Order Modification & PA R.C.P.

Course Description

This course is appropriate for all child support enforcement (CSE) directors, managers, supervisors, support case conference officers, and all staff members responsible for establishing, enforcing, and reviewing support cases and reports that deal with case closure/order modification (non-financial obligations) and performance measures. It is recommended that participants who attend this course also attend the Federal Case Closure one-day course.

Note: This proposed new course would replace the Applying Pa. R.C.P. 1910.19(f) Workshop and eventually phase out the Automated Case Closure/ Order Modification Workshop. The goal is to extract essential information from the Applying Pa. R.C.P. 1910.19(f) Workshop, add new information about the automated order modification process and Performance Improvement Module (PIM) Phase II to create a comprehensive Pa. R.C.P. 1910.19(f)/order modification and creation of non-financial obligations course for both classroom and online delivery.

Key points related to Rule 1910.19(f) of the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure (Pa. R.C.P.) will be addressed. This course will assist counties in understanding the application of the Rule based upon support case details and the proper assessment of the multiple processing options available to the counties, such as establishment of a non-financial obligation, enforcement, order modification from a financial order to a non-financial obligation, and case closure.

Additionally, participants will gain an understanding of how support cases are selected in the automated process, the predefined criteria that makes them eligible, and how to initiate order modification from PIM II.

The course will address:

• Pa. R.C.P 1910.19(f)
  • Background and explanatory comments
  • Exploration of interpretations
    • Ability to pay
      • Self-Support Reserve (SSR)
      • Earning capacity
      • Noncustodial parent (NCP) concerns
    • Unenforceable under State law
• Application to support case scenarios related to establishment, modification and/or termination/case closure
  • Use of proposed notices and order generation
  • Use of Non-Financial Obligation (NFOB) screen
  • Federal case closure criteria
• Initiation and review of support cases eligible for order modification in Pennsylvania Child Support Enforcement System (PACSES) or PIM II
• Automated order modification selection process based on predefined criteria, including county opt-in/review or opt-out and reevaluation process; exception processing when selection criteria changes; how to exempt a support case from the order modification process; and new screens and forms specific to support order modification
• Performance measures considerations
  • Downward modifications of existing monetary orders; and
  • Establishment of orders, (i.e., reasonable and/or non-financial)

6 hours

Course Level

Workshop These brief intensive educational programs are designed for a relatively small group of people and focus on techniques and skills in a particular field.