In partnership with the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) and the Department of Motor Vehicles, the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance undertakes child support collection efforts to provide court-ordered support to the State’s children. Collection totals for 2000 surpassed $1 billion for the second consecutive year, with a 13% increase over 1999 collections. In all, the State of New York collected more than $1.17 billion in child support in 2000.

Collection efforts include requiring employers to file "new hire reports," for all of their new employees. These reports contain identifying information which OTDA matches against files of child support orders and absent parents. When a match is found, OTDA is able to levy a wage garnish against the employee, ensuring that child support is paid. The Department of Taxation and Finance also provides "new hire reports" to the National Directory of New Hires so that parents owing back child support are not able to leave the State to avoid their obligations.

In addition to maintaining databases that enable wage garnishments, the Department is authorized to seize assets of deadbeat parents. One rather unique seizure took place in 2000. A father in Steuben County who failed to pay over $6,000 in back child support had his vintage 1954 Ferret Mark 1 armored tank confiscated. The tank was returned to him when he satisfied his outstanding support obligations.

Another useful tool in encouraging parents to meet their financial obligations is the ability to suspend their driver’s license after failing to pay support for more than four months. Since the law’s inception in 1995, more than 325,000 parents have made child support payments after receiving a notice from the Department of Motor Vehicles of an imminent license suspension. To further encourage professionals to meet their obligations, Governor Pataki has proposed suspending professional licenses for those who do not meet their legal obligations.