HB-4772, As Passed Senate, June 23, 2004                                    

SENATE SUBSTITUTE FOR

HOUSE BILL NO. 4772

                                                                             A bill to amend 1982 PA 295, entitled                                             

"Support and parenting time enforcement act,"                               

by amending sections 7, 13, 27, 33, 35, and 42a (MCL 552.607,               

552.613, 552.627, 552.633, 552.635, and 552.642a), section 7 as             

amended by 2002 PA 572, section 13 as amended by 1998 PA 334,               

section 27 as amended by 2001 PA 106, sections 33 and 35 as                 

amended by 2002 PA 567, and section 42a as added by 2002 PA 568.            

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

1       Sec. 7.  (1) For a friend of the court case, if income                      

2   withholding is not immediately effective and the arrearage under            

3   a support order reaches the arrearage amount that requires the              

4   initiation of 1 or more support enforcement measures as provided            

5   in section 11 of the friend of the court act, MCL 552.511, or, if           

6   the amount of income withholding is administratively adjusted for           

7   arrears under section 17e of the friend of the court act, MCL               

1   552.517e, the office of the friend of the court immediately shall           

2   send notice of the arrearage to the payer by ordinary mail to his           

3   or her last known address.  The notice to the payer shall contain           

4   the following information:                                                  

5       (a) The amount of the arrearage.                                            

6       (b) One or both of the following:                                           

7                                                                                (i) That the payer's income is subject to income withholding                        

8   and the amount to be withheld.                                              

9   (ii) That the payer's income withholding is being                            

10  administratively adjusted and the amount of the adjustment.

11      (c) That income withholding will be applied to current and                  

12  subsequent employers and periods of employment and other sources            

13  of income.                                                                  

14      (d) That the order of income withholding is effective and                   

15  notice to withhold income will be sent to the payer's source of             

16  income.                                                                     

17      (e) That the payer may request a hearing under subsection (4)               

18  in writing within 21 days after the date of the notice to contest           

19  the withholding, but only on the grounds that the withholding is            

20  not proper because of a mistake of fact concerning the amount of            

21  current or overdue support or the identity of the payer, and if             

22  the notice includes an administrative adjustment of arrears, that           

23  the administrative adjustment will cause an unjust or                       

24  inappropriate result.                                                       

25      (f) That if the hearing is held before a referee, the payer                 

26  has a right to a de novo hearing before a circuit court judge.              

27  The place where a request for hearing under subsection (4) shall            

1   be filed.

2       (g) That if the payer believes that the amount of support                   

3   should be modified due to a change in circumstances, the payer              

4   may file a petition with the court for modification of the                  

5   support order.                                                              

6       (2) A copy of the notice provided for in subsection (1) shall               

7   be sent by ordinary mail to each recipient of support.                      

8       (3) A payer to whom notice is sent under subsection (1),                    

9   within 21 days after the date on which the notice was sent, may             

10  request a hearing by filing a request for hearing as provided in            

11  the notice and serving a copy on the other party.  A hearing                

12  concerning implementation of income withholding that was not                

13  previously effective may be requested only on the grounds that              

14  the withholding is not proper because of a mistake of fact                  

15  concerning the amount of current or overdue support or the                  

16  identity of the payer.                                                      

17      (4)  A If a payer requests a hearing under subsection (3),                 

18  the notice and request shall be filed with the court clerk as a             

19  motion contesting the proposed action and a referee or circuit              

20  judge shall hold a hearing  requested under this section  within            

21  14 days after the date of the request.  If at the hearing the               

22  payer establishes that the withholding is not proper because of a           

23  mistake of fact concerning the amount of current or overdue                 

24  support or the identity of the payer,  the referee or circuit               

25  judge may direct that the order of income withholding be                    

26  rescinded until such time as the referee or judge determines or            

27  that periodic implementation of an administrative adjustment of             

1   the amount of the periodic payment of arrears to be withheld will           

2   cause an unjust or inappropriate result, the income withholding             

3   shall be modified or rescinded according to the guidelines                  

4   established under section 19 of the friend of the court act, MCL            

5   552.519.                                                                    

6       (5) If the hearing provided under subsection (4) is held                    

7   before a referee, either party may request a de novo hearing as             

8   provided in section 7 of the friend of the court act,                       

9   MCL 552.507.                                                                

10      (6) If a petition for modification of the support order is                  

11  filed by or on behalf of a payer and is pending at the date                 

12  scheduled for a hearing under subsection (4), the court may                 

13  consolidate the hearing under subsection (4) and a hearing on the           

14  petition for modification.                                                  

15      (7) All proceedings under this section shall be completed                   

16  within 45 days after the date that notice was sent under                    

17  subsection (1), unless otherwise permitted by the court upon a              

18  showing of good cause.                                                      

19  (8) The friend of the court office may review the objection                 

20  administratively before a hearing is held before a referee or               

21  judge.  If the friend of the court office reviews the objection             

22  administratively, either party may object and a hearing shall be            

23  held before a referee or judge.

