§ 9-14-109 — Automatic assignment of rights

(a) By accepting public assistance for or on behalf of a dependent child, which public assistance is provided by the Department of Human Services under the Transitional Employment Assistance Program, i.e., Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program, the recipient thereof shall be deemed to have assigned to the appropriate division of the Department of Human Services and the Office of Child Support Enforcement of the Revenue Division of the Department of Finance and Administration any rights to child support from any other person as the recipient may have: (1) In his or her own behalf or on behalf of any other family member for whom the recipient is receiving such assistance; and (2) Accrued at the time such assistance, or any portion thereof, is accepted, to the extent possible under federal law. (b) The appropriate division of the Department of Human Services shall give notice in writing to each applicant for such assistance. The notice shall state that acceptance of the assistance will invoke the provisions of subsection (a) of this section and will result in an automatic assignment under subsection (a) of this section. (c) When a child is placed in the custody of the Department of Human Services, any right to support from any person on behalf of the child shall be deemed to have been assigned to the appropriate division of the Department of Human Services and the office for the period of time that the child remains in the custody of the state.

Legislative History

Acts 1997, No. 1296, § 14; 2001, No. 1248, § 5