Senate Bill sb1272c1

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    Florida Senate - 2002                           CS for SB 1272

    By the Committee on Children and Families; and Senator Peaden





    300-2036-02

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to the determination and

  3         enforcement of obligations for child support;

  4         amending s. 61.046, F.S.; defining the term

  5         "national medical support notice"; amending s.

  6         61.13, F.S.; requiring that the court issue an

  7         order for health care coverage for a minor

  8         child in a proceeding for dissolution of

  9         marriage rather than an order for health

10         insurance; providing for enforcement of such an

11         order through use of the national medical

12         support notice; requiring the Department of

13         Revenue to notify the obligor of withholding

14         premium payments under the notice; providing a

15         procedure under which the obligor may contest

16         the withholding; providing procedures for

17         enrolling a child in a group health plan;

18         providing certain limitations on the amount of

19         withholding allowed under a support order;

20         repealing s. 61.1826(5), F.S., relating to

21         performance reviews; amending ss. 61.14, 61.30,

22         F.S.; requiring that the Department of Revenue

23         seek modification of certain awards of child

24         support; requiring that such modification be

25         made without proof or showing of a change in

26         circumstances; amending s. 409.2563, F.S.;

27         defining term "financial affidavit"; providing

28         for the administrative support order to

29         withhold support from unemployment compensation

30         benefits not to exceed 40 percent; authorizing

31         the suspension or termination of an

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  1         administrative support order; providing that

  2         the financial affidavit form is prescribed by

  3         the Department of Revenue; amending s.

  4         409.25656, F.S.; providing a procedure for

  5         liquidating securities that are levied to

  6         satisfy an obligation for past due or overdue

  7         support; amending s. 409.25658, F.S.; providing

  8         for the use of unclaimed property to satisfy an

  9         obligation for past due support; amending s.

10         409.2576, F.S.; requiring that the Department

11         of Revenue transmit a national medical support

12         notice to an employee's employer under certain

13         circumstances; providing an effective date.

14

15  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

16

17         Section 1.  Effective July 1, 2002, present subsections

18  (10), (11), (12), (13), (14), (15), (16), (17), (18), and (19)

19  of section 61.046, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as

20  subsections (11), (12), (13), (14), (15), (16), (17), (18),

21  (19), and (20), respectively, and a new subsection (10) is

22  added to that section to read:

23         61.046  Definitions.--As used in this chapter:

24         (10)  "National medical support notice" means the

25  notice required under 42 U.S.C. s. 666(a)(19).

26         Section 2.  Effective July 1, 2002, paragraph (b) of

27  subsection (1) of section 61.13, Florida Statutes, is amended

28  to read:

29         61.13  Custody and support of children; visitation

30  rights; power of court in making orders.--

31         (1)

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  1         (b)  Each order for child support shall contain a

  2  provision for health care coverage insurance for the minor

  3  child when the coverage insurance is reasonably available.

  4  Coverage Insurance is reasonably available if either the

  5  obligor or obligee has access at a reasonable rate to a group

  6  health plan group insurance.  The court may require the

  7  obligor either to provide health care insurance coverage or to

  8  reimburse the obligee for the cost of health care insurance

  9  coverage for the minor child when coverage is provided by the

10  obligee.  In either event, the court shall apportion the cost

11  of coverage, and any noncovered medical, dental, and

12  prescription medication expenses of the child, to both parties

13  by adding the cost to the basic obligation determined pursuant

14  to s. 61.30(6). The court may order that payment of uncovered

15  medical, dental, and prescription medication expenses of the

16  minor child be made directly to the obligee payee on a

17  percentage basis.

18         1.  In a non-Title IV-D case, a copy of the court order

19  for health care insurance coverage shall be served on the

20  obligor's payor or union or employer by the obligee or the

21  IV-D agency when the following conditions are met:

22         a.  The obligor fails to provide written proof to the

23  obligee or the IV-D agency within 30 days after of receiving

24  effective notice of the court order, that the health care

25  coverage insurance has been obtained or that application for

26  coverage insurability has been made;

27         b.  The obligee or IV-D agency serves written notice of

28  its intent to enforce an order for health care coverage

29  medical support on the obligor by mail at the obligor's last

30  known address; and

31

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  1         c.  The obligor fails within 15 days after the mailing

  2  of the notice to provide written proof to the obligee or the

  3  IV-D agency that the health care insurance coverage existed as

  4  of the date of mailing.