24      Sec. 13.  The court may find a source of income in contempt,                

25  require the source of income to pay an amount according to                  

26  section 11a(2) if the terms of that section have been satisfied,

27  and fine the source of income if the source of income is served             

1   with a notice of income withholding and fails to comply with the            

2   notice or to pay withheld amounts to the friend of the court                

3   after the order becomes binding under section 11.  The IV-D                 

4   agency is responsible for initiating contempt proceedings under             

5   this section.  Contempt proceedings under this section may be               

6   initiated in any county with jurisdiction over the source of                

7   income.

8       Sec. 27.  (1)  The Under the Michigan court rules, the

9   circuit court may take other enforcement action under applicable            

10  laws, including, but not limited to, the following:                         

11      (a) 1846 RS 84, MCL 552.1 to 552.45.                                        

12      (b) 1913 PA 379, MCL 552.151 to  552.155 552.156.                          

13      (c) The family support act, 1966 PA 138, MCL 552.451 to                     

14  552.459.                                                                    

15      (d) Section 1701 of the revised judicature act of 1961, 1961                

16  PA 236, MCL 600.1701.                                                       

17      (e) 1968 PA 293, MCL 722.1 to 722.6.                                        

18      (f) The child custody act of 1970, 1970 PA 91, MCL 722.21 to                

19  722.30 722.31.                                                            

20      (g) The paternity act, 1956 PA 205, MCL 722.711 to 722.730.                 

21      (2) Even if another act of this state provides that this act                

22  applies to support orders issued under the other act, if that               

23  other act contains a specific provision regarding the contents or           

24  enforcement of the support order that conflicts with this act,              

25  the other act controls in regard to that provision.                         

26  (3) Nothing in this section authorizes the IV-D agency to                   

27  pursue enforcement action under applicable laws except as                   

1   otherwise specifically authorized by statute or court rule.

2       Sec. 33.  (1) The court may find a payer in contempt if the                 

3   court finds that the payer is in arrears and if the court is                

4   satisfied that the payer has the capacity to pay out of currently           

5   available resources all or some portion of the amount due under             

6   the support order.  In the absence of proofs to the contrary                

7   introduced by the payer, the court shall presume that the payer             

8   has currently available resources equal to 4 weeks of payments              

9   under the support order.  The court shall not find that the payer           

10  has currently available resources of more than 4 weeks of                   

11  payments without proof of those resources by the office of the              

12  friend of the court or the recipient of support.  Upon finding a            

13  payer in contempt of court under this section, the court may                

14  immediately enter an order doing 1 or more of the following:                

15      (a) Committing the payer to the county jail.                                

16      (b) Committing the payer to the county jail with the                        

17  privilege of leaving the jail during the hours the court                    

18  determines, and under the supervision the court considers,                  

19  necessary for the purpose of allowing the payer to go to and                

20  return from his or her place of employment.                                 

21      (c) Committing the payer to a penal or correctional facility                

22  in this state that is not operated by the state department of               

23  corrections.                                                                

24      (d) If the payer holds an occupational license, driver's                    

25  license, or recreational or sporting license, conditioning a                

26  suspension of the payer's license, or any combination of the                

27  licenses, upon noncompliance with an order for payment of the               

1   arrearage in 1 or more scheduled installments of a sum certain.             

2   A court shall not order the sanction authorized by this                     

3   subdivision unless the court finds that the payer has accrued an            

4   arrearage of support payments in an amount greater than the                 

5   amount of periodic support payments payable for 2 months under              

6   the payer's support order.                                                  

7       (e) Ordering the payer to participate in a work activity.                   

8   This subdivision does not alter the court's authority to include            

9   provisions in an order issued under this section concerning a               

10  payer's employment or his or her seeking of employment as that              

11  authority exists on August 10, 1998.                                        

12      (f) If available within the court's jurisdiction, order the                 

13  payer to participate in a community corrections program                     

14  established as provided in the community corrections act, 1988              

15  PA 511, MCL 791.401 to 791.414.                                             

16  (g) Except as provided by federal law and regulations,                      

17  ordering the parent to pay a fine of not more than $100.00.  A              

18  fine ordered under this subdivision shall be deposited in the               

19  friend of the court fund created in section 2530 of the revised             

20  judicature act of 1961, 1961 PA 236, MCL 600.2530.

21      (2) If the court enters an order under subsection (1)(d) and                

22  the payer fails to comply with the arrearage payment schedule,              

23  after notice and opportunity for a hearing, the court shall order           

24  suspension of the payer's license or licenses with respect to               

25  which the order under subsection (1)(d) was entered and shall               

26  proceed under section 30.                                                   

27      Sec. 35.  (1) The court may find a payer in contempt if the                 

1   court finds that the payer is in arrears and  if the 1 of the              

2   following:                                                                  

3       (a) The court is satisfied that by the exercise of diligence                

4   the payer could have the capacity to pay all or some portion of             

5   the amount due under the support order and that the payer fails             

6   or refuses to do so.                                                        

7   (b) The payer has failed to obtain a source of income and has               

8   failed to participate in a work activity after referral by the              

9   friend of the court.

