HF 892

as introduced - 88th Legislature (2013 - 2014) Posted on 04/23/2014 11:48am

A bill for an act
relating to families; updating the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act;
amending Minnesota Statutes 2012, sections 518C.101; 518C.102; 518C.103;
518C.201; 518C.202; 518C.203; 518C.204; 518C.205; 518C.206; 518C.207;
518C.208; 518C.209; 518C.301; 518C.303; 518C.304; 518C.305; 518C.306;
518C.307; 518C.308; 518C.310; 518C.311; 518C.312; 518C.313; 518C.314;
518C.316; 518C.317; 518C.318; 518C.319; 518C.401; 518C.501; 518C.503;
518C.504; 518C.505; 518C.506; 518C.508; 518C.601; 518C.602; 518C.603;
518C.604; 518C.605; 518C.606; 518C.607; 518C.608; 518C.609; 518C.610;
518C.611; 518C.612; 518C.613; 518C.701; 518C.801; 518C.902; proposing
coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 518C; repealing Minnesota
Statutes 2012, section 518C.502.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 518C.101, is amended to read:

518C.101 DEFINITIONS.

In this chapter:

(a) "Child" means an individual, whether over or under the age of majority, who is
or is alleged to be owed a duty of support by the individual's parent or who is or is alleged
to be the beneficiary of a support order directed to the parent.

(b) "Child support order" means a support order for a child, including a child who
has attained the age of majority under the law of the issuing state or foreign country.

(c) "Convention" means the Convention on the International Recovery of Child
Support and Other Forms of Family Maintenance, concluded at The Hague on November
23, 2007.

(d) "Duty of support" means an obligation imposed or imposable by law to provide
support for a child, spouse, or former spouse, including an unsatisfied obligation to
provide support.

(e) "Foreign country" means a country, including a political subdivision thereof,
other than the United States, that authorizes the issuance of support orders and:

(1) that has been declared under the law of the United States to be a foreign
reciprocating country;

(2) that has established a reciprocal arrangement for child support with this state
as provided in section 518C.308;

(3) that has enacted a law or established procedures for the issuance and enforcement
of support orders which are substantially similar to the procedures under this chapter; or

(4) in which the convention is in force with respect to the United States.

(f) "Foreign support order" means a support order of a foreign tribunal.

(g) "Foreign tribunal" means a court, administrative agency, or quasi-judicial entity
of a foreign country which is authorized to establish, enforce, or modify support orders
or to determine parentage of a child. The term includes a competent authority under
the convention.

(d) (h) "Home state" means the state or foreign country in which a child lived with
a parent or a person acting as parent for at least six consecutive months immediately
preceding the time of filing of a petition or comparable pleading for support and, if a
child is less than six months old, the state or foreign country in which the child lived
from birth with any of them. A period of temporary absence of any of them is counted
as part of the six-month or other period.

(e) (i) "Income" includes earnings or other periodic entitlements to money from any
source and any other property subject to withholding for support under the law of this state.

(f) (j) "Income-withholding order" means an order or other legal process directed
to an obligor's employer or other debtor under section 518A.53, to withhold support
from the income of the obligor.

(g) "Initiating state" means a state from which a proceeding is forwarded or in which
a proceeding is filed for forwarding to a responding state under this chapter or a law or
procedure substantially similar to this chapter, or under a law or procedure substantially
similar to the Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act or the Revised Uniform
Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act.

(h) (k) "Initiating tribunal" means the authorized tribunal in an initiating of a state. or
foreign country from which a petition or comparable pleading is forwarded or in which a
petition or comparable pleading is filed for forwarding to another state or foreign country.

(l) "Issuing foreign country" means the foreign country in which a tribunal issues a
support order or a judgment determining parentage of a child.

(i) (m) "Issuing state" means the state in which a tribunal issues a support order or
renders a judgment determining parentage of a child.

(j) (n) "Issuing tribunal" means the tribunal of a state or foreign country that issues a
support order or renders a judgment determining parentage of a child.

(k) (o) "Law" includes decisional and statutory law and rules and regulations having
the force of law.

(l) (p) "Obligee" means:

(1) an individual to whom a duty of support is or is alleged to be owed or in whose
favor a support order has been issued or a judgment determining parentage of a child
has been rendered issued;

(2) a foreign country, state, or political subdivision of a state to which the rights under
a duty of support or support order have been assigned or which has independent claims
based on financial assistance provided to an individual obligee in place of child support; or

(3) an individual seeking a judgment determining parentage of the individual's
child.; or

(4) a person that is a creditor in a proceeding under sections 518C.701 to 518C.713.