  5         2.a.  A support order enforced under Title IV-D of the

  6  Social Security Act which requires that the obligor provide

  7  health care coverage is enforceable by the department through

  8  the use of the national medical support notice and an

  9  amendment to the support order is not required. The department

10  shall transfer the national medical support notice to the

11  obligor's union or employer. The department shall notify the

12  obligor in writing that the notice has been sent to the

13  obligor's union or employer and the written notification must

14  include the obligor's rights and duties under the national

15  medical support notice. The obligor may contest the

16  withholding required by the national medical support notice

17  based on a mistake of fact. To contest the withholding, the

18  obligor must file a written notice of contest with the

19  department within 15 business days after the date the obligor

20  receives written notification of the national medical support

21  notice from the department. Filing with the department is

22  complete when the notice is received by the person designated

23  by the department in the written notification. The notice of

24  contest must be in the form prescribed by the department. Upon

25  the timely filing of a notice of contest, the department

26  shall, within 5 business days, schedule an informal conference

27  with the obligor to discuss the obligor's factual dispute. If

28  the informal conference resolves the dispute to the obligor's

29  satisfaction or if the obligor fails to attend the informal

30  conference, the notice of contest is deemed withdrawn. If the

31  informal conference does not resolve the dispute, the obligor

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  1  may request an administrative hearing under chapter 120 within

  2  5 business days after the termination of the informal

  3  conference, in a form and manner prescribed by the department.

  4  However, the filing of a notice of contest by the obligor does

  5  not delay the withholding of premium payments by the union,

  6  employer, or health plan administrator. The union, employer,

  7  or health plan administrator must implement the withholding as

  8  directed by the national medical support notice unless

  9  notified by the department that the national medical support

10  notice is terminated.

11         b.  In a Title IV-D case, the department shall notify

12  an obligor's union or employer if the obligation to provide

13  health care coverage through that union or employer is

14  terminated. In cases in which the noncustodial parent provides

15  health care coverage and the noncustodial parent changes

16  employment and the new employer provides health care coverage,

17  the IV-D agency shall transfer notice of the provision to the

18  employer, which notice shall operate to enroll the child in

19  the noncustodial parent's health plan, unless the noncustodial

20  parent contests the notice.  Notice to enforce medical

21  coverage under this section shall be served by the IV-D agency

22  upon the obligor by mail at the obligor's last known address.

23  The obligor shall have 15 days from the date of mailing of the

24  notice to contest the notice with the IV-D agency.

25         3.  In a non-Title IV-D case, upon receipt of the order

26  pursuant to subparagraph 1. or the notice pursuant to

27  subparagraph 2., or upon application of the obligor pursuant

28  to the order, the payor, union, or employer shall enroll the

29  minor child as a beneficiary in the group health insurance

30  plan regardless of any restrictions on the enrollment period

31  and withhold any required premium from the obligor's income.

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  1  If more than one plan is offered by the payor, union, or

  2  employer, the child shall be enrolled in the group health

  3  insurance plan in which the obligor is enrolled.

  4         4.a.  Upon receipt of the national medical support

  5  notice under subparagraph 2. in a Title IV-D case, the union

  6  or employer shall transfer the notice to the appropriate group

  7  health plan administrator within 20 business days after the

  8  date on the notice. The plan administrator must enroll the

  9  child as a beneficiary in the group health plan regardless of

10  any restrictions on the enrollment period, and the union or

11  employer must withhold any required premium from the obligor's

12  income upon notification by the plan administrator that the

13  child is enrolled. The child shall be enrolled in the group

14  health plan in which the obligor is enrolled. If the group

15  health plan in which the obligor is enrolled is not available

16  where the child resides or if the obligor is not enrolled in

17  group coverage, the child shall be enrolled in the lowest cost

18  group health plan that is available where the child resides.

