There is created a child and spousal support and establishment of paternity and medical support liability program in the department. The purpose of this program is to establish paternity when possible, to establish or modify support obligations, to enforce support obligations owed by parents to their children and maintenance obligations owed to spouses or former spouses with whom the children reside in this state or owed in other states if the support order was issued in this state or owed in other states if the parent, spouse, or former spouse resides in this state, to locate persons who are alleged to have taken their child in violation of s. 948.31 or of similar laws in other states, and to locate and value property of any person having a support duty. To accomplish the objectives of this program and of other assistance programs under this chapter, county and state agencies will cooperate with one another to implement a child and spousal support and paternity establishment and medical support liability program in accordance with state and federal laws, regulations, and rules and to assure proper distribution of benefits of all assistance programs authorized under this chapter.
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