10      (2) Upon finding a payer in contempt of court under this                    

11  section, the court  may immediately enter an order doing shall,            

12  absent good cause to the contrary, immediately order the payer to           

13  participate in a work activity and may also do 1 or more of the             

14  following:                                                                  

15      (a)  Committing Commit the payer to the county jail with the               

16  privilege of leaving the jail during the hours the court                    

17  determines, and under the supervision the court considers,                  

18  necessary for the purpose of allowing the payer to  go to and               

19  return from his or her place of employment or, if the person                

20  wishes to seek employment, to seek employment participate in a             

21  work activity.                                                              

22      (b) If the payer holds an occupational license, driver's                    

23  license, or recreational or sporting license,  conditioning

24  condition a suspension of the payer's license, or  any a

25  combination of the licenses, upon noncompliance with an order for           

26  payment of the arrearage in 1 or more scheduled installments of a           

27  sum certain.  A court shall not order the sanction authorized by            

1   this subdivision unless the court finds that the payer has                  

2   accrued an arrearage of support payments in an amount greater               

3   than the amount of periodic support payments payable for 2 months           

4   under the payer's support order.                                            

5   (c) Ordering the payer to participate in a work activity.                   

6   This subdivision does not alter the court's authority to include            

7   provisions in an order issued under this section concerning a               

8   payer's employment or his or her seeking of employment as that              

9   authority exists on August 10, 1998.

10  (c)  (d)  If available within the court's jurisdiction, order               

11  the payer to participate in a community corrections program                 

12  established as provided in the community corrections act, 1988              

13  PA 511, MCL 791.401 to 791.414.                                             

14  (d) Except as provided by federal law and regulations, order                

15  the parent to pay a fine of not more than $100.00.  A fine                  

16  ordered under this subdivision shall be deposited in the friend             

17  of the court fund created in section 2530 of the revised                    

18  judicature act of 1961, 1961 PA 236, MCL 600.2530.

19      (3) Notwithstanding the length of commitment imposed under                  

20  this section, the court may release a payer who is unemployed               

21  when if committed to a county jail under this section and who             

22  finds employment if either of the following applies:                        

23      (a) The payer is self-employed, completes 2 consecutive weeks               

24  at his or her employment, and makes a support payment as required           

25  by the court.                                                               

26      (b) The payer is employed and completes 2 consecutive weeks                 

27  at his or her employment and an order of income withholding is              

1   effective.                                                                  

2       (4) If the court enters an order under subsection (2)(b) and                

3   the payer fails to comply with the arrearage payment schedule,              

4   after notice and an opportunity for a hearing, the court shall              

5   order suspension of the payer's license or licenses with respect            

6   to which the order under subsection (2)(b) was entered and shall            

7   proceed under section 30.                                                   

8       Sec. 42a.  (1) A joint meeting scheduled by the office of                   

9   the friend of the court under section 41 of this act or section             

10  17 of the friend of the court act, MCL 552.517, and procedures              

11  following a joint meeting are governed by this section.                     

12      (2) A joint meeting may take place in person or by means of                 

13  telecommunications equipment.                                               

14      (3) Only an individual who completes the training program                   

15  described in section 19(3)(b) of the friend of the court act,               

16  1982 PA 294,  MCL 552.519, shall conduct a joint meeting.  At              

17  the beginning of a joint meeting, the individual conducting the             

18  joint meeting shall do the following:                                       

19      (a) Advise the parties that the purpose of the meeting is for               

20  the parties to reach an accommodation.                                      

21      (b) Advise the parties that the individual may recommend an                 

22  order that the court may issue to resolve the dispute.                      

23      (4) At the conclusion of a joint meeting, the individual                    

24  conducting the joint meeting shall do 1 of the following:                   

25      (a) If the parties reach an accommodation, record the                       

26  accommodation in writing and provide a copy to each party.                  

27      (b) Submit an order to the court stating the individual's                   

1   recommendation for resolving the dispute.                                   

2       (5) If the individual conducting a joint meeting submits a                  

3   recommended order to the court under subsection (4), the                    

4   individual shall send a notice to each party who participated in            

5   the joint meeting that includes all of the following:                       

6       (a) A copy of the recommended order.                                        

7       (b) Notice that the court may issue the recommended order                   

8   resolving the dispute unless a party objects to the order within            

9   21 days after the notice is sent.                                           

10      (c) The place where and time when a written objection can be                

11  submitted.                                                                  

12      (d) Notice that a party may waive the 21-day objection period               

13  by returning a signed copy of the recommendation.                           

14      (6) If a party files a written objection within the 21-day                  

15  limit, the office shall set a court hearing, before a judge or              

16  referee, to resolve the dispute.  If a party fails to file a                

17  written objection within the 21-day limit, the office shall                 

18  submit the proposed order to the court for entry if the court               

19  approves it.                                                                

20      (7) If a hearing under subsection (6) is held before a                      

21  referee, either party is entitled to a de novo hearing before a             

22  judge as provided in section 7 of the friend of the court act,              

23  MCL 552.507.                                                                

24      Enacting section 1.  This amendatory act takes effect                       

25  February 28, 2005.