19         b.  If health care coverage or the obligor's employment

20  is terminated in a Title IV-D case, the union or employer that

21  is withholding premiums for health care coverage under a

22  national medical support notice must notify the department

23  within 20 days after the termination and provide the obligor's

24  last known address and the name and address of the obligor's

25  new employer, if known.

26         5.a.  The amount withheld by a union or employer in

27  compliance with a support order may not exceed the amount

28  allowed under s. 303(b) of the Consumer Credit Protection Act,

29  15 U.S.C. s. 1673(b), as amended. The union or employer shall

30  withhold the maximum allowed by the Consumer Credit Protection

31  Act in the following order:

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  1         (I)  Current support, as ordered.

  2         (II)  Premium payments for health care coverage, as

  3  ordered.

  4         (III)  Past due support, as ordered.

  5         (IV)  Other medical support or coverage, as ordered.

  6         b.  If the combined amount to be withheld for current

  7  support plus the premium payment for health care coverage

  8  exceed the amount allowed under the Consumer Credit Protection

  9  Act, and the health care coverage cannot be obtained unless

10  the full amount of the premium is paid, the union or employer

11  may not withhold the premium payment. However, the union or

12  employer shall withhold the maximum allowed in the following

13  order:

14         (I)  Current support, as ordered.

15         (II)  Past due support, as ordered.

16         (III)  Other medical support or coverage, as ordered.

17         6.4.  The Department of Revenue may shall have the

18  authority to adopt rules to administer implement the child

19  support enforcement provisions of this section which affect

20  Title IV-D cases.

21         Section 3.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section

22  61.14, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

23         61.14  Enforcement and modification of support,

24  maintenance, or alimony agreements or orders.--

25         (1)

26         (b)  For each support order reviewed by the department

27  as required by s. 409.2564(12), if the amount of the child

28  support award under the order differs by at least 10 percent

29  but not less than $25 from the amount that would be awarded

30  under s. 61.30, the department shall seek to have the order

31  modified and any modification shall be made without a

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  1  requirement for proof or showing of a change in circumstances.

  2  In Title IV-D cases reviewed pursuant to the 3-year review and

  3  adjustment cycle, no substantial change of circumstance need

  4  be proven to warrant a modification.

  5         Section 4.  Subsection (5) of section 61.1826, Florida

  6  Statutes, is repealed.

  7         Section 5.  Paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of section

  8  61.30, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

  9         61.30  Child support guidelines; retroactive child

10  support.--

11         (1)

12         (c)  For each support order reviewed by the department

13  as required by s. 409.2564(12), if the amount of the child

14  support award under the order differs by at least 10 percent

15  but not less than $25 from the amount that would be awarded

16  under s. 61.30, the department shall seek to have the order

17  modified and any modification shall be made without a

18  requirement for proof or showing of a change in circumstances.

19  In Title IV-D cases reviewed pursuant to the 3-year review and

20  adjustment cycle, no change of circumstance need be proven to

21  warrant a modification.

22         Section 6.  Subsections (1), (4), (6), (8), and (12),

23  paragraph (c) of subsection (5), paragraphs (a) and (e) of

24  subsection (7), paragraph (c) of subsection (10), and

25  paragraph (a) of subsection (13) of section 409.2563, Florida

26  Statutes, are amended to read:

27         409.2563  Pilot program for administrative

28  establishment of child support obligations.--

29         (1)  DEFINITIONS.--As used in this section, the term:

30         (a)  "Administrative support order" means a final order

31  rendered by or on behalf of the department pursuant to this

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  1  section establishing or modifying the obligation of a

  2  noncustodial parent to contribute to the support and

  3  maintenance of his or her child or children, which may include

  4  provisions for monetary support, retroactive support, health

  5  care, and other elements of support pursuant to chapter 61.

  6         (b)  "Caretaker relative" has the same meaning ascribed

  7  in s. 414.0252(11).

