(a)

1. (1) Federal regulations authorize the responding state to close an intergovernmental case when it documents a failure on the part of the initiating state to take an action that is essential for the next step in providing services.

2. (2)

   1. (A) One (1) exception involves income withholding.
   2. (B) If a state using authority under its Uniform Interstate Family Support Act, Arkansas Code § 9-17-101 et seq., statute sends a withholding notice directly to an employer in another state, it cannot be considered noncooperation and a rationale for case closure by the employer’s state that is otherwise processing an intergovernmental case for the state that sends the direct withholding.

(c)

1. (1) A notice of intent to close the case must be sent to the initiating state sixty (60) days prior to case closure.
2. (2) The Office of Child Support Enforcement is not required to send a closure notice to the custodial party.
3. (3) It is not the responding state’s responsibility to be in direct contact with the custodial party in the initiating state.

(d)

1. (1) The initiating state must be notified within ten (10) working days of locating the noncustodial parent in another state.
2. (2) The case may not be closed until the initiating state has directed the responding state to either return the forms or forward the case to the noncustodial parent’s new location.
3. (3) The case may be closed only after notification that receipt of the transferred case has been acknowledged.

(e)

1. (1) The caseworker is responsible for ensuring that the address for future payments is correct when closing an intergovernmental case.

2. (2)

   1. (A) If the order is from another state, two (2) attempts to obtain the address must be made.
   2. (B) The second attempt should be in a record advising the initiating state that money may be returned to the noncustodial parent if a good address is not provided.
3. (3) Collections based on Arkansas orders will be retained until a good address is provided.