Open Comment Period – Voluntary Paternity Acknowledgment and Required Data Elements for Paternity Establishment Affidavits

DCL-23-07

Publication Date: July 5, 2023
Current as of:

DEAR COLLEAGUE LETTER

DCL-23-07 

DATE: July 5, 2023

TO:  State IV-D Directors

SUBJECT: Open Comment Period — Voluntary Paternity Acknowledgment and Required Data Elements for Paternity Establishment Affidavits

ATTACHMENT: Required and Optional Data Elements for Paternity Affidavit (PDF)

Dear Colleague:

In accordance with section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Administration for Children and Families is soliciting public comment on the Voluntary Acknowledgement of Paternity and Required Data Elements for Paternity Establishment Affidavits. On June 29, 2023, ACF posted a 60-day notice for public comment to the Federal Register, Volume 88, Number 124, Page 42075  (PDF).

Section 466(a)(5) of the Social Security Act (the Act) requires a state to have procedures for a voluntary paternity acknowledgment process.  In addition, section 452(a)(7) of the Act requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to specify the minimum requirements of an affidavit to be used for the voluntary acknowledgment of paternity.

Please send comments to OCSS at OCSS.DPT@acf.hhs.gov, and reference OMB control number 0970-0171.  We will consider comments received within the 60-day comment period or by August 28, 2023.

Sincerely,

Tanguler Gray
Commissioner
Office of Child Support Services