  8         (c)  "Filed" means a document has been received and

  9  accepted for filing at the offices of the department by the

10  clerk or any authorized deputy clerk of the department. The

11  date of filing must be indicated on the face of the document

12  by the clerk or deputy clerk.

13         (d)  "Financial affidavit" means an affidavit or

14  written declaration as provided by s. 92.525(2), which shows

15  an individual's income, allowable deductions, net income, and

16  other information needed to calculate the

17  child-support-guideline amount under s. 61.30.

18         (e)(d)  "Rendered" means that a signed written order is

19  filed with the clerk or any deputy clerk of the department.

20  The date of filing must be indicated on the face of the order

21  at the time of rendition.

22         (f)(e)  "Title IV-D case" means a case or proceeding in

23  which the department is providing child support services

24  within the scope of Title IV-D of the Social Security Act, 42

25  U.S.C. ss. 651 et seq.

26         (g)(f)  "Retroactive support" means a child support

27  obligation established pursuant to s. 61.30(17).

28

29  Other terms used in this section have the meanings ascribed in

30  ss. 61.046 and 409.2554.

31

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  1         (4)  NOTICE OF PROCEEDING TO ESTABLISH ADMINISTRATIVE

  2  SUPPORT ORDER.--To commence a proceeding under this section,

  3  the department shall provide to the custodial parent and serve

  4  the noncustodial parent with a notice of proceeding to

  5  establish administrative support order and a blank financial

  6  affidavit form. The notice must state:

  7         (a)  The names of both parents, the name of the

  8  caretaker relative, if any, and the name and date of birth of

  9  the child or children;

10         (b)  That the department intends to establish an

11  administrative support order as defined in this section;

12         (c)  That both parents must submit a completed

13  financial affidavit to the department within 20 days after

14  receiving the notice, as provided by paragraph (13)(a);

15         (d)  That both parents, or parent and caretaker

16  relative if applicable, are required to furnish to the

17  department information regarding their identities and

18  locations, as provided by paragraph (13)(b);

19         (e)  That both parents, or parent and caretaker

20  relative if applicable, are required to promptly notify the

21  department of any change in their mailing addresses to ensure

22  receipt of all subsequent pleadings, notices, and orders, as

23  provided by paragraph (13)(c);

24         (f)  That the department will calculate support

25  obligations based on the child support guidelines in s. 61.30

26  and using all available information, as provided by paragraph

27  (5)(a), and will incorporate such obligations into a proposed

28  administrative support order;

29         (g)  That the department will send by regular mail to

30  both parents, or parent and caretaker relative if applicable,

31  a copy of the proposed administrative support order, the

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  1  department's child support worksheet, and any financial

  2  affidavits submitted by a parent or prepared by the

  3  department;

  4         (h)  That the noncustodial parent may file a request

  5  for a hearing in writing within 20 days after the date of

  6  mailing or other service of the proposed administrative

  7  support order or will be deemed to have waived the right to

  8  request a hearing;

  9         (i)  That if the noncustodial parent does not file a

10  timely request for hearing after service of the proposed

11  administrative support order, the department will issue an

12  administrative support order that incorporates the findings of

13  the proposed administrative support order, and will send by

14  regular mail a copy of the administrative support order to

15  both parents, or parent and caretaker relative if applicable;

16         (j)  That after an administrative support order is

17  rendered, the department will file a copy of the order with

18  the clerk of the circuit court;

19         (k)  That after an administrative support order is

20  rendered, the department may enforce the administrative

21  support order by any lawful means; and

22         (l)  That either parent, or caretaker relative if

23  applicable, may file at any time a civil action in a circuit

24  court having jurisdiction and proper venue to determine the

25  noncustodial parent's child support obligations, if any, and

26  that a support order issued by a circuit court supersedes an

27  administrative support order rendered by the department; and.

28         (m)  That if the respondent files an action in circuit

29  court and serves the department with a copy of the petition or

30  complaint within 20 days after being served notice under this

31

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  1  subsection, the administrative process ends without prejudice

  2  and the action must proceed in circuit court.

