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Page 3 of 4 § 10:69-3.16 Continued absence of parent from the home 1. Desertion may be established by verifying that a parent has been convicted of desertion, charged with desertion by indictment or by filing of a complaint with the court or named as defendant in an action for divorce on grounds of desertion. Methods of verification would include records of the county prosecutor's office, juvenile and domestic relations court, municipal court where the complaint was filed, or, in the case of a divorce action documents or records in the possession of the applicant, appropriate court or attorneys. 2. Where desertion has not been established but the applicant alleges that the child for whom he or she is applying has been deserted, the factor of continuing absence by reason of "desertion" shall be considered. The CSSA shall request of the applicant/beneficiary, during the completion of the application, information relating to the deserting parent's whereabouts and ask applicant/beneficiary to acknowledge such desertion. By signing the application, the client attests to the accuracy and verity of his or her statements. i. The continuing effort to locate absent parents is a responsibility of the CSSA. Since the law permits use of Social Security numbers to aid in location of deserting parents, the CSSA shall make every effort to obtain such information. (f) A parent shall be considered "continuously absent from the home" when by mutual agreement, not legal action, the parents have informally separated, for example, one parent is out of the home and such absent parent is not exercising responsibility as a member of the household consistent with the definition of "continued absence" although he or she may be making or demonstrating to the CSSA his or her "intent" to make some financial contribution to the family. (g) The CSSA is charged with the general responsibility of reducing the extent of the beneficiary family's reliance on AFDC-related Medicaid. In striving for this objective, the CSSA shall attempt to effect a resumption of medical support provided to the AFDC-related Medicaid family by the absent parent within the ability of such parent. In cases of absent parent(s) whose whereabouts are unknown, the CSSA will contact the State Parent Locator Service (see N.J.A.C. 10:69-11.9). 1. This is a service to aid and supplement local efforts; the basic obligation for locating parents rests with the county's parent locator service. History HISTORY: Special amendment, R.2000 d.411, effective September 12, 2000 (to expire March 12, 2001). See: 32 N.J.R. 3598(a). In (c)3, deleted former ii and recodified former iii and iv as ii and iii. Adopted concurrent proposal R.2001 d.123, effective March 12, 2001. See: 32 N.J.R. 3598(a), 33 N.J.R. 1123(c). Readopted provisions of R.2000 d.411 without change. Amended by R.2017 d.209, effective December 4, 2017. See: 49 N.J.R. 1789(a), 49 N.J.R. 3729(a). Rewrote the section. Annotations Notes