May 7, 2003, Introduced by Reps. Lipsey, Bieda, Elkins, Hunter, Murphy, Kolb, Williams, Dennis, Garfield, Howell, Tobocman, Kooiman, Gleason, Whitmer, Caswell, Plakas and Adamini and referred to the Committee on Family and Children Services.
A bill to amend 1971 PA 174, entitled
"Office of child support act,"
(MCL 400.231 to 400.240) by adding section 3b.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
1 Sec. 3b. (1) If an individual who is obligated to pay child
2 support has past due child support, the office shall waive all
3 criminal and civil penalties provided by law for failing or
4 refusing to pay the past due child support if the individual who
5 is obligated to pay child support makes a written request for a
6 waiver and makes full payment of the past due child support, as
7 provided in this section.
8 (2) For a period to be designated by the office of not less
9 than 30 days and not more than 60 days, and ending before
10 February 1, 2004, there shall be an amnesty period during which
11 the office shall waive all criminal and civil penalties provided
1 by law for failing or refusing to pay past due child support if
2 the individual who is obligated to pay child support makes a
3 written request for a waiver, and makes a payment in either a
4 lump sum or installments as provided under subsection (7), equal
5 to 50% of the outstanding past due child support.
6 (3) This section applies to the nonpayment of child support
7 previously determined to be due, but only to the extent of the
8 criminal and civil penalties on the past due child support
9 attributable to the child support that was previously due and
10 that is paid during the amnesty period provided for in subsection
11 (2).
12 (4) The office shall administer this section.
13 (5) Subsection (2) does not apply to child support due after
14 October 1, 2003.
15 (6) The office shall provide reasonable notice to individuals
16 who owe past due child support who may be eligible for the
17 amnesty program at least 30 days before the start of the
18 designated amnesty period. Notification shall include, but is
19 not limited to, a description of the amnesty program in notices
20 about past due child support and on the internet.
21 (7) Under the amnesty program described in subsection (2), an
22 individual who is obligated to pay child support may pay past due
23 child support in installments if the individual submits 50% of
24 the past due child support due with the request for waiver under
25 subsection (2) and pays the remaining past due child support due
26 in 2 equal installments, the first installment due no later than
27 December 15, 2003 and the second installment due no later than
1 January 15, 2004.