  3

  4  The department may serve the notice of proceeding to establish

  5  administrative support order by certified mail, restricted

  6  delivery, return receipt requested. Alternatively, the

  7  department may serve the notice by any means permitted for

  8  service of process in a civil action. For purposes of this

  9  section, an authorized employee of the department may serve

10  the notice and execute an affidavit of service. Service by

11  certified mail is completed when the certified mail is

12  received or refused. The department shall provide the

13  custodial parent or caretaker relative with a copy of the

14  notice by regular mail to the last known address of the

15  custodial parent or caretaker.

16         (5)  PROPOSED ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT ORDER.--

17         (c)  The department shall provide a notice of rights

18  with the proposed administrative support order, which notice

19  must inform the noncustodial parent that:

20         1.  The noncustodial parent may, within 20 days after

21  the date of mailing or other service of the proposed

22  administrative support order, request a hearing by filing a

23  written request for hearing in a form and manner specified by

24  the department;

25         2.  If the noncustodial parent files a timely request

26  for a hearing, the case shall be transferred to the Division

27  of Administrative Hearings, which shall conduct further

28  proceedings and may enter an administrative support order;

29         3.  A noncustodial parent who fails to file a timely

30  request for a hearing shall be deemed to have waived the right

31

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  1  to a hearing, and the department may render an administrative

  2  support order pursuant to paragraph (7)(b);

  3         4.  The noncustodial parent may consent in writing to

  4  entry of an administrative support order without a hearing;

  5         5.  The noncustodial parent may, within 10 days after

  6  the date of mailing or other service of the proposed

  7  administrative support order, contact a department

  8  representative, at the address or telephone number specified

  9  in the notice, to informally discuss the proposed

10  administrative support order and, if informal discussions are

11  requested timely and held within a reasonable time, the time

12  for requesting a hearing will be extended until 10 days after

13  the department notifies the noncustodial parent that the

14  informal discussions have been concluded; and

15         6.  If an administrative support order that establishes

16  a noncustodial parent's support obligation is rendered,

17  whether after a hearing or without a hearing, the department

18  may enforce the administrative support order by any lawful

19  means.

20         (6)  HEARING.--If the noncustodial parent files a

21  timely request for hearing, the department shall refer the

22  hearing request to the Division of Administrative Hearings.

23  Unless otherwise provided by this section, chapter 120 and the

24  division's Uniform Rules of Procedure shall govern the conduct

25  of the proceedings. The administrative law judge shall

26  consider all available and admissible information and any

27  presumptions that apply as provided by paragraph (5)(a). A

28  designated employee or other representative of the department,

29  who need not be an attorney, may represent the department as a

30  qualified representative at the hearing.

31         (7)  ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT ORDER.--

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  1         (a)  If a hearing is held, notwithstanding ss. 120.569

  2  and 120.57, the administrative law judge of the Division of

  3  Administrative Hearings shall issue an administrative support

  4  order, or a final order denying an administrative support

  5  order, which constitutes final agency action by the

  6  department. The Division of Administrative Hearings shall

  7  transmit any such order to the department for filing and

  8  rendering indexing.

  9         (e)  An administrative support order must comply with

10  s. 61.30. The department, after consultation with the Division

11  of Administrative Hearings and the chief judge of the circuit

12  in which the pilot program is located, shall develop a

13  standard form or forms for administrative support orders. An

14  administrative support order must provide and state findings,

15  if applicable, concerning:

16         1.  The full name and date of birth of the child or

17  children;

18         2.  The name of the noncustodial parent and the

19  custodial parent or caretaker relative;

20         3.  The noncustodial parent's duty and ability to

21  provide support;

22         4.  The amount of the noncustodial parent's monthly

23  support obligation for each child;

24         5.  Any obligation to pay retroactive support;

25         6.  The noncustodial parent's obligation to provide for

26  the health care needs of each child, whether through insurance

27  coverage, contribution towards the cost of insurance coverage,

28  payment or reimbursement of health care expenses for the

29  child, or any combination thereof;

30         7.  The beginning date of any required monthly payments

31  and health care coverage;

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  1         8.  That all support payments ordered must be paid to

  2  the Florida State Disbursement Unit as provided by s. 61.1824;

  3         9.  That the parents, or caretaker relative if

  4  applicable, must file with the department when the

  5  administrative support order is rendered, if they have not

  6  already done so, and update as appropriate the information

  7  required pursuant to paragraph (13)(b); and

  8         10.  That both parents, or parent and caretaker

  9  relative if applicable, are required to promptly notify the

10  department of any change in their mailing addresses pursuant

11  to paragraph (13)(c); and.

12         11.  That, if the noncustodial parent receives

13  unemployment compensation benefits, the payor shall withhold

14  and transmit to the department 40 percent of the benefits for

15  payment of support, not to exceed the amount owed.

16

17  An income deduction order as provided by s. 61.1301 must be

18  incorporated into the administrative support order or, if not

19  incorporated into the administrative support order, the

20  department or the Division of Administrative Hearings shall

21  render a separate income deduction order.

22         (8)  FILING WITH THE CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT;

23  OFFICIAL PAYMENT RECORD; JUDGMENT BY OPERATION OF LAW.--The

24  department shall file with the clerk of the circuit court a

25  certified copy of an administrative support order rendered

26  under this section. The depository operated pursuant to s.

27  61.181 for the county where the administrative support order

28  has been filed shall:

29         (a)  Act as the official recordkeeper for payments

30  required under the administrative support order;

31

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  1         (b)  Establish and maintain the necessary payment

  2  accounts;

  3         (c)  Upon a delinquency, initiate the judgment by

  4  operation of law procedure as provided by s. 61.14(6); and

  5         (d)  Perform all other duties required of a depository

  6  with respect to a support order entered by a court of this

  7  state.

  8         (10)  JUDICIAL REVIEW, ENFORCEMENT, OR COURT ORDER

  9  SUPERSEDING ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT ORDER.--

10         (c)  A circuit court of this state, where venue is

11  proper and the court has jurisdiction of the parties, may

12  enter an order prospectively changing the support obligations

13  established in an administrative support order, in which case

14  the administrative support order is superseded and the court's

15  order shall govern future proceedings in the case. Any unpaid

16  support owed under the superseded administrative support order

17  may not be retroactively modified by the circuit court, except

18  as provided by s. 61.14(1) s. 61.14(1)(a), and remains

19  enforceable by the department, by the obligee, or by the

20  court. In all cases in which an administrative support order

21  is superseded, the court shall determine the amount of any

22  unpaid support owed under the administrative support order and

23  shall include the amount as arrearage in its superseding

24  order.

25         (12)  MODIFICATION OF ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT ORDER.--If

26  it has not been superseded by a subsequent court order, the

27  department may modify, suspend, or terminate an administrative

28  support order in a Title IV-D case prospectively, subject to

29  the requirements for modifications of judicial support orders

30  established in chapters 61 and 409, by following the same

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  1  procedures set forth in this section for establishing an

  2  administrative support order, as applicable.

  3         (13)  REQUIRED DISCLOSURES; PRESUMPTIONS; NOTICE SENT

  4  TO ADDRESS OF RECORD.--In all proceedings pursuant to this

  5  section:

  6         (a)  The noncustodial parent and custodial parent must

  7  execute and furnish to the department, no later than 20 days

  8  after receipt of the notice of proceeding to establish

  9  administrative support order, a financial affidavit in the

10  form prescribed by the department in the Florida Family Law

11  Rules of Procedure. An updated financial affidavit must be

12  executed and furnished to the department at the inception of

13  each proceeding to modify an administrative support order.

14  Caretaker relatives are not required to furnish financial

15  affidavits.

16         Section 7.  Effective July 1, 2002, subsection (3) of

17  section 409.25656, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

18         409.25656  Garnishment.--

19         (3)  During the last 30 days of the 60-day period set

20  forth in subsection (1), the executive director or his or her

21  designee may levy upon such credits, personal property, or

22  debts. The levy must be accomplished by delivery of a notice

23  of levy by registered mail, upon receipt of which the person

24  possessing the credits, other personal property, or debts

25  shall transfer them to the department or pay to the department

26  the amount owed by to the obligor. If the department levies

27  upon securities and the value of the securities is less than

28  the total amount of past due or overdue support, the person

29  who possesses or controls the securities shall liquidate the

30  securities in a commercially reasonable manner. After

31  liquidation, the person shall transfer to the department the

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  1  proceeds, less any applicable commissions or fees, or both,

  2  which are charged in the normal course of business. If the

  3  value of the securities exceeds the total amount of past due

  4  or overdue support, the obligor may, within 7 days after

  5  receipt of the department's notice of levy, instruct the

  6  person who possesses or controls the securities which

  7  securities are to be sold to satisfy the obligation for past

  8  due or overdue support. If the obligor does not provide

  9  instructions for liquidation, the person who possesses or

10  controls the securities shall liquidate the securities in a

11  commercially reasonable manner and in an amount sufficient to

12  cover the obligation for past due or overdue support, less any

13  applicable commissions or fees, or both, which are charged in

14  the normal course of business, beginning with the securities

15  purchased most recently. After liquidation, the person who

16  possesses or controls the securities shall transfer to the

17  department the total amount of past due or overdue support.

18         Section 8.  Subsections (1) and (2) of section

19  409.25658, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

20         409.25658  Use of unclaimed property for past due

21  support.--

22         (1)  In a joint effort to facilitate the collection and

23  payment of past due support, the Department of Revenue, in

24  cooperation with the Department of Banking and Finance, shall

25  identify persons owing support collected through a court who

26  are presumed to have unclaimed abandoned property held by the

27  Department of Banking and Finance.

28         (2)  The department shall periodically provide the

29  Department of Banking and Finance with an electronic file of

30  support obligors who owe past due support. The Department of

31  Banking and Finance shall conduct a data match of the file

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  1  against all apparent owners of unclaimed abandoned property

  2  under chapter 717 and provide the resulting match list to the

  3  department.

  4         Section 9.  Effective July 1, 2002, subsection (7) of

  5  section 409.2576, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

  6         409.2576  State Directory of New Hires.--

  7         (7)  WAGE WITHHOLDING NOTICE AND NATIONAL MEDICAL

  8  SUPPORT NOTICE.--The department Not later than October 1,

  9  1998, the Title IV-D agency shall transmit a wage withholding

10  notice consistent with s. 61.1301 and, when appropriate, a

11  national medical support notice, as defined in s. 61.046, to

12  the employee's employer within 2 business days after of entry

13  of the new hire information into the State Directory of New

14  Hires' database, unless the court has determined that the

15  employee's wages are not subject to withholding or, for

16  purposes of the national medical support notice, the support

17  order does not contain a provision for the employee to provide

18  health care coverage. The withholding notice shall direct the

19  employer to withhold income in accordance with the income

20  deduction order and the national medical support notice shall

21  direct the employer to withhold premiums for health care

22  coverage.

23         Section 10.  Except as otherwise expressly provided in

24  this act, this act shall take effect upon becoming a law.

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  1          STATEMENT OF SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES CONTAINED IN
                       COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
  2                         Senate Bill 1272

  3

  4  Eliminates the requirement for the Office of Program Policy
    Analysis and Government Accountability to continue to evaluate
  5  the State Disbursement Unit and State Case Registry every two
    years.
  6
    Makes the following changes to the pilot program for the
  7  administrative establishment of child support:

  8       Allows for the use of a financial affidavit developed by
         the Department of Revenue;
  9
         Provides for the administrative process to end if the
10       respondent files action in circuit court and notifies the
         department within the prescribed time frames;
11
         Allows for the use of restricted delivery when serving
12       the notice of proceeding to establish child support;

13       Eliminates the requirement that the amount of support for
         each child be specified in the administrative support
14       order;

15       Clarifies that the administrative law judge may issue an
         income deduction order and include unemployment
16       compensation withholding, up to 40 percent of the
         benefits, in the administrative support order; and
17
         Allows the Department of Revenue to suspend and terminate
18       the administrative support order.

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