S.R. 5

1

SENATE RESOLUTION ENCOURAGING CONGRESSIONAL
2 ACTION RELATED TO THE NAVAJO NATION'S
3 ABILITY TO COLLECT CHILD SUPPORT
4 2008 GENERAL SESSION
5 STATE OF UTAH
6 Chief Sponsor: Mike Dmitrich
7
8 LONG TITLE
9 General Description:
10 This Senate resolution addresses federal action that would improve the Navajo Nation's
11 ability to collect child support.
12 Highlighted Provisions:
13 This Senate resolution:
14 . provides background on the importance of the efficient collection of child support
15 for the health, education, and welfare of children who are part of the Navajo Nation;
16 . encourages actions by Utah's congressional delegation related to federal obstacles to
17 the efficient collection of child support; and
18 . provides for the distribution of the resolution.
19 Special Clauses:
20 None
21
22 Be it resolved by the Senate of the state of Utah:
23 WHEREAS, the Navajo Nation is the largest Native American tribe within the
24 boundaries of the United States, and is larger than 10 of the 50 states;
25 WHEREAS, Navajo children under 18 years of age comprise almost half of the total
26 population of the Navajo Nation;
27 WHEREAS, approximately 61% of Navajo grandparents are responsible for

28 grandchildren under 18 years of age;
29 WHEREAS, over half of the population of the Navajo Nation lives below the poverty
30 level, and over 40% of individuals on the Navajo Nation are unemployed;
31 WHEREAS, collecting child support for children whose parents are able to pay child
32 support may be critical in the health, education, and welfare of a significant portion of Navajo
33 children;
34 WHEREAS, the federal government granted the Navajo Nation and 39 other tribes the
35 ability to collect child support, establish paternity, and enforce child and medical support
36 obligations, but did not grant the Navajo Nation access to information essential for
37 investigation and enforcement;
38 WHEREAS, the federal government has suggested that states charge the Navajo Nation
39 for access to important information concerning potential payers of child support; and
40 WHEREAS, the Navajo Nation has suggested changes that the United States Congress
41 can make to improve the ability to collect child support for Navajo Nation members:
42 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the state of Utah urges
43 Utah's congressional delegation to take appropriate steps on behalf of the Navajo Nation to
44 increase the Navajo Nation's effectiveness in child support collection and enforcement
45 including addressing federal obstacles to the Navajo Nation's ability to develop its own tribal
46 child support computer system, to the Navajo Nation's access to location and enforcement
47 tools, to the development of a model tribal child support system, and to the securing of
48 matching funds.
49 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the members of
50 Utah's congressional delegation, the president of the Navajo Nation, and the speaker of the
51 house of the Navajo Nation.




Legislative Review Note
as of 2-22-08 10:13 AM

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel