CS/HB 1111

1
A bill to be entitled
2An act relating to the Uniform Interstate Family Support
3Act; amending s. 88.1011, F.S.; revising and providing
4definitions; amending s. 88.1021, F.S.; designating the
5Department of Revenue as the support enforcement agency of
6this state; amending s. 88.1031, F.S.; revising provisions
7relating to remedies provided by the act; creating s.
888.1041, F.S.; providing for applicability of provisions
9to residents of foreign counties and foreign support
10proceedings; amending s. 88.2011, F.S.; providing that
11specified bases of personal jurisdiction may not be used
12to acquire personal jurisdiction for certain purposes
13unless specified requirements are met; amending s.
1488.2021, F.S.; providing for duration of personal
15jurisdiction; deleting provisions relating to procedure
16when exercising jurisdiction over nonresident; amending
17ss. 88.2031 and 88.2041, F.S.; conforming provisions to
18changes made by the act; amending s. 88.2051, F.S.;
19revising provisions relating to continuation of exclusive
20jurisdiction; amending s. 88.2061, F.S.; providing for
21continuing jurisdiction to enforce child support orders;
22amending s. 88.2071, F.S.; revising provisions relating to
23determination of a controlling child support order;
24amending s. 88.2081, F.S.; revising language relating to
25child support orders for two or more obligees; amending s.
2688.2091, F.S.; revising language relating to credit for
27child support payments; creating s. 88.2101, F.S.;
28providing for application of the act to a nonresident
29subject to personal jurisdiction; creating s. 88.2111,
30F.S.; providing for continuing, exclusive jurisdiction to
31modify a spousal support order; amending s. 88.3011, F.S.;
32revising provisions relating to applicability of the act;
33amending ss. 88.3021 and 88.3031, F.S.; revising
34terminology; amending s. 88.3041, F.S.; revising
35provisions relating to duties of an initiating tribunal;
36amending s. 88.3051, F.S.; revising provisions relating to
37duties and powers of a responding tribunal; amending s.
3888.3061, F.S.; revising terminology; amending s. 88.3071,
39F.S.; revising provisions relating to the duties of a
40support enforcement agency; amending s. 88.3081, F.S.;
41providing that the Governor and Cabinet may determine that
42a foreign country has established a reciprocal arrangement
43for child support with this state and take appropriate
44action for notification of the determination; amending s.
4588.3101, F.S.; revising terminology; amending s. 88.3111,
46F.S.; revising provisions relating to pleadings and
47accompanying documents; amending s. 88.3121, F.S.;
48revising requirements for nondisclosure of certain
49information; amending ss. 88.3131 and 88.3141, F.S.;
50revising terminology; amending s. 88.3161, F.S.; revising
51provisions relating to special rules of evidence and
52procedure; amending ss. 88.3171 and 88.3181, F.S.;
53revising terminology; amending s. 88.3191, F.S.; revising
54provisions relating to receipt and disbursement of
55payments; amending s. 88.4011, F.S.; revising provisions
56relating to establishment of a support order; providing a
57directive to the Division of Statutory Revision; amending
58s. 88.5011, F.S.; revising provisions relating to an
59employer's receipt of an income-withholding order from
60another state; amending ss. 88.50211, 88.5031, 88.5041,
61and 88.5051, F.S.; revising terminology; amending s.
6288.5061, F.S.; revising provisions relating to a contest
63by obligor; amending s. 88.5071, F.S.; revising
64terminology; providing a directive to the Division of
65Statutory Revision; amending s. 88.6011, F.S.; revising
66terminology; amending s. 88.6021, F.S.; revising
67provisions relating to the procedure to register order for
68enforcement; amending s. 88.6031, F.S.; revising
69terminology; amending s. 88.6041, F.S.; revising
70provisions relating to choice of law; amending s. 88.6051,
71F.S.; revising provisions relating to notice of
72registration of order; amending s. 88.6061, F.S.; revising
73provisions relating to the procedure to contest the
74validity or enforcement of a registered order; amending s.
7588.6071, F.S.; revising provisions relating to the
76contesting of registration or enforcement; amending s.
7788.6081, F.S.; revising terminology; amending s. 88.6091,
78F.S.; correcting a cross-reference; amending s. 88.6111,
79F.S.; revising provisions relating to modification of a
80child support order of another state; amending s. 88.6121,
81F.S.; revising provisions relating to recognition of a
82child support order modified in another state; creating s.
8388.6151, F.S.; providing for jurisdiction to modify a
84child support order of a foreign country; creating s.
8588.6161, F.S.; providing procedures for registration of a
86child support order of a foreign country for modification;
87providing a directive to the Division of Statutory
88Revision; repealing s. 88.7011, F.S., relating to a
89proceeding to determine parentage; creating s. 88.70111,
90F.S.; providing definitions relating to a support
91proceeding under the Convention on the International
92Recovery of Child Support and Other Forms of Family
93Maintenance; creating s. 88.7021, F.S.; providing for
94applicability; creating s. 88.7031, F.S.; specifying the
95relationship of the Department of Revenue to the United
96States central authority; creating s. 88.7041, F.S.;
97providing for initiation by the Department of Revenue of
98support proceedings subject to the convention; creating s.
9988.7051, F.S.; providing for direct requests to tribunals;
100creating s. 88.7061, F.S.; providing for registration of a
101support order subject to the convention; creating s.
10288.7071, F.S.; providing for contests of the validity of
103foreign support orders subject to the convention; creating
104s. 88.7081, F.S.; providing for the recognition and
105enforcement of a foreign support order subject to the
106convention; creating s. 88.7091, F.S.; specifying grounds
107for the refusal of recognition and enforcement of foreign
108support order subject to the convention; creating s.
10988.7101, F.S.; providing requirements for a foreign
110support agreement subject to the convention; creating s.
11188.7111, F.S.; providing for the modification of a foreign
112child support order subject to the convention; creating s.
11388.7121, F.S.; providing jurisdiction to modify a spousal
114support order of a foreign country; amending s. 88.8011,
115F.S.; revising terminology; amending s. 88.9011, F.S.;
116revising provisions relating to the uniformity of
117application and construction of the act; amending s.
11888.9031, F.S.; revising terminology; amending ss. 61.13
119and 827.06, F.S.; correcting cross-references; directing
120the Department of Revenue to apply for a waiver; providing
121a contingent effective date.
122
123Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
124
125     Section 1.  Section 88.1011, Florida Statutes, is amended
126to read:
127     88.1011  Definitions.-As used in this act:
128     (1)  "Child" means an individual, whether over or under the
129age of majority, who is or is alleged to be owed a duty of
130support by the individual's parent or who is or is alleged to be
131the beneficiary of a support order directed to the parent.
132     (2)  "Child support order" means a support order for a
133child, including a child who has attained the age of majority
134under the law of the issuing state or foreign country.
135     (3)  "Convention" means the Convention on the International
136Recovery of Child Support and Other Forms of Family Maintenance,
137concluded at The Hague on November 23, 2007.
138     (4)(3)  "Duty of support" means an obligation imposed or
139imposable by law to provide support for a child, spouse, or
140former spouse, including an unsatisfied obligation to provide
141support.
142     (5)  "Foreign country" means a country, including a
143political subdivision thereof, other than the United States,
144that authorizes the issuance of support orders and:
145     (a)  Which has been declared under the law of the United
146States to be a foreign reciprocating country;
147     (b)  Which has established a reciprocal arrangement for
148child support with this state as provided in s. 88.3081;
149     (c)  Which has enacted a law or established procedures for
150the issuance and enforcement of support orders which are
151substantially similar to the procedures under this act; or
152     (d)  In which the convention is in force with respect to
153the United States.
154     (6)  "Foreign support order" means a support order of a
155foreign tribunal.
156     (7)  "Foreign tribunal" means a court, administrative
157agency, or quasi-judicial entity of a foreign country which is
158authorized to establish, enforce, or modify support orders or to
159determine parentage of a child. The term includes a competent
160authority under the convention.
161     (8)(4)  "Home state" means the state in which a child lived
162with a parent or a person acting as parent for at least 6
163consecutive months immediately preceding the time of filing of a
164petition or comparable pleading for support and, if a child is
165less than 6 months old, the state in which the child lived from
166birth with any of them. A period of temporary absence of any of
167them is counted as part of the 6-month or other period.
168     (9)(5)  "Income" includes earnings or other periodic
169entitlements to money from any source and any other property
170subject to withholding for support under the law of this state.
171     (10)(6)  "Income-withholding order" means an order or other
172legal process directed to an obligor's employer or other debtor,
173as defined by the income deduction law of this state, or payor
174as defined by s. 61.046, to withhold support from the income of
175the obligor.
176     (7)  "Initiating state" means a state from which a
177proceeding is forwarded or in which a proceeding is filed for
178forwarding to a responding state under this act or a law or
179procedure substantially similar to this act, the Uniform
180Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act, or the Revised Uniform
181Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act.
182     (11)(8)  "Initiating tribunal" means the authorized
183tribunal in an initiating state.
184     (12)  "Issuing foreign country" means the foreign country
185in which a tribunal issues a support order or a judgment
186determining parentage of a child.
187     (13)(9)  "Issuing state" means the state in which a
188tribunal issues a support order or renders a judgment
189determining parentage.
190     (14)(10)  "Issuing tribunal" means the tribunal that issues
191a support order or renders a judgment determining parentage.
192     (15)(11)  "Law" includes decisional and statutory law and
193rules and regulations having the force of law.
194     (16)(12)  "Obligee" means:
195     (a)  An individual to whom a duty of support is or is
196alleged to be owed or in whose favor a support order has been
197issued or a judgment determining parentage has been issued
198rendered;
199     (b)  A state or political subdivision to which the rights
200under a duty of support or support order have been assigned or
201which has independent claims based on financial assistance
202provided to an individual obligee; or
203     (c)  An individual seeking a judgment determining parentage
204of the individual's child; or
205     (d)  A person that is a creditor in a proceeding under part
206VII of this chapter.
207     (17)(13)  "Obligor" means an individual, or the estate of a
208decedent that:
209     (a)  Who Owes or is alleged to owe a duty of support;
210     (b)  Who Is alleged but has not been adjudicated to be a
211parent of a child; or
212     (c)  Who Is liable under a support order.
213     (18)  "Person" means an individual, corporation, business
214trust, estate, trust, partnership, limited liability company,
215association, joint venture, public corporation, government, or
216governmental subdivision, agency, or instrumentality or any
217other legal or commercial entity.
218     (19)  "Record" means information that is inscribed on a
219tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or other
220medium that is retrievable in perceivable form.
221     (20)(14)  "Register" means to record or file a support
222order or judgment determining parentage of a child issued in
223another state or a foreign country in the Registry of Foreign
224Support Orders of the circuit court, or other appropriate
225location for the recording or filing of foreign judgments
226generally or foreign support orders specifically.
227     (21)(15)  "Registering tribunal" means a tribunal in which
228a support order is registered.
229     (22)(16)  "Responding state" means a state in which a
230proceeding is filed or to which a proceeding is forwarded for
231filing from another state or a foreign country an initiating
232state under this act or a law or procedure substantially similar
233to this act, the Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act,
234or the Revised Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act.
235     (23)(17)  "Responding tribunal" means the authorized
236tribunal in a responding state.
237     (24)(18)  "Spousal-support order" means a support order for
238a spouse or former spouse of the obligor.
239     (25)(19)  "State" means a state of the United States, the
240District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin
241Islands, or any territory or insular possession subject to the
242jurisdiction of the United States. The term includes:
243     (a)  an Indian tribe; and
244     (b)  A foreign jurisdiction that has enacted a law or
245established procedures for issuance and enforcement of support
246orders which are substantially similar to the procedures under
247this act, the Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act, or
248the Revised Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act, as
249determined by the Attorney General.
250     (26)(20)  "Support enforcement agency" means a public
251official or agency authorized to seek:
252     (a)  Seek enforcement of support orders or laws relating to
253the duty of support;
254     (b)  Seek establishment or modification of child support;
255     (c)  Request determination of parentage; or
256     (d)  Attempt to locate obligors or their assets; or
257     (e)  Request determination of the controlling child support
258order.
259     (27)(21)  "Support order" means a judgment, decree, or
260order, or directive, whether temporary, final, or subject to
261modification, issued in a state or foreign country for the
262benefit of a child, a spouse, or a former spouse, which provides
263for monetary support, health care, arrearages, retroactive
264support, or reimbursement for financial assistance provided to
265an individual obligee in place of child support. The term, and
266may include related costs and fees, interest, income
267withholding, automatic adjustment, reasonable attorney's fees,
268and other relief.
269     (28)(22)  "Tribunal" means a court, administrative agency,
270or quasi-judicial entity authorized to establish, enforce, or
271modify support orders or to determine parentage.
272     Section 2.  Section 88.1021, Florida Statutes, is amended
273to read:
274     88.1021  Tribunal of State tribunal and support enforcement
275agency.-
276     (1)  The circuit court or other appropriate court,
277administrative agency, quasi-judicial entity, or combination is
278the tribunal of this state.
279     (2)  The Department of Revenue is the support enforcement
280agency of this state.
281     Section 3.  Section 88.1031, Florida Statutes, is amended
282to read:
283     88.1031  Remedies cumulative.-
284     (1)  Remedies provided by this act are cumulative and do
285not affect the availability of remedies under other law, or the
286recognition of a foreign support order on the basis of comity.
287     (2)  This act does not:
288     (a)  Provide the exclusive method of establishing or
289enforcing a support order under the law of this state; or
290     (b)  Grant a tribunal of this state jurisdiction to render
291judgment or issue an order relating to child custody or
292visitation in a proceeding under this act.
293     Section 4.  Section 88.1041, Florida Statutes, is created
294to read:
295     88.1041  Application to resident of foreign country and
296foreign support proceeding.-
297     (1)  A tribunal of this state shall apply parts I through
298VI of this chapter, and, as applicable, part VII of this
299chapter, to a support proceeding involving:
300     (a)  A foreign support order;
301     (b)  A foreign tribunal; or
302     (c)  An obligee, obligor, or child residing in a foreign
303country.
304     (2)  A tribunal of this state that is requested to
305recognize and enforce a support order on the basis of comity may
306apply the procedural and substantive provision of parts I
307through VI of this chapter.
308     (3)  Part VII of this chapter applies only to a support
309proceeding under the convention. In such a proceeding, if a
310provision of part VII of this chapter is inconsistent with parts
311I through VI of this chapter, part VII of this chapter controls.
312     Section 5.  Section 88.2011, Florida Statutes, is amended
313to read:
314     88.2011  Bases for jurisdiction over nonresident.-
315     (1)  In a proceeding to establish, enforce, or modify a
316support order or to determine parentage, a tribunal of this
317state may exercise personal jurisdiction over a nonresident
318individual or the individual's guardian or conservator if:
319     (a)(1)  The individual is personally served with citation,
320summons, or notice within this state;
321     (b)(2)  The individual submits to the jurisdiction of this
322state by consent, by entering a general appearance, or by filing
323a responsive document having the effect of waiving any contest
324to personal jurisdiction;
325     (c)(3)  The individual resided with the child in this
326state;
327     (d)(4)  The individual resided in this state and provided
328prenatal expenses or support for the child;
329     (e)(5)  The child resides in this state as a result of the
330acts or directives of the individual;
331     (f)(6)  The individual engaged in sexual intercourse in
332this state and the child may have been conceived by that act of
333intercourse;
334     (g)(7)  The individual asserted parentage in a tribunal or
335in a putative father registry maintained in this state by the
336appropriate agency; or
337     (h)(8)  There is any other basis consistent with the
338constitutions of this state and the United States for the
339exercise of personal jurisdiction.
340     (2)  The bases of personal jurisdiction set forth in
341subsection (1) or in any other law of this state may not be used
342to acquire personal jurisdiction for tribunal of this state to
343modify a child support order of another state unless the
344requirements of s. 88.6111 are met, or, in the case of a foreign
345support order, unless the requirements of s. 88.6151 are met.
346     Section 6.  Section 88.2021, Florida Statutes, is amended
347to read:
348     88.2021  Duration of personal Procedure when exercising
349jurisdiction over nonresident.-Personal jurisdiction acquired by
350a tribunal of this state in a proceeding under this act or other
351law of this state relating to a support order continues so long
352as a tribunal of this state has continuing, exclusive
353jurisdiction to modify its order or continuing jurisdiction to
354enforce its order as provided by ss. 88.2051, 88.2061, and
35588.2111 A tribunal of this state exercising personal
356jurisdiction over a nonresident under s. 88.2011 may apply s.
35788.3161 (special rules of evidence and procedure) to receive
358evidence from another state, and s. 88.3181 (assistance with
359discovery) to obtain discovery through a tribunal of another
360state. In all other respects, parts III through VII of this
361chapter do not apply and the tribunal shall apply the procedural
362and substantive law of this state, including the rules on choice
363of law other than those established by this act.
364     Section 7.  Section 88.2031, Florida Statutes, is amended
365to read:
366     88.2031  Initiating and responding tribunal of state.-Under
367this act, a tribunal of this state may serve as an initiating
368tribunal to forward proceedings to another state and as a
369responding tribunal for proceedings initiated in another state
370or a foreign country.
371     Section 8.  Section 88.2041, Florida Statutes, is amended
372to read:
373     88.2041  Simultaneous proceedings in another state.-
374     (1)  A tribunal of this state may exercise jurisdiction to
375establish a support order if the petition or comparable pleading
376is filed after a petition or comparable pleading is filed in
377another state or a foreign country only if:
378     (a)  The petition or comparable pleading in this state is
379filed before the expiration of the time allowed in the other
380state or the foreign country for filing a responsive pleading
381challenging the exercise of jurisdiction by the other state or
382the foreign country;
383     (b)  The contesting party timely challenges the exercise of
384jurisdiction in the other state or the foreign country; and
385     (c)  If relevant, this state is the home state of the
386child.
387     (2)  A tribunal of this state may not exercise jurisdiction
388to establish a support order if the petition or comparable
389pleading is filed before a petition or comparable pleading is
390filed in another state or a foreign country if:
391     (a)  The petition or comparable pleading in the other state
392or the foreign country is filed before the expiration of the
393time allowed in this state for filing a responsive pleading
394challenging the exercise of jurisdiction by this state;
395     (b)  The contesting party timely challenges the exercise of
396jurisdiction in this state; and
397     (c)  If relevant, the other state or the foreign country is
398the home state of the child.
399     Section 9.  Section 88.2051, Florida Statutes, is amended
400to read:
401     88.2051  Continuing exclusive jurisdiction.-
402     (1)  A tribunal of this state has issued issuing a support
403order consistent with the law of this state has and shall
404exercise continuing exclusive jurisdiction to modify over a
405child support order if the order is the controlling order and:
406     (a)  At the time of the filing of a request for
407modification, As long as this state is remains the residence of
408the obligor, the individual obligee, or the child for whose
409benefit the support order is issued; or
410     (b)  Even if this state is not the residence of the
411obligor, the individual obligee, or the child for whose benefit
412the support order is issued, the parties consent in a record or
413in open court that the tribunal of this state may continue to
414exercise jurisdiction to modify its order Until all of the
415parties who are individuals have filed written consents with the
416tribunal of this state for a tribunal of another state to modify
417the order and assume continuing exclusive jurisdiction.
418     (2)  A tribunal of this state that has issued issuing a
419child support order consistent with the law of this state may
420not exercise its continuing, exclusive jurisdiction to modify
421the order if: the order has been modified by a tribunal of
422another state pursuant to this act or a law substantially
423similar to this act.
424     (a)  All of the parties who are individuals file consent in
425a record with the tribunal of this state that a tribunal of
426another state that has jurisdiction over at least one of the
427parties who is an individual or that is located in the state of
428residence of the child may modify the order and assume
429continuing, exclusive jurisdiction; or
430     (b)  Its order is not the controlling order.
431     (3)  If a child support order of this state is modified by
432a tribunal of another state pursuant to this act or a law
433substantially similar to this act, a tribunal of this state
434loses its continuing exclusive jurisdiction with regard to
435prospective enforcement of the order issued in this state, and
436may only:
437     (a)  Enforce the order that was modified as to amounts
438accruing before the modification;
439     (b)  Enforce nonmodifiable aspects of that order; and
440     (c)  Provide other appropriate relief for violations of
441that order which occurred before the effective date of the
442modification.
443     (3)(4)  If a tribunal of this state shall recognize the
444continuing exclusive jurisdiction of a tribunal of another state
445which has issued a child support order pursuant to this act or a
446law substantially similar to this act which modifies a child
447support order of a tribunal of this state, tribunals of this
448state shall recognize the continuing, exclusive jurisdiction of
449the tribunal of the other state.
450     (4)  A tribunal of this state that lacks continuing,
451exclusive jurisdiction to modify a child support order may serve
452as an initiating tribunal to request a tribunal of another state
453to modify a support order issued in that state.
454     (5)  A temporary support order issued ex parte or pending
455resolution of a jurisdictional conflict does not create
456continuing exclusive jurisdiction in the issuing tribunal.
457     (6)  A tribunal of this state issuing a support order
458consistent with the law of this state has continuing exclusive
459jurisdiction over a spousal support order throughout the
460existence of the support obligation. A tribunal of this state
461may not modify a spousal support order issued by a tribunal of
462another state having continuing exclusive jurisdiction over that
463order under the law of that state.
464     Section 10.  Section 88.2061, Florida Statutes, is amended
465to read:
466     88.2061  Enforcement and modification of support order by
467tribunal having Continuing jurisdiction to enforce child support
468order.-
469     (1)  A tribunal of this state that has issued a child
470support order consistent with the law of this state may serve as
471an initiating tribunal to request a tribunal of another state to
472enforce: or modify a support order issued in that state.
473     (a)  The order if the order is the controlling order and
474has not been modified by a tribunal of another state that
475assumed jurisdiction pursuant to the Uniform Interstate Family
476Support Act; or
477     (b)  A money judgment for arrears of support and interest
478on the order accrued before a determination that an order of a
479tribunal of another state is the controlling order.
480     (2)  A tribunal of this state having continuing exclusive
481jurisdiction over a support order may act as a responding
482tribunal to enforce or modify the order. If a party subject to
483the continuing exclusive jurisdiction of the tribunal no longer
484resides in the issuing state, in subsequent proceedings the
485tribunal may apply s. 88.3161 (special rules of evidence and
486procedure) to receive evidence from another state and s. 88.3181
487(assistance with discovery) to obtain discovery through a
488tribunal of another state.
489     (3)  A tribunal of this state which lacks continuing
490exclusive jurisdiction over a spousal support order may not
491serve as a responding tribunal to modify a spousal support order
492of another state.
493     Section 11.  Section 88.2071, Florida Statutes, is amended
494to read:
495     88.2071  Determination Recognition of controlling child
496support order.-
497     (1)  If a proceeding is brought under this act and only one
498tribunal has issued a child support order, the order of that
499tribunal controls and must be so recognized.
500     (2)  If a proceeding is brought under this act, and two or
501more child support orders have been issued by tribunals of this
502state, or another state, or a foreign country with regard to the
503same obligor and the same child, a tribunal of this state having
504personal jurisdiction over both the obligor and individual
505obligee shall apply the following rules and by order shall
506determine in determining which order controls to recognize for
507purposes of continuing, exclusive jurisdiction:
508     (a)  If only one of the tribunals would have continuing,
509exclusive jurisdiction under this act, the order of that
510tribunal controls and must be so recognized.
511     (b)1.  If more than one of the tribunals would have
512continuing, exclusive jurisdiction under this act, an order
513issued by a tribunal in the current home state of the child
514controls; and must be so recognized, but
515     2.  If an order has not been issued in the current home
516state of the child, the order most recently issued controls and
517must be so recognized.
518     (c)  If none of the tribunals would have continuing,
519exclusive jurisdiction under this act, the tribunal of this
520state having jurisdiction over the parties shall issue a child
521support order, which controls and must be so recognized.
522     (3)  If two or more child support orders have been issued
523for the same obligor and the same child, upon request of a and
524if the obligor or the individual obligee resides in this state,
525a party who is an individual or a support enforcement agency,
526may request a tribunal of this state having personal
527jurisdiction over both the obligor and the obligee who is an
528individual shall to determine which order controls and must be
529so recognized under subsection (2). The request may be filed
530with a registration for enforcement or registration for
531modification pursuant to part VI of this chapter, or may be
532filed as a separate proceeding must be accompanied by a
533certified copy of every support order in effect. The requesting
534party shall give notice of the request to each party whose
535rights may be affected by the determination.
536     (4)  A request to determine which is the controlling order
537must be accompanied by a copy of every child support order in
538effect and the applicable record of payments. The requesting
539party shall give notice of the request to each party whose
540rights may be affected by the determination.
541     (5)(4)  The tribunal that issued the controlling order
542under subsection (1), subsection (2), or subsection (3) is the
543tribunal that has continuing, exclusive jurisdiction to the
544extent provided in ss. under s. 88.2051 and 88.2061.
545     (6)(5)  A tribunal of this state that which determines by
546order which is the identity of the controlling order under
547paragraph (2)(a), or paragraph (2)(b), or subsection (3) or that
548which issues a new controlling order under paragraph (2)(c)
549shall state in that order:
550     (a)  The basis upon which the tribunal made its
551determination.
552     (b)  The amount of prospective support, if any.
553     (c)  The total amount of consolidated arrears and accrued
554interest, if any, under all of the orders after all payments
555made are credited as provided by s. 88.2091.
556     (7)(6)  Within 30 days after issuance of an order
557determining which is the identity of the controlling order, the
558party obtaining the order shall file a certified copy of it in
559with each tribunal that issued or registered an earlier order of
560child support. A party or support enforcement agency obtaining
561who obtains the order that and fails to file a certified copy is
562subject to appropriate sanctions by a tribunal in which the
563issue of failure to file arises. The failure to file does not
564affect the validity or enforceability of the controlling order.
565     (8)  An order that has been determined to be the
566controlling order, or a judgment for consolidated arrears of
567support and interest, if any, made pursuant to this section must
568be recognized in proceedings under this act.
569     Section 12.  Section 88.2081, Florida Statutes, is amended
570to read:
571     88.2081  Multiple Child support orders for two or more
572obligees.-In responding to multiple registrations, petitions, or
573comparable pleadings for enforcement of two or more child
574support orders in effect at the same time with regard to the
575same obligor and different individual obligees, at least one of
576which was issued by a tribunal of another state or a foreign
577country, a tribunal of this state shall enforce those orders in
578the same manner as if the multiple orders had been issued by a
579tribunal of this state.
580     Section 13.  Section 88.2091, Florida Statutes, is amended
581to read:
582     88.2091  Credit for payments.-A tribunal of this state
583shall credit amounts collected and credited for a particular
584period pursuant to any child support order against the amounts
585owed for the same period under any other child support order for
586support of the same child a support order issued by a tribunal
587of another state must be credited against the amounts accruing
588or accrued for the same period under a support order issued by
589the tribunal of this state, another state, or a foreign country.
590     Section 14.  Section 88.2101, Florida Statutes, is created
591to read:
592     88.2101  Application of act to nonresident subject to
593personal jurisdiction.-A tribunal of this state exercising
594personal jurisdiction over a nonresident in a proceeding under
595this act, under another law of this state relating to a support
596order, or recognizing a foreign support order may receive
597evidence from outside this state pursuant to s. 88.3161,
598communicate with a tribunal outside this state pursuant to s.
59988.3171, and obtain discovery through a tribunal outside this
600state pursuant to s. 88.3181. In all other respects, parts III
601through VI of this chapter do not apply, and the tribunal shall
602apply the procedural and substantive law of this state.
603     Section 15.  Section 88.2111, Florida Statutes, is created
604to read:
605     88.2111  Continuing, exclusive jurisdiction to modify
606spousal support order.-
607     (1)  A tribunal of this state issuing a spousal support
608order consistent with the law of this state has continuing,
609exclusive jurisdiction to modify the spousal support order
610throughout the existence of the obligation.
611     (2)  A tribunal of this state may not modify a spousal
612support order issued by a tribunal of another state or foreign
613country having continuing, exclusive jurisdiction over that
614order under the law of that state or foreign country.
615     (3)  A tribunal of this state that has continuing,
616exclusive jurisdiction over a spousal support order may serve
617as:
618     (a)  An initiating tribunal to request a tribunal of
619another state to enforce the spousal support order issued in
620this state; or
621     (b)  A responding tribunal to enforce or modify its own
622spousal support order.
623     Section 16.  Section 88.3011, Florida Statutes, is amended
624to read:
625     88.3011  Proceedings under this act.-
626     (1)  Except as otherwise provided in this act, this part
627article applies to all proceedings under this act.
628     (2)  This act provides for the following proceedings:
629     (a)  Establishment of an order for spousal support or child
630support pursuant to part IV;
631     (b)  Enforcement of a support order and income-withholding
632order of another state without registration pursuant to part V;
633     (c)  Registration of an order for spousal support or child
634support of another state for enforcement pursuant to part VI;
635     (d)  Modification of an order for child support or spousal
636support issued by a tribunal of this state pursuant to ss.
63788.2031-88.2061;
638     (e)  Registration of an order for child support of another
639state for modification pursuant to part VI;
640     (f)  Determination of parentage pursuant to part VII; and
641     (g)  Assertion of jurisdiction over nonresidents pursuant
642to ss. 88.2011-88.2021.
643     (2)(3)  An individual petitioner or a support enforcement
644agency may initiate commence a proceeding authorized under this
645act by filing a petition or a comparable pleading in an
646initiating tribunal for forwarding to a responding tribunal or
647by filing a petition or a comparable pleading directly in a
648tribunal of another state or a foreign country which has or can
649obtain personal jurisdiction over the respondent.
650     Section 17.  Section 88.3021, Florida Statutes, is amended
651to read:
652     88.3021  Proceeding Action by minor parent.-A minor parent,
653or a guardian or other legal representative of a minor parent,
654may maintain a proceeding on behalf of or for the benefit of the
655minor's child.
656     Section 18.  Section 88.3031, Florida Statutes, is amended
657to read:
658     88.3031  Application of law of state.-Except as otherwise
659provided in by this act, a responding tribunal of this state
660shall:
661     (1)  Shall Apply the procedural and substantive law,
662including the rules on choice of law, generally applicable to
663similar proceedings originating in this state and may exercise
664all powers and provide all remedies available in those
665proceedings; and
666     (2)  Shall Determine the duty of support and the amount
667payable in accordance with the law and support guidelines of
668this state.
669     Section 19.  Section 88.3041, Florida Statutes, is amended
670to read:
671     88.3041  Duties of initiating tribunal.-
672     (1)  Upon the filing of a petition or comparable pleading
673authorized by this act, an initiating tribunal of this state
674shall forward three copies of the petition and its accompanying
675documents or a comparable pleading and its accompanying
676documents:
677     (a)  To the responding tribunal or appropriate support
678enforcement agency in the responding state; or
679     (b)  If the identity of the responding tribunal is unknown,
680to the state information agency of the responding state with a
681request that they be forwarded to the appropriate tribunal and
682that receipt be acknowledged.
683     (2)  If requested by the responding tribunal a responding
684state has not enacted this act or a law or procedure
685substantially similar to this act, a tribunal of this state
686shall may issue a certificate or other document and make
687findings required by the law of the responding state. If the
688responding tribunal state is in a foreign country jurisdiction,
689upon request the tribunal of this state shall may specify the
690amount of support sought, convert that amount into the
691equivalent amount in the foreign currency under applicable
692official or market exchange rate as publicly reported, and
693provide any other documents necessary to satisfy the
694requirements of the responding foreign tribunal state.
695     Section 20.  Section 88.3051, Florida Statutes, is amended
696to read:
697     88.3051  Duties and powers of responding tribunal.-
698     (1)  When a responding tribunal of this state receives a
699petition or comparable pleading from an initiating tribunal or
700directly pursuant to s. 88.3011(2)(3), it shall cause the
701petition or comparable pleading to be filed and notify the
702petitioner where and when it was filed.
703     (2)  A responding tribunal of this state, to the extent not
704prohibited otherwise authorized by other law, may do one or more
705of the following:
706     (a)  Establish Issue or enforce a support order, modify a
707child support order, determine the controlling child support
708order, or render a judgment to determine parentage of a child.
709     (b)  Order an obligor to comply with a support order,
710specifying the amount and the manner of compliance.
711     (c)  Order income withholding.
712     (d)  Determine the amount of any arrearages, and specify a
713method of payment.
714     (e)  Enforce orders by civil or criminal contempt, or both.
715     (f)  Set aside property for satisfaction of the support
716order.
717     (g)  Place liens and order execution on the obligor's
718property.
719     (h)  Order an obligor to keep the tribunal informed of the
720obligor's current residential address, telephone number,
721employer, address of employment, and telephone number at the
722place of employment.
723     (i)  Issue a bench warrant, capias, or writ of bodily
724attachment for an obligor who has failed after proper notice to
725appear at a hearing ordered by the tribunal and enter the bench
726warrant, capias, or writ of bodily attachment in any local and
727state computer systems for criminal warrants.
728     (j)  Order the obligor to seek appropriate employment by
729specified methods.
730     (k)  Award reasonable attorney's fees and other fees and
731costs.
732     (l)  Grant any other available remedy.
733     (3)  A responding tribunal of this state shall include in a
734support order issued under this act, or in the documents
735accompanying the order, the calculations on which the support
736order is based.
737     (4)  A responding tribunal of this state may not condition
738the payment of a support order issued under this act upon
739compliance by a party with provisions for visitation.
740     (5)  If a responding tribunal of this state issues an order
741under this act, the tribunal shall send a copy of the order to
742the petitioner and the respondent and to the initiating
743tribunal, if any.
744     (6)  If requested to enforce a support order, arrears, or
745judgment, or modify a support order stated in a foreign
746currency, a responding tribunal of this state shall convert the
747amount stated in the foreign currency to the equivalent amount
748in dollars under the applicable official or market exchange rate
749as publicly reported.
750     Section 21.  Section 88.3061, Florida Statutes, is amended
751to read:
752     88.3061  Inappropriate tribunal.-If a petition or
753comparable pleading is received by an inappropriate tribunal of
754this state, the tribunal it shall forward the pleading and
755accompanying documents to an appropriate tribunal of in this
756state or another state and notify the petitioner where and when
757the pleading was sent.
758     Section 22.  Section 88.3071, Florida Statutes, is amended
759to read:
760     88.3071  Duties of support enforcement agency.-
761     (1)  In a proceeding under this act, a support enforcement
762agency of this state, upon request:
763     (a)  Shall provide services to a petitioner residing in a
764state;
765     (b)  Shall provide services to a petitioner requesting
766services through a central authority of a foreign country as
767described in s. 88.1011(5)(a) or s. 88.1011(5)(d); and
768     (c)  May provide services to a petitioner who is an
769individual not residing in a state A support enforcement agency
770of this state, upon request, shall provide services to a
771petitioner in a proceeding under this act.
772     (2)  A support enforcement agency that is providing
773services to the petitioner as appropriate shall:
774     (a)  Take all steps necessary to enable an appropriate
775tribunal in this state, or another state, or a foreign country
776to obtain jurisdiction over the respondent.
777     (b)  Request an appropriate tribunal to set a date, time,
778and place for a hearing.
779     (c)  Make a reasonable effort to obtain all relevant
780information, including information as to income and property of
781the parties.
782     (d)  Within 10 days, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and
783legal holidays, after receipt of a written notice from an
784initiating, responding, or registering tribunal, send a copy of
785the notice to the petitioner.
786     (e)  Within 10 days, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and
787legal holidays, after receipt of a written communication from
788the respondent or the respondent's attorney, send a copy of the
789communication to the petitioner.
790     (f)  Notify the petitioner if jurisdiction over the
791respondent cannot be obtained.
792     (3)  A support enforcement agency of this state that
793requests registration of a child support order in this state for
794enforcement or for modification shall make reasonable efforts:
795     (a)  To ensure that the order to be registered is the
796controlling order; or
797     (b)  If two or more child support orders exist and the
798identity of the controlling order has not been determined, to
799ensure that a request for such a determination is made in a
800tribunal having jurisdiction to do so.
801     (4)  A support enforcement agency of this state that
802requests registration and enforcement of a support order,
803arrears, or judgment stated in a foreign currency shall convert
804the amounts stated in the foreign currency into the equivalent
805amounts in dollars under the applicable official or market
806exchange rate as publicly reported.
807     (5)  A support enforcement agency of this state shall issue
808or request a tribunal of this state to issue a child support
809order and an income-withholding order that redirect payment of
810current support, arrears, and interest if requested to do so by
811a support enforcement agency of another state pursuant to s.
81288.3191.
813     (6)(3)  This act does not create or negate a relationship
814of attorney and client or other fiduciary relationship between a
815support enforcement agency or the attorney for the agency and
816the individual being assisted by the agency.
817     Section 23.  Section 88.3081, Florida Statutes, is amended
818to read:
819     88.3081  Duty of Governor and Cabinet.-
820     (1)  If the Governor and Cabinet determine that the support
821enforcement agency is neglecting or refusing to provide services
822to an individual, the Governor and Cabinet may order the agency
823to perform its duties under this act or may provide those
824services directly to the individual.
825     (2)  The Governor and Cabinet may determine that a foreign
826country has established a reciprocal arrangement for child
827support with this state and take appropriate action for
828notification of the determination.
829     Section 24.  Paragraph (c) of subsection (2) of section
83088.3101, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
831     88.3101  Duties of state information agency.-
832     (2)  The state information agency shall:
833     (c)  Forward to the appropriate tribunal in the place in
834this state in which the individual obligee who is an individual
835or the obligor resides, or in which the obligor's property is
836believed to be located, all documents concerning a proceeding
837under this act received from another state or a foreign country
838an initiating tribunal or the state information agency of the
839initiating state.
840     Section 25.  Subsection (1) of section 88.3111, Florida
841Statutes, is amended to read:
842     88.3111  Pleadings and accompanying documents.-
843     (1)  In a proceeding under this act, a petitioner seeking
844to establish or modify a support order, or to determine
845parentage of a child, or to register and modify a support order
846of a tribunal of another state or a foreign country in a
847proceeding under this act must file a verify the petition or
848comparable pleading. Unless otherwise ordered under s. 88.3121
849(nondisclosure of information in exceptional circumstances), the
850petition or comparable pleading or the documents accompanying
851either the petition or comparable pleading must provide, so far
852as known, the name, residential address, and social security
853numbers of the obligor and the obligee or the parent and alleged
854parent, and the name, sex, residential address, social security
855number, and date of birth of each child for whose benefit whom
856support is sought or whose parentage is to be determined. Unless
857filed at the time of registration, the petition must be
858accompanied by a certified copy of any support order known to
859have been issued by another tribunal in effect. The petition may
860include any other information that may assist in locating or
861identifying the respondent.
862     Section 26.  Section 88.3121, Florida Statutes, is amended
863to read:
864     88.3121  Nondisclosure of information in exceptional
865circumstances.-If a party alleges in an affidavit or a pleading
866under oath that the health, safety, or liberty of a party or
867child would be jeopardized by disclosure of specific identifying
868information, that information must be sealed and may not be
869disclosed to the other party or the public. After a hearing in
870which a tribunal takes into consideration the health, safety, or
871liberty of the party or child, the tribunal may order disclosure
872of information that the tribunal determines to be in the
873interest of justice Upon a finding, which may be made ex parte,
874that the health, safety, or liberty of a party or child would be
875unreasonably put at risk by the disclosure of identifying
876information, or if an existing order so provides, a tribunal
877shall order that the address of the child or party or other
878identifying information not be disclosed in a pleading or other
879document filed in a proceeding under this act.
880     Section 27.  Subsection (2) of section 88.3131, Florida
881Statutes, is amended to read:
882     88.3131  Costs and fees.-
883     (2)  If an obligee prevails, a responding tribunal of this
884state may assess against an obligor filing fees, reasonable
885attorney's fees, other costs, and necessary travel and other
886reasonable expenses incurred by the obligee and the obligee's
887witnesses. The tribunal may not assess fees, costs, or expenses
888against the obligee or the support enforcement agency of either
889the initiating or the responding state or foreign country,
890except as provided by other law. Attorney's fees may be taxed as
891costs, and may be ordered paid directly to the attorney, who may
892enforce the order in the attorney's own name. Payment of support
893owed to the obligee has priority over fees, costs, and expenses.
894     Section 28.  Subsections (1) and (3) of section 88.3141,
895Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
896     88.3141  Limited immunity of petitioner.-
897     (1)  Participation by a petitioner in a proceeding under
898this act before a responding tribunal, whether in person, by
899private attorney, or through services provided by the support
900enforcement agency, does not confer personal jurisdiction over
901the petitioner in another proceeding.
902     (3)  The immunity granted by this section does not extend
903to civil litigation based on acts unrelated to a proceeding
904under this act committed by a party while physically present in
905this state to participate in the proceeding.
906     Section 29.  Section 88.3161, Florida Statutes, is amended
907to read:
908     88.3161  Special rules of evidence and procedure.-
909     (1)  The physical presence of a nonresident party who is an
910individual the petitioner in a responding tribunal of this state
911is not required for the establishment, enforcement, or
912modification of a support order or the rendition of a judgment
913determining parentage of a child.
914     (2)  An A verified petition or other comparable pleading,
915affidavit, a document substantially complying with federally
916mandated forms, or and a document incorporated by reference in
917any of them, which would not be excluded under the hearsay rule
918if given in person, is admissible in evidence if given under
919penalty of perjury oath by a party or witness residing outside
920this in another state.
921     (3)  A copy of the record of child support payments
922certified as a true copy of the original by the custodian of the
923record may be forwarded to a responding tribunal. The copy is
924evidence of facts asserted in it, and is admissible to show
925whether payments were made.
926     (4)  Copies of bills for testing for parentage of a child,
927and for prenatal and postnatal health care of the mother and
928child, furnished to the adverse party at least 10 days before
929trial, are admissible in evidence to prove the amount of the
930charges billed and that the charges were reasonable, necessary,
931and customary.
932     (5)  Documentary evidence transmitted from outside this
933another state to a tribunal of this state by telephone,
934telecopier, or other electronic means that do not provide an
935original record writing may not be excluded from evidence on an
936objection based on the means of transmission.
937     (6)  In a proceeding under this act, a tribunal of this
938state shall may permit a party or witness residing outside this
939in another state to be deposed or to testify by telephone,
940audiovisual means, or other electronic means at a designated
941tribunal or other location in that state. A tribunal of this
942state shall cooperate with other tribunals of other states in
943designating an appropriate location for the deposition or
944testimony.
945     (7)  If a party called to testify at a civil hearing
946refuses to answer on the ground that the testimony may be self-
947incriminating, the trier of fact may draw an adverse inference
948from the refusal.
949     (8)  A privilege against disclosure of communications
950between spouses does not apply in a proceeding under this act.
951     (9)  The defense of immunity based on the relationship of
952husband and wife or parent and child does not apply in a
953proceeding under this act.
954     (10)  A voluntary acknowledgment of paternity, certified as
955a true copy, is admissible to establish parentage of a child.
956     Section 30.  Section 88.3171, Florida Statutes, is amended
957to read:
958     88.3171  Communications between tribunals.-A tribunal of
959this state may communicate with a tribunal outside this of
960another state in a record writing, or by telephone, electronic
961mail, or other means, to obtain information concerning the laws
962of that state, the legal effect of a judgment, decree, or order
963of that tribunal, and the status of a proceeding in the other
964state. A tribunal of this state may furnish similar information
965by similar means to a tribunal outside this of another state.
966     Section 31.  Section 88.3181, Florida Statutes, is amended
967to read:
968     88.3181  Assistance with discovery.-A tribunal of this
969state may:
970     (1)  Request a tribunal outside this of another state to
971assist in obtaining discovery.
972     (2)  Upon request, compel a person over which whom it has
973jurisdiction to respond to a discovery order issued by a
974tribunal outside this of another state.
975     Section 32.  Section 88.3191, Florida Statutes, is amended
976to read:
977     88.3191  Receipt and disbursement of payments.-
978     (1)  A support enforcement agency or tribunal of this state
979shall disburse promptly any amounts received pursuant to a
980support order, as directed by the order. The agency or tribunal
981shall furnish to a requesting party or tribunal of another state
982or a foreign country a certified statement by the custodian of
983the record of the amounts and dates of all payments received.
984     (2)  If neither the obligor, nor the obligee who is an
985individual, nor the child resides in this state, upon request
986from the support enforcement agency of this state or another
987state, the support enforcement agency of this state or a
988tribunal of this state shall:
989     (a)  Direct that the support payment be made to the support
990enforcement agency in the state in which the obligee is
991receiving services; and
992     (b)  Issue and send to the obligor's employer a conforming
993income-withholding order or an administrative notice of change
994of payee, reflecting the redirected payments.
995     (3)  The support enforcement agency of this state receiving
996redirected payments from another state pursuant to a law similar
997to subsection (2) shall furnish to a requesting party or
998tribunal of the other state a certified statement by the
999custodian of the record of the amount and dates of all payments
1000received.
1001     Section 33.  Section 88.4011, Florida Statutes, is amended
1002to read:
1003     88.4011  Establishment of Petition to establish support
1004order.-
1005     (1)  If a support order entitled to recognition under this
1006act has not been issued, a responding tribunal of this state
1007with personal jurisdiction over the parties may issue a support
1008order if:
1009     (a)  The individual seeking the order resides in another
1010state; or
1011     (b)  The support enforcement agency seeking the order is
1012located in another state.
1013     (2)  The tribunal may issue a temporary child support order
1014if the tribunal determines that such an order is appropriate and
1015the individual ordered to pay is:
1016     (a)  A presumed father of the child;
1017     (b)  Petitioning to have his paternity adjudicated;
1018     (c)  Identified as the father of the child through genetic
1019testing;
1020     (d)  An alleged father who has declined to submit to
1021genetic testing;
1022     (e)  Shown by clear and convincing evidence to be the
1023father of the child;
1024     (f)  An acknowledged father as provided in s. 382.013, s.
1025382.016, or s. 742.10;
1026     (g)  The mother of the child; or
1027     (h)  An individual who has been ordered to pay child
1028support in a previous proceeding and the order has not been
1029reversed or vacated
1030     (a)  The respondent has signed a verified statement
1031acknowledging parentage;
1032     (b)  The respondent has been determined by or pursuant to
1033law to be the parent; or
1034     (c)  There is other clear and convincing evidence that the
1035respondent is the child's parent.
1036     (3)  Upon finding, after notice and opportunity to be
1037heard, that an obligor owes a duty of support, the tribunal
1038shall issue a support order directed to the obligor and may
1039issue other orders pursuant to s. 88.3051.
1040     Section 34.  The Division of Statutory Revision is directed
1041to redesignate part V of chapter 88, Florida Statutes, as
1042"ENFORCEMENT OF SUPPORT ORDER OF ANOTHER STATE WITHOUT
1043REGISTRATION."
1044     Section 35.  Section 88.5011, Florida Statutes, is amended
1045to read:
1046     88.5011  Employer's receipt of income-withholding order of
1047another state.-An income-withholding order issued in another
1048state may be sent by or on behalf of the obligee, or by the
1049support enforcement agency, to the person or entity defined as
1050the obligor's employer under the income deduction law of this
1051state or payor as defined by s. 61.046, without first filing a
1052petition or comparable pleading or registering the order with a
1053tribunal of this state.
1054     Section 36.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (3) of section
105588.50211, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1056     88.50211  Employer's compliance with income-withholding
1057order of another state.-
1058     (3)  Except as otherwise provided by subsection (4) and s.
105988.5031, the employer shall withhold and distribute the funds as
1060directed in the withholding order by complying with the terms of
1061the order which specify:
1062     (b)  The person or agency designated to receive payments
1063and the address to which the payments are to be forwarded;
1064     Section 37.  Section 88.5031, Florida Statutes, is amended
1065to read:
1066     88.5031  Employer's compliance with two or more multiple
1067income-withholding orders.-If the obligor's employer receives
1068two or more multiple income-withholding orders with respect to
1069the earnings of the same obligor, the employer satisfies the
1070terms of the multiple orders if the employer complies with the
1071law of the state of the obligor's principal place of employment
1072to establish the priorities for withholding and allocating
1073income withheld for two or more multiple child support obligees.
1074     Section 38.  Section 88.5041, Florida Statutes, is amended
1075to read:
1076     88.5041  Immunity from civil liability.-An employer that
1077who complies with an income-withholding order issued in another
1078state in accordance with this article is not subject to civil
1079liability to an individual or agency with regard to the
1080employer's withholding of child support from the obligor's
1081income.
1082     Section 39.  Section 88.5051, Florida Statutes, is amended
1083to read:
1084     88.5051  Penalties for noncompliance.-An employer that who
1085willfully fails to comply with an income-withholding order
1086issued by another state and received for enforcement is subject
1087to the same penalties that may be imposed for noncompliance with
1088an order issued by a tribunal of this state.
1089     Section 40.  Section 88.5061, Florida Statutes, is amended
1090to read:
1091     88.5061  Contest by obligor.-
1092     (1)  An obligor may contest the validity or enforcement of
1093an income-withholding order issued in another state and received
1094directly by an employer in this state by registering the order
1095in a tribunal of this state and filing a contest to that order
1096as provided in part VI of this chapter, or otherwise contesting
1097the order in the same manner as if the order had been issued by
1098a tribunal of this state. Section 88.6041, choice of law,
1099applies to the contest.
1100     (2)  The obligor shall give notice of the contest to:
1101     (a)  A support enforcement agency providing services to the
1102obligee;
1103     (b)  Each employer that has directly received an income-
1104withholding order relating to the obligor; and
1105     (c)  The person or agency designated to receive payments in
1106the income-withholding order, or if no person or agency is
1107designated, to the obligee.
1108     Section 41.  Subsection (1) of section 88.5071, Florida
1109Statutes, is amended to read:
1110     88.5071  Administrative enforcement of orders.-
1111     (1)  A party or support enforcement agency seeking to
1112enforce a support order or an income-withholding order, or both,
1113issued in by a tribunal of another state or a foreign support
1114order may send the documents required for registering the order
1115to a support enforcement agency of this state.
1116     Section 42.  (1)  The Division of Statutory Revision is
1117directed to redesignate part VI of chapter 88, Florida Statutes,
1118as "REGISTRATION, ENFORCEMENT, AND MODIFICATION OF SUPPORT
1119ORDER."
1120     (2)  The Division of Statutory Revision is directed to
1121divide part VI of chapter 88, Florida Statutes, into subpart A,
1122consisting of ss. 88.6011-88.6041, Florida Statutes, to be
1123entitled "Registration and Enforcement of Support Order;"
1124subpart B, consisting of ss. 88.6051-88.6081, Florida Statutes,
1125to be entitled "Contest of Validity or Enforcement;" subpart C,
1126consisting of ss. 88.6091-88.6141, Florida Statutes, to be
1127entitled "Registration and Modification of Child Support Order
1128of Another State;" and subpart D, consisting of ss. 88.6151 and
112988.6161, Florida Statutes, to be entitled "Registration and
1130Modification of Foreign Child Support Order."
1131     Section 43.  Section 88.6011, Florida Statutes, is amended
1132to read:
1133     88.6011  Registration of order for enforcement.-A support
1134order or an income-withholding order issued in by a tribunal of
1135another state or a foreign support order may be registered in
1136this state for enforcement.
1137     Section 44.  Section 88.6021, Florida Statutes, is amended
1138to read:
1139     88.6021  Procedure to register order for enforcement.-
1140     (1)  Except as otherwise provided in s. 88.7061, a support
1141order or income-withholding order of another state or a foreign
1142support order may be registered in this state by sending the
1143following records documents and information to the appropriate
1144tribunal in this state:
1145     (a)  A letter of transmittal to the tribunal requesting
1146registration and enforcement.
1147     (b)  Two copies, including one certified copy, of the order
1148all orders to be registered, including any modification of the
1149an order.
1150     (c)  A sworn statement by the person requesting party
1151seeking registration or a certified statement by the custodian
1152of the records showing the amount of any arrearage.
1153     (d)  The name of the obligor and, if known:
1154     1.  The obligor's address and social security number.
1155     2.  The name and address of the obligor's employer and any
1156other source of income of the obligor.
1157     3.  A description and the location of property of the
1158obligor in this state not exempt from execution.
1159     (e)  Except as otherwise provided in s. 88.3121, the name
1160and address of the obligee and, if applicable, the agency or
1161person to whom support payments are to be remitted.
1162     (2)  On receipt of a request for registration, the
1163registering tribunal shall cause the order to be filed as an
1164order of a tribunal of another state or a foreign support order
1165a foreign judgment, together with one copy of the documents and
1166information, regardless of their form.
1167     (3)  A petition or comparable pleading seeking a remedy
1168that must be affirmatively sought under other law of this state
1169may be filed at the same time as the request for registration or
1170later. The pleading must specify the grounds for the remedy
1171sought.
1172     (4)  If two or more orders are in effect, the person
1173requesting registration shall:
1174     (a)  Furnish to the tribunal a copy of every support order
1175asserted to be in effect in addition to the documents specified
1176in this section;
1177     (b)  Specify the order alleged to be the controlling order,
1178if any; and
1179     (c)  Specify the amount of consolidated arrears, if any.
1180     (5)  A request for a determination of which is the
1181controlling order may be filed separately or with a request for
1182registration and enforcement or for registration and
1183modification. The person requesting registration shall give
1184notice of the request to each party whose rights may be affected
1185by the determination.
1186     Section 45.  Section 88.6031, Florida Statutes, is amended
1187to read:
1188     88.6031  Effect of registration for enforcement.-
1189     (1)  A support order or income-withholding order issued in
1190another state or a foreign support order is registered when the
1191order is filed in the registering tribunal of this state.
1192     (2)  A registered support order issued in another state or
1193a foreign country is enforceable in the same manner and is
1194subject to the same procedures as an order issued by a tribunal
1195of this state.
1196     (3)  Except as otherwise provided in this act article, a
1197tribunal of this state shall recognize and enforce, but may not
1198modify, a registered support order if the issuing tribunal had
1199jurisdiction.
1200     Section 46.  Section 88.6041, Florida Statutes, is amended
1201to read:
1202     88.6041  Choice of law.-
1203     (1)  Except as otherwise provided in subsection (4), the
1204law of the issuing state or foreign country governs:
1205     (a)  The nature, extent, amount, and duration of current
1206payments under a registered support order; and other obligations
1207of support and
1208     (b)  The computation and payment of arrearages and accrual
1209of interest on the arrearages under the order; and
1210     (c)  The existence and satisfaction of other obligations
1211under the support order.
1212     (2)  In a proceeding for arrears under a registered support
1213order arrearages, the statute of limitation under the laws of
1214this state or of the issuing state or foreign country, whichever
1215is longer, applies.
1216     (3)  A responding tribunal of this state shall apply the
1217procedures and remedies of this state to enforce current support
1218and collect arrears and interest due on a support order of
1219another state or foreign country registered in this state.
1220     (4)  After a tribunal of this or another state determines
1221which is the controlling order and issues an order consolidating
1222arrears, if any, a tribunal of this state shall prospectively
1223apply the law of the state or foreign country issuing the
1224controlling order, including its law on interest on arrears, on
1225current and future support, and on consolidated arrears.
1226     Section 47.  Section 88.6051, Florida Statutes, is amended
1227to read:
1228     88.6051  Notice of registration of order.-
1229     (1)  When a support order or income-withholding order
1230issued in another state or a foreign support order is
1231registered, the registering tribunal of this state shall notify
1232the nonregistering party. The notice must be accompanied by a
1233copy of the registered order and the documents and relevant
1234information accompanying the order.
1235     (2)  A The notice must inform the nonregistering party:
1236     (a)  That a registered order is enforceable as of the date
1237of registration in the same manner as an order issued by a
1238tribunal of this state.
1239     (b)  That a hearing to contest the validity or enforcement
1240of the registered order must be requested within 20 days after
1241the date of mailing or personal service of the notice, unless
1242the registered order is under s. 88.7071.
1243     (c)  That failure to contest the validity or enforcement of
1244the registered order in a timely manner will result in
1245confirmation of the order and enforcement of the order and the
1246alleged arrearages and precludes further contest of that order
1247with respect to any matter that could have been asserted.
1248     (d)  Of the amount of any alleged arrearages.
1249     (3)  If the registering party asserts that two or more
1250orders are in effect, a notice must also:
1251     (a)  Identify the two or more orders and the order alleged
1252by the registering party to be the controlling order and the
1253consolidated arrears, if any;
1254     (b)  Notify the nonregistering party of the right to a
1255determination of which is the controlling order;
1256     (c)  State that the procedures provided in subsection (2)
1257apply to the determination of which is the controlling order;
1258and
1259     (d)  State that failure to contest the validity or
1260enforcement of the order alleged to be the controlling order in
1261a timely manner may result in confirmation that the order is the
1262controlling order.
1263     (4)(3)  Upon registration of an income-withholding order
1264for enforcement, the support enforcement agency or the
1265registering tribunal shall notify the obligor's employer
1266pursuant to chapter 61 or other income deduction law of this
1267state.
1268     Section 48.  Subsections (1) and (2) of section 88.6061,
1269Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
1270     88.6061  Procedure to contest validity or enforcement of
1271registered order.-
1272     (1)  A nonregistering party seeking to contest the validity
1273or enforcement of a registered order in this state shall request
1274a hearing within the time required by s. 88.6051 20 days after
1275notice of the registration. The nonregistering party may seek to
1276vacate the registration, to assert any defense to an allegation
1277of noncompliance with the registered order, or to contest the
1278remedies being sought or the amount of any alleged arrearages
1279pursuant to s. 88.6071.
1280     (2)  If the nonregistering party fails to contest the
1281validity or enforcement of the registered support order in a
1282timely manner, the order is confirmed by operation of law.
1283     Section 49.  Section 88.6071, Florida Statutes, is amended
1284to read:
1285     88.6071  Contest of registration or enforcement.-
1286     (1)  A party contesting the validity or enforcement of a
1287registered support order or seeking to vacate the registration
1288has the burden of proving one or more of the following defenses:
1289     (a)  The issuing tribunal lacked personal jurisdiction over
1290the contesting party;
1291     (b)  The order was obtained by fraud;
1292     (c)  The order has been vacated, suspended, or modified by
1293a later order;
1294     (d)  The issuing tribunal has stayed the order pending
1295appeal;
1296     (e)  There is a defense under the law of this state to the
1297remedy sought;
1298     (f)  Full or partial payment has been made; or
1299     (g)  The statute of limitation under s. 88.6041 precludes
1300enforcement of some or all of the alleged arrearages; or
1301     (h)  The alleged controlling order is not the controlling
1302order.
1303     (2)  If a party presents evidence establishing a full or
1304partial defense under subsection (1), a tribunal may stay
1305enforcement of a the registered support order, continue the
1306proceeding to permit production of additional relevant evidence,
1307and issue other appropriate orders. An uncontested portion of
1308the registered support order may be enforced by all remedies
1309available under the law of this state.
1310     (3)  If the contesting party does not establish a defense
1311under subsection (1) to the validity or enforcement of a
1312registered support the order, the registering tribunal shall
1313issue an order confirming the order.
1314     Section 50.  Section 88.6081, Florida Statutes, is amended
1315to read:
1316     88.6081  Confirmed order.-Confirmation of a registered
1317support order, whether by operation of law or after notice and
1318hearing, precludes further contest of the order with respect to
1319any matter that could have been asserted at the time of
1320registration.
1321     Section 51.  Section 88.6091, Florida Statutes, is amended
1322to read:
1323     88.6091  Procedure to register child support order of
1324another state for modification.-A party or support enforcement
1325agency seeking to modify, or to modify and enforce, a child
1326support order issued in another state shall register that order
1327in this state in the same manner provided in ss. 88.6011-88.6081
132888.6011-88.6041 if the order has not been registered. A petition
1329for modification may be filed at the same time as a request for
1330registration, or later. The pleading must specify the grounds
1331for modification.
1332     Section 52.  Section 88.6111, Florida Statutes, is amended
1333to read:
1334     88.6111  Modification of child support order of another
1335state.-
1336     (1)  If s. 88.6131 does not apply, upon petition, a
1337tribunal of this state may modify After a child support order
1338issued in another state which is has been registered in this
1339state, the responding tribunal of this state may modify that
1340order only if, s. 88.6131 does not apply and after notice and
1341hearing, the tribunal it finds that:
1342     (a)  The following requirements are met:
1343     1.  Neither the child, nor the individual obligee who is an
1344individual, nor and the obligor resides do not reside in the
1345issuing state;
1346     2.  A petitioner who is a nonresident of this state seeks
1347modification; and
1348     3.  The respondent is subject to the personal jurisdiction
1349of the tribunal of this state; or
1350     (b)  This state is the state of residence of the child, or
1351a party who is an individual, is subject to the personal
1352jurisdiction of the tribunal of this state and all of the
1353parties who are individuals have filed written consents in a
1354record in the issuing tribunal for a tribunal of this state to
1355modify the support order and assume continuing exclusive
1356jurisdiction over the order. However, if the issuing state is a
1357foreign jurisdiction that has not enacted a law or established
1358procedures substantially similar to the procedures under this
1359act, the consent otherwise required of an individual residing in
1360this state is not required for the tribunal to assume
1361jurisdiction to modify the child support order.
1362     (2)  Modification of a registered child support order is
1363subject to the same requirements, procedures, and defenses that
1364apply to the modification of an order issued by a tribunal of
1365this state and the order may be enforced and satisfied in the
1366same manner.
1367     (3)  A tribunal of this state may not modify any aspect of
1368a child support order that may not be modified under the law of
1369the issuing state, including the duration of the obligation of
1370support. If two or more tribunals have issued child support
1371orders for the same obligor and same child, the order that
1372controls and must be so recognized under s. 88.2071 establishes
1373the aspects of the support order which are nonmodifiable.
1374     (4)  In a proceeding to modify a child support order, the
1375law of the state that is determined to have issued the initial
1376controlling order governs the duration of the obligation of
1377support. The obligor's fulfillment of the duty of support
1378established by that order precludes imposition of a further
1379obligation of support by a tribunal of this state.
1380     (5)(4)  On issuance of an order by a tribunal of this state
1381modifying a child support order issued in another state, the a
1382tribunal of this state becomes the tribunal of continuing
1383exclusive jurisdiction.
1384     (6)  Notwithstanding subsections (1)-(5) and s. 88.2011(2),
1385a tribunal of this state retains jurisdiction to modify an order
1386issued by a tribunal of this state if:
1387     (a)  One party resides in another state; and
1388     (b)  The other party resides outside the United States.
1389     Section 53.  Section 88.6121, Florida Statutes, is amended
1390to read:
1391     88.6121  Recognition of order modified in another state.-If
1392a child support order issued by a tribunal of this state is
1393modified shall recognize a modification of its earlier child
1394support order by a tribunal of another state which assumed
1395jurisdiction pursuant to the Uniform Interstate Family Support
1396Act, a tribunal of this state this act or a law substantially
1397similar to this act and, upon request, except as otherwise
1398provided in this act, shall:
1399     (1)  May enforce the order that was modified only as to
1400arrears and interest amounts accruing before the modification.
1401     (2)  Enforce only nonmodifiable aspects of that order.
1402     (2)(3)  May provide other appropriate relief only for
1403violations of its that order which occurred before the effective
1404date of the modification.
1405     (3)(4)  Shall recognize the modifying order of the other
1406state, upon registration, for the purpose of enforcement.
1407     Section 54.  Section 88.6151, Florida Statutes, is created
1408to read:
1409     88.6151  Jurisdiction to modify child support order of
1410foreign country.-
1411     (1)  Except as otherwise provided in s. 88.7111, if a
1412foreign country lacks or refuses to exercise jurisdiction to
1413modify its child support order pursuant to its laws, a tribunal
1414of this state may assume jurisdiction to modify the child
1415support order and bind all individuals subject to the personal
1416jurisdiction of the tribunal whether the consent to modification
1417of a child support order otherwise required of the individual
1418pursuant to s. 88.6111 has been given or whether the individual
1419seeking modification is a resident of this state or of the
1420foreign country.
1421     (2)  An order issued by a tribunal of this state modifying
1422a foreign child support order pursuant to this section is the
1423controlling order.
1424     Section 55.  Section 88.6161, Florida Statutes, is created
1425to read:
1426     88.6161  Procedure to register child support order of
1427foreign country for modification.-A party or support enforcement
1428agency seeking to modify, or to modify and enforce, a foreign
1429child support order not under the convention may register that
1430order in this state under ss. 88.6011-88.6081 if the order has
1431not been registered. A petition for modification may be filed at
1432the same time as a request for registration, or at another time.
1433The petition must specify the grounds for modification.
1434     Section 56.  The Division of Statutory Revision is directed
1435to redesignate part VII of chapter 88, Florida Statutes, as
1436"SUPPORT PROCEEDING UNDER CONVENTION."
1437     Section 57.  Section 88.7011, Florida Statutes, is
1438repealed.
1439     Section 58.  Section 88.70111, Florida Statutes, is created
1440to read:
1441     88.70111  Definitions.-As used in this part, the term:
1442     (1)  "Application" means a request under the convention by
1443an obligee or obligor, or on behalf of a child, made through a
1444central authority for assistance from another central authority.
1445     (2)  "Central authority" means the entity designated by the
1446United States or a foreign country described in s. 88.102(5)(d)
1447to perform the functions specified in the convention.
1448     (3)  "Convention support order" means a support order of a
1449tribunal of a foreign country described in s. 88.102(5)(d).
1450     (4)  "Direct request" means a petition filed by an
1451individual in a tribunal of this state in a proceeding involving
1452an obligee, obligor, or child residing outside the United
1453States.
1454     (5)  "Foreign central authority" means the entity
1455designated by a foreign country described in s. 88.102(5)(d) to
1456perform the functions specified in the convention.
1457     (6)  "Foreign support agreement":
1458     (a)  Means an agreement for support in a record that:
1459     1.  Is enforceable as a support order in the country of
1460origin;
1461     2.  Has been:
1462     a.  Formally drawn up or registered as an authentic
1463instrument by a foreign tribunal; or
1464     b.  Authenticated by or concluded, registered, or filed
1465with a foreign tribunal; and
1466     3.  May be reviewed and modified by a foreign tribunal; and
1467     (b)  Includes a maintenance arrangement or authentic
1468instrument under the convention.
1469     (7)  "United States central authority" means the Secretary
1470of the United States Department of Health and Human Services.
1471     Section 59.  Section 88.7021, Florida Statutes, is created
1472to read:
1473     88.7021  Applicability.-This part applies only to a support
1474proceeding under the convention. In such a proceeding, if a
1475provision of this part is inconsistent with parts I through VI,
1476this part controls.
1477     Section 60.  Section 88.7031, Florida Statutes, is created
1478to read:
1479     88.7031  Relationship of Department of Revenue to United
1480States central authority.-The Department of Revenue is
1481recognized as the agency designated by the United States central
1482authority to perform specific functions under the convention.
1483     Section 61.  Section 88.7041, Florida Statutes, is created
1484to read:
1485     88.7041  Initiation by Department of Revenue of support
1486proceeding subject to convention.-
1487     (1)  In a proceeding subject to the convention, the
1488Department of Revenue shall:
1489     (a)  Transmit and receive applications; and
1490     (b)  Initiate or facilitate the institution of a proceeding
1491regarding an application in a tribunal of this state.
1492     (2)  The following support proceedings are available to an
1493obligee under the convention:
1494     (a)  Recognition or recognition and enforcement of a
1495foreign support order.
1496     (b)  Enforcement of a support order issued or recognized in
1497this state.
1498     (c)  Establishment of a support order if there is no
1499existing order, including, where necessary, determination of
1500parentage.
1501     (d)  Establishment of a support order if recognition of a
1502foreign support order is not possible or is refused because of
1503the lack of a basis for recognition and enforcement under s.
150488.7081 or on grounds specified in s. 88.7091(2) or s.
150588.7091(5).
1506     (e)  Modification of a support order made by a tribunal of
1507this state.
1508     (f)  Modification of a foreign support order.
1509     (3)  The following support proceedings are available under
1510the convention to an obligor against whom there is an existing
1511support order:
1512     (a)  Recognition of an order suspending or limiting
1513enforcement of an existing support order of a tribunal of this
1514state.
1515     (b)  Modification of a support order of a tribunal of this
1516state.
1517     (c)  Modification of a support order of a tribunal of
1518another state or foreign country.
1519     (4)  A tribunal of this state may not require security,
1520bond, or deposit, however described, to guarantee the payment of
1521costs and expenses in proceedings under the convention.
1522     Section 62.  Section 88.7051, Florida Statutes, is created
1523to read:
1524     88.7051  Direct request.-
1525     (1)  A petitioner may file a direct request in a tribunal
1526of this state seeking the establishment or modification of a
1527support order or determination of parentage. In such a
1528proceeding, the law of this state applies.
1529     (2)  A petitioner may file a direct request in a tribunal
1530of this state seeking the recognition and enforcement of a
1531support order or support agreement. In such a proceeding, the
1532provisions of ss. 88.7061-88.7121 apply.
1533     (3)  In a direct request for recognition and enforcement of
1534a foreign support order or agreement:
1535     (a)  No security, bond, or deposit shall be required to
1536guarantee the payment of costs and expenses related to the
1537proceedings; and
1538     (b)  The obligee or obligor, who in the issuing country has
1539benefited from free legal assistance, shall be entitled to
1540benefit, at least to the same extent, from any free legal
1541assistance provided for by the law of this state under the same
1542circumstances.
1543     (4)  An individual filing directly to a tribunal will not
1544receive assistance from the Department of Revenue.
1545     (5)  Nothing in this part prevents the application of laws
1546of this state that provide simplified, more expeditious rules
1547regarding a direct request for recognition and enforcement of a
1548foreign support order or support agreement.
1549     Section 63.  Section 88.7061, Florida Statutes, is created
1550to read:
1551     88.7061  Registration of support order subject to
1552convention.-
1553     (1)  Except as otherwise provided in this part, a party who
1554is an individual or a support enforcement agency seeking
1555recognition of a foreign support order subject to the convention
1556shall register the order in this state as provided in part VI of
1557this chapter.
1558     (2)  Notwithstanding ss. 88.3111 and 88.6021, a request for
1559registration of a foreign support order subject to the
1560convention shall be accompanied by the following:
1561     (a)  A complete text of the support order, or an abstract
1562or extract of the support order drawn up by the issuing foreign
1563tribunal, which may be in the form recommended by the Hague
1564Conference on Private International Law.
1565     (b)  A record stating that the support order is enforceable
1566in the issuing country.
1567     (c)  If the respondent did not appear and was not
1568represented in the proceedings in the issuing country, a record
1569attesting, as appropriate, either that the respondent had proper
1570notice of the proceedings and an opportunity to be heard, or
1571that the respondent had proper notice of the support order and
1572the opportunity to challenge or appeal it on fact and law.
1573     (d)  If necessary, a record showing the amount of any
1574arrears, and the date the amount was calculated.
1575     (e)  If necessary, a record showing a requirement for
1576automatic adjustment of the amount of support, if any, and the
1577information necessary to make the appropriate calculations.
1578     (f)  If necessary, a record showing the extent to which the
1579applicant received free legal assistance in the issuing country.
1580     (3)  A request for registration of a foreign support order
1581may seek recognition and partial enforcement of the order.
1582     (4)  A tribunal of this state may refuse to register a
1583foreign support order only if recognition and enforcement of the
1584order is manifestly incompatible with public policy.
1585     (5)  The tribunal shall promptly notify the parties of the
1586registration or the refusal to register a foreign support order.
1587     Section 64.  Section 88.7071, Florida Statutes, is created
1588to read:
1589     88.7071  Contest of validity of foreign support order
1590subject to convention.-
1591     (1)  Except as otherwise provided in this part, ss.
159288.6051-88.6081 apply to a contest of the validity of a
1593registered foreign support order subject to the convention.
1594     (2)  A party contesting the recognition and enforcement of
1595a registered foreign support order subject to the convention
1596must file a contest within 30 days after notice of the
1597registration unless the contesting party does not reside in the
1598United States or a state, in which case the contest must be
1599filed within 60 days after notice.
1600     (3)  A contest of a registered foreign support order may be
1601based only on:
1602     (a)  The authenticity or integrity of any record
1603transmitted in accordance with s. 88.7061;
1604     (b)  The lack of a basis for enforcement under s. 88.7081;
1605     (c)  The grounds for refusing enforcement under s. 88.7091;
1606or
1607     (d)  The payment in part or in whole of the alleged
1608arrears.
1609     (4)  In a contest of the validity of a registered foreign
1610support order, a tribunal of this state:
1611     (a)  Is bound by the findings of fact on which the foreign
1612tribunal based its jurisdiction; and
1613     (b)  May not review the merits of the support order.
1614     (5)  A tribunal of this state deciding a contest of the
1615validity of a registered foreign support order shall promptly
1616notify the parties of its decision.
1617     (6)  An appeal, if any, does not stay the enforcement of a
1618foreign support order unless there are exceptional
1619circumstances.
1620     Section 65.  Section 88.7081, Florida Statutes, is created
1621to read:
1622     88.7081  Recognition and enforcement of foreign support
1623order subject to convention.-
1624     (1)  A tribunal of this state shall recognize and enforce a
1625foreign support order subject to the convention if:
1626     (a)  The issuing tribunal had personal jurisdiction
1627consistent with s. 88.2011; and
1628     (b)  The order is enforceable in the issuing country.
1629     (2)  If a tribunal of this state may not recognize a
1630foreign support order because under similar facts the tribunal
1631would not have had personal jurisdiction consistent with s.
163288.2011:
1633     (a)  The tribunal must allow a reasonable time for a party
1634to request the tribunal to establish a support order;
1635     (b)  The tribunal may not use its refusal to recognize the
1636foreign support order as a basis for dismissing the request;
1637     (c)  The Department of Revenue shall take all appropriate
1638measures to request a child support order for the obligee if the
1639application for recognition and enforcement was received under
1640s. 88.7041(1).
1641     (3)  If a tribunal of this state may not recognize and
1642enforce the whole of a foreign support order, it shall enforce
1643any severable part of the order. An application or direct
1644request may seek recognition and partial enforcement of a
1645foreign support order.
1646     Section 66.  Section 88.7091, Florida Statutes, is created
1647to read:
1648     88.7091  Refusal of recognition and enforcement of foreign
1649support order subject to convention.-A tribunal of this state
1650may refuse recognition and enforcement of a foreign support
1651order subject to the convention if:
1652     (1)  Recognition and enforcement of the order is manifestly
1653incompatible with public policy;
1654     (2)  The order was obtained by fraud in connection with a
1655matter of procedure;
1656     (3)  A proceeding between the same parties and having the
1657same purpose is pending before a tribunal of this state and that
1658proceeding was the first to be instituted;
1659     (4)  The order is incompatible with a more recent support
1660order issued between the same parties and having the same
1661purpose if the more recent support order is entitled to
1662recognition and enforcement in this state;
1663     (5)  In a case in which the respondent neither appeared nor
1664was represented in the proceeding in the issuing foreign country
1665when the law of the country:
1666     (a)  Provides for notice of proceedings, the respondent did
1667not have proper notice of the proceedings and an opportunity to
1668be heard; or
1669     (b)  Does not provide for notice of the proceedings, the
1670respondent did not have proper notice of the order and the
1671opportunity to challenge or appeal it on fact and law; or
1672     (6)  The order was made in violation of s. 88.7111.
1673     Section 67.  Section 88.7101, Florida Statutes, is created
1674to read:
1675     88.7101  Foreign support agreement subject to convention.-
1676     (1)  Except as provided in subsections (3) and (4), a
1677tribunal of this state shall recognize and enforce a foreign
1678support agreement registered in this state.
1679     (2)  An application or direct request for recognition and
1680enforcement of a foreign support agreement shall be accompanied
1681by the following:
1682     (a)  A complete text of the foreign support agreement.
1683     (b)  A record stating that the foreign support agreement is
1684enforceable as a decision in the issuing country.
1685     (3)  A tribunal of this state may refuse to register a
1686foreign support agreement only if registration is manifestly
1687incompatible with public policy.
1688     (4)  A tribunal of this state may refuse recognition and
1689enforcement of a foreign support agreement if it finds:
1690     (a)  Recognition and enforcement of the agreement is
1691manifestly incompatible with public policy;
1692     (b)  The agreement was obtained by fraud or falsification;
1693     (c)  The agreement is incompatible with a support order
1694issued between the same parties and having the same purpose,
1695either in this state, another state, or a foreign country if the
1696support order is entitled to recognition in this state; or
1697     (d)  The record submitted under subsection (2) lacks
1698authenticity or integrity.
1699     (5)  A proceeding for recognition and enforcement of a
1700foreign support agreement shall be suspended during the pendency
1701of a challenge to the agreement before a tribunal of another
1702state or foreign country.
1703     Section 68.  Section 88.7111, Florida Statutes, is created
1704to read:
1705     88.7111  Modification of foreign child support order
1706subject to convention.-
1707     (1)  A tribunal of this state may not modify a foreign
1708child support order if the obligee remains a resident of the
1709foreign country where the support order was issued unless:
1710     (a)  The obligee submits to the jurisdiction of a tribunal
1711of this state, either expressly or by defending on the merits of
1712the case without objecting to the jurisdiction at the first
1713available opportunity; or
1714     (b)  The foreign tribunal lacks or refuses to exercise
1715jurisdiction to modify its support order or issue a new support
1716order.
1717     (2)  If a tribunal of this state does not modify the
1718foreign child support order because the order may not be
1719recognized in this state, the provisions of s. 88.7081 apply.
1720     Section 69.  Section 88.7121, Florida Statutes, is created
1721to read:
1722     88.7121  Jurisdiction to modify spousal support order of
1723foreign country.-A tribunal of this state with personal
1724jurisdiction over the parties may modify a spousal support order
1725of a foreign tribunal if:
1726     (1)  The foreign tribunal lacks or refuses to exercise
1727jurisdiction to modify its order pursuant to its laws;
1728     (2)  There is agreement in writing between the parties to
1729the jurisdiction of the tribunal of this state; or
1730     (3)  The parties submit to the jurisdiction of the tribunal
1731of this state expressly or by defending on the merits without
1732objecting.
1733     Section 70.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section
173488.8011, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1735     88.8011  Grounds for rendition.-
1736     (2)  The Governor of this state may:
1737     (b)  On the demand of by the Governor of another state,
1738surrender an individual found in this state who is charged
1739criminally in the other state with having failed to provide for
1740the support of an obligee.
1741     Section 71.  Section 88.9011, Florida Statutes, is amended
1742to read:
1743     88.9011  Uniformity of application and construction.-In
1744applying and construing this uniform act, consideration must be
1745given to the need to promote uniformity of This act shall be
1746applied and construed to effectuate its general purpose to make
1747uniform the law with respect to its the subject matter of this
1748act among states that enact enacting it.
1749     Section 72.  Section 88.9031, Florida Statutes, is amended
1750to read:
1751     88.9031  Severability clause.-If any provision of this act
1752or its application to any person or circumstance is held
1753invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or
1754applications of this act which can be given effect without the
1755invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions
1756of this act are severable.
1757     Section 73.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (7) of section
175861.13, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1759     61.13  Support of children; parenting and time-sharing;
1760powers of court.-
1761     (7)(a)  Each party to any paternity or support proceeding
1762is required to file with the tribunal as defined in s.
176388.1011(22) and State Case Registry upon entry of an order, and
1764to update as appropriate, information on location and identity
1765of the party, including social security number, residential and
1766mailing addresses, telephone number, driver's license number,
1767and name, address, and telephone number of employer. Each party
1768to any paternity or child support proceeding in a non-Title IV-D
1769case shall meet the above requirements for updating the tribunal
1770and State Case Registry.
1771     Section 74.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (5) of section
1772827.06, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1773     827.06  Nonsupport of dependents.-
1774     (5)
1775     (b)  The element of knowledge may be proven by evidence
1776that a court or tribunal as defined by s. 88.1011(22) has
1777entered an order that obligates the defendant to provide the
1778support.
1779     Section 75.  Upon the passage of this bill, the Department
1780of Revenue is directed to apply for a waiver from the Federal
1781Office of Child Support Enforcement pursuant to the state plan
1782requirement under Title IV-D of the Social Security Act.
1783     Section 76.  This act shall take effect upon the earlier of
178490 days following Congress amending 42 U.S.C. s. 666(f) to allow
1785or require states to adopt the 2008 version of the Uniform
1786Interstate Family Support Act, or 90 days following the state
1787obtaining a waiver of its state plan requirement under Title IV-
1788D of the Social Security Act.


CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.