COLUMBUS — The state has taken measures to fix Ohio's flawed child support payment system, but lawsuits over how and when withheld money will get to families still linger.

        Lawmakers have begun debating how the state will pay back $38 million in withheld support, as promised by Gov. Bob Taft. The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services announced its computer system, which had been programmed to illegally withhold some support payments, will be running correctly no later than Monday.

        A child support advocacy group that has filed two lawsuits against the state over the withheld payments says it will not back off, and might file criminal charges against department officials who it says knowingly programmed the computer to withhold the money.

        For years, Ohio had been withholding child support from families as payment for welfare assistance they had received in the past. Federal welfare reform banned the practice in 1997, but Ohio failed to comply. Officials now say the state will get the money back to families.

        A bill sponsored by Sen. Bill Harris, R-Ashland, would direct agencies on how to begin the repayment by requiring counties to figure out which families are owed money.

        The proposal has been red-tagged and will likely pass out of Senate committee next week, said Sen. Jim Carnes, R-St. Clairsville, chairman of the Senate Finance and Financial Institutions Committee.

        The Association for Children for the Enforcement of Support Inc., says it is skeptical the state has gone far enough to fix the child support system. The group has two lawsuits pending against the state and is considering filing criminal charges.

        Main concerns are the state's failure to give a final deadline for fixing the system, and to ensure families won't lose other forms of state support after receiving their withheld money, said Geraldine Jensen, president of the group.

        “That doesn't create a sense of trust,” Ms. Jensen said.

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