Code of the District of Columbia

§ 46–202.01. Collection and Disbursement Unit.

(a) The IV-D agency is established as the centralized Collection and Disbursement Unit for the collection and disbursement of support payments and shall operate the CDU either directly or through a contract or cooperative agreement with another entity.

(b) The Collection and Disbursement Unit shall collect and disburse support payments under the following support orders, and obligors and holders required to pay support pursuant to these orders shall submit payments to the CDU for disbursement to the obligee:

(1) All support orders enforced by the IV-D agency pursuant to title IV, part D of the Social Security Act, approved January 4, 1975 (88 Stat. 2351; 42 U.S.C. § 651 et seq.);

(2) All support orders not enforced by the IV-D agency where the support order was initially issued in the District on or after January 1, 1994, and for which withholding of the obligor’s earnings or other income has commenced; and

(3) All other support orders for which the Court has ordered that payments be made through the Collection and Disbursement Unit, or for which withholding of the obligor’s earnings or other income has commenced.

(c) The IV-D agency shall operate the Collection and Disbursement Unit in coordination with the automated system the IV-D agency maintains pursuant to § 46-226.10.

(d)(1) The Collection and Disbursement Unit shall use automated procedures, electronic processes, and computer-driven technology, to the maximum extent that is feasible, efficient, and economical, for the collection and disbursement of support payments, including procedures:

(A) For receipt of payments from obligors, holders, and other states, and for disbursements to obligees, the IV-D agency, and the IV-D agencies of other states;

(B) For accurate identification of payments;

(C) To ensure prompt disbursement of each obligee’s share of any payment; and

(D) To furnish to any obligor or obligee, upon request, timely information on the current status of support payments required to be made through the Collection and Disbursement Unit pursuant to subsection (b) of this section.

(2) The Collection and Disbursement Unit shall not be required to convert and maintain, in automated form, records of payments made before August 22, 1996, for support orders subject to withholding that are not enforced by the IV-D agency.

(e) The Collection and Disbursement Unit shall disburse all amounts payable within 2 business days after receipt from the employer or other holder if sufficient information identifying the payee is provided. The Collection and Disbursement Unit may delay the disbursement of collections toward arrearages until any appeal with respect to such arrearages has been resolved.