Section 10082.

(a) The department, through the Franchise Tax Board as its agent, shall be responsible for procuring, developing, implementing, and maintaining the operation of the California Child Support Automation System in all California counties. This project shall, to the extent feasible, use the same sound project management practices that the Franchise Tax Board has developed in successful tax automation efforts. The single statewide system shall be operative in all California counties and shall also include the State Case Registry, the State Disbursement Unit and all other necessary data bases and interfaces. The system shall provide for the sharing of all data and case files, standardized functions across all of the counties, timely and accurate payment processing and centralized payment disbursement from a single location in the state. The system may be built in phases with payments contingent on acceptance of agreed upon deliverables. As appropriate, additional payments may be made to the vendors for predefined levels of higher performance once the system is in operation.

(b) All ongoing interim automation activities apart from the procurement, development, implementation, and maintenance of the California Child Support Automation System, including Year 2000 remediation efforts and system conversions, shall remain with the department, and shall not be the responsibility of the Franchise Tax Board. However, the department shall ensure that all interim automation activities are consistent with the procurement, development, implementation, and maintenance of the California Child Support Automation System by the Franchise Tax Board through continuous consultation.

(c) The department shall seek, at the earliest possible date, all federal approvals and waivers necessary to secure financial participation and system design approval of the California Child Support Automation System.

(d) The department shall seek federal funding for the maintenance and operation of all county child support automation systems until the time that the counties transition to the California Child Support Automation System.

(e) The department shall direct local child support agencies, if it determines it is necessary, to modify their current automation systems or change to a different system, in order to meet the goal of statewide automation.

(f) Notwithstanding any state policies, procedures, or guidelines, including those set forth in state manuals, all state agencies shall cooperate with the department to expedite the procurement, development, implementation, and operation of the California Child Support Automation System. All state agencies shall give review processes affecting the single statewide automation system priority and expedite these review processes.

(g) The Franchise Tax Board shall employ the expertise needed for the successful and efficient implementation of the single statewide child support automation system and, therefore, shall be provided three Career Executive Assignment Level 2 positions, and may enter into personal services agreements with one or more persons, at the prevailing market rates for the kind or quality of services furnished, provided the agreements do not cause the net displacement of civil service employees.

(h) All funds appropriated to the Franchise Tax Board for purposes of this chapter shall be used in a manner consistent with the authorized budget without any other limitations.

(i) The department and the Franchise Tax Board shall consult with local child support agencies and child support advocates on the implementation of the single statewide child support automation system.

(j) (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code), through December 31, 2000, the department may implement the applicable provisions of this chapter through family support division letters or similar instructions from the director.

(2) The department may adopt regulations to implement this chapter in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act, Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. The adoption of any emergency regulation filed with the Office of Administrative Law on or before January 1, 2003, shall be deemed to be an emergency and necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety or general welfare. These emergency regulations shall remain in effect for no more than 180 days.

(Amended by Stats. 2008, Ch. 759, Sec. 24. Effective September 30, 2008.)