guidelines Issues' presentation for context)
  - Presentation - Advanced Guidelines Issues
  - Question response memo from January Task Force meeting
2016
Information and Resources
Links to Information and Resources on Child Support:
- Assessing the Impact of the New (2007) Minnesota Child Support Guideline Using Case File Data - Dr. Jane Venohr
- Census Bureau
- Child support calculator
- Consumer Expenditure Survey
- Consumer Price Index
- Cultural and Ethnic Communities Leadership Council
- Evaluation of the new (2007) Minnesota Child Support Guideline Basic Support Schedule - Dr. Jane Venohr
- Federal Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE)
  - 2015 - 2019 National Child Support Strategic Plan
- How Do Child Support Order Amounts Affect Payments and Compliance? - Orange County Dept. of Child Support Services
- Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Child Support Enforcement Program
- Mille Lacs Band Child Support Enforcement Program
- LawHelpMN - Child Support homepage
- Minnesota Child Support 2015 - Federal Infographic
- Minnesota Department of Human Services - Child Support Division
  - 2017 Minnesota Child Support Performance Report
  - 2016 Child Support in Minnesota: Facts and Figures
  - 2016 Child Support Work Group Final Report
  - 2016 Minnesota Child Support Performance Report
  - 2016 Minnesota Child Support Program Infographic
  - 2015 Minnesota Child Support Performance Report
  - 2014 Child Support Guidelines Review (Quadrennial Review)
  - Minnesota Child Support Online topics
- Minnesota Family Support and Recovery Council (MFSRC) case law key word search
- Minnesota House of Representatives Research Department - Overview of Minnesota Child Support Laws
- Minnesota Judicial Branch Child Support
- Minnesota State Law Library - Legal Topics: Child Support
  - Noteworthy internet resources selected by State Law Library staff - Children's Issues
- National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) - Child Support homepage
- Public Comment Procedures
- Red Lake Nation Child Support Enforcement Program
- Resources on Minnesota Issues - Child Support Guidelines
- Review of the Minnesota Child Support Guidelines: Economic Basis of Current Table and Potential Updates
- United States Department of Agriculture Report
- White Earth Nation Child Support Enforcement Program
- William Mitchell Law Review article - Improving Child Support Guidelines in Minnesota: The "Shared Responsibility" Model for the Determination of Child Support
Background
Purpose

The 2016 Minnesota Legislature established the Child Support Task Force for the Department of Human Services. The charge of the task force is to advise the department commissioner on matters relevant to maintaining effective and efficient child support guidelines that will best serve the children of Minnesota and take into account the changing dynamics of families.

Scope

The scope of the group is described in the legislation establishing task force. The general duties include, but are not limited to:
1. serving in an advisory capacity to the Department of Human Services commissioner;
2. reviewing the effects of implementing the parenting expense adjustment enacted by the 2016 Legislature;
3. at least every four years, preparing for and advising the commissioner on the development of the quadrennial review report;
4. collecting and studying information and data relating to child support awards; and
5. conducting a comprehensive review of child support guidelines, economic conditions and other matters relevant to maintaining effective and efficient child support guidelines.
Additionally, the task force must review, address, and make recommendations on the following priority issues:
1. the self-support reserve for custodial and noncustodial parents;
2. simultaneous child support orders;
3. obligors who are subject to child support orders in multiple counties;
4. parents with multiple families;
5. non-nuclear families, such as grandparents, relatives, and foster parents who are caretakers of children;
6. standards to apply for modifications; and
7. updating section 518A.35, subdivision 2, the guideline for basic support.
Report

The commissioner's report on task force activities is due to the Legislature on February 15, 2018.

Roles and Responsibilities
- Department of Human Services: Convene task force; coordinate meetings; provide technical assistance; compile research; document meetings; write report; deliver report to the Legislature
- Task force members: Provide expertise, opinions, and feedback to the task force
- Management Analysis & Development: Facilitate meetings and assist in developing meeting process and agendas.
Duration

September 2016 - June 2019, unless extended by the Legislature.
Membership
Four members representing parents:
- Rahya Iliff
- Joseph Russell
- Jason Smith
- Mia Wilson
One member representing the Minnesota Department of Human Services:
- Shaneen Moore, director Child Support Division
- Julie Erickson, supervisor Child Support Division - alternate
One member representing the Minnesota County Attorney's Association:
- Melissa Rossow, assistant Ramsey County attorney
- Rachelle Drakeford, assistant Hennepin County attorney - alternate
One member representing the Minnesota Family Support Recovery Council:
- Lisa Kontz, assistant Dakota County attorney
One member representing Minnesota Court Administration:
- Jodie Metcalf, child support magistrate
One member representing the Minnesota Legal Services Coalition:
- Beth Assell
- alternate - TBD
One member representing Minnesota Native American Tribal Child Support Programs:
- Rachel Sablan, director Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Child Support Program
One member representing the Minnesota State Bar Association, Family Law Section:
- Victoria Taylor, attorney
- alternate - TBD
Two members from the Minnesota House of Representatives
- Representative Peggy Scott
- Representative Laurie Pryor
Two members from the Minnesota Senate:
- Senator Mary Kiffmeyer
- Senator Melissa Wiklund