(m) (q) "Obligor" means an individual, or the estate of a decedent that:

(1) who owes or is alleged to owe a duty of support;

(2) who is alleged but has not been adjudicated to be a parent of a child; or

(3) who is liable under a support order.; or

(4) is a debtor in a proceeding under section 518C.701 to 518C.713.

(r) "Outside this state" means a location in another state or a country other than the
United States, whether or not the country is a foreign country.

(s) "Person" means an individual, corporation, business trust, estate, trust,
partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture, public corporation,
government or governmental subdivision, agency, or instrumentality, or any other legal or
commercial entity.

(t) "Record" means information that is inscribed on a tangible medium or that is
stored in an electronic or other medium and is retrievable in perceivable form.

(n) (u) "Register" means to file in a tribunal of this state a support order or judgment
determining parentage in the office of the court administrator of a child issued in another
state or a foreign country.

(o) (v) "Registering tribunal" means a tribunal in which a support order or judgment
determining parentage of a child is registered.

(p) (w) "Responding state" means a state in which a proceeding petition or comparable
pleading for support or to determine parentage of a child is filed or to which a proceeding
petition or comparable pleading is forwarded for filing from an initiating another state
under this chapter or a law or procedure substantially similar to this chapter, or under a
law or procedure substantially similar to the Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support
Act or the Revised Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act or a foreign country.

(q) (x) "Responding tribunal" means the authorized tribunal in a responding state
or foreign country.

(r) (y) "Spousal support order" means a support order for a spouse or former spouse
of the obligor.

(s) (z) "State" means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto
Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, or any territory or insular possession subject to
under the jurisdiction of the United States. "State" includes:

(1) an Indian nation or tribe; and.

(2) a foreign jurisdiction that has enacted a law or established procedures for
issuance and enforcement of support orders that are substantially similar to the procedures
under this chapter or the procedures under the Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of
Support Act or the Revised Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act.

(t) (aa) "Support enforcement agency" means a public official, governmental entity,
or private agency authorized to:

(1) seek enforcement of support orders or laws relating to the duty of support;

(2) seek establishment or modification of child support;

(3) seek request determination of parentage of a child; or

(4) attempt to locate obligors or their assets; or

(5) request determination of the controlling child support order.

(u) (bb) "Support order" means a judgment, decree, or order, decision, or directive
whether temporary, final, or subject to modification, issued in a state or foreign country for
the benefit of a child, spouse, or former spouse, which provides for monetary support,
health care, arrearages, retroactive support, or reimbursement, and for financial assistance
provided to an individual obligee in place of child support. The term may include related
costs and fees, interest, income withholding, automatic adjustment, reasonable attorney's
fees, and other relief.

(v) (cc) "Tribunal" means a court, administrative agency, or quasi-judicial entity
authorized to establish, enforce, or modify support orders or to determine parentage of a
child.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 518C.102, is amended to read:

518C.102 STATE TRIBUNAL OF THIS STATE AND SUPPORT
ENFORCEMENT AGENCY.

(a) A court, administrative agency, or quasi-judicial entity authorized to establish,
enforce, or modify support orders or to determine parentage of a child are tribunals of
this state.

(b) The Department of Human Services and county enforcement agencies are the
support enforcement agencies of this state.

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 518C.103, is amended to read:

518C.103 REMEDIES CUMULATIVE.

(a) Remedies provided by this chapter are cumulative and do not affect the
availability of remedies under other law or the recognition of a foreign support order on
the basis of comity.

(b) This chapter does not:

(1) provide the exclusive method of establishing or enforcing a support order under
the law of this state; or

(2) grant a tribunal of this state jurisdiction to render judgment or issue an order
relating to child custody or parenting time in a proceeding under this chapter.

Sec. 4.

[518C.105] APPLICATION OF CHAPTER TO RESIDENT OF
FOREIGN COUNTRY AND FOREIGN SUPPORT PROCEEDING.

(a) A tribunal of this state shall apply sections 518C.101 to 518C.616 and, as
applicable, sections 518C.701 to 518C.713, to a support proceeding involving:

(1) a foreign support order;

(2) a foreign tribunal; or

(3) an obligee, obligor, or child residing in a foreign country.

(b) A tribunal of this state that is requested to recognize and enforce a support order
on the basis of comity may apply the procedural and substantive provisions of sections
518C.101 to 518C.616.

(c) Sections 518C.701 to 518C.713 apply only to a support proceeding under the
convention. In such a proceeding, if a provision of sections 518C.701 to 518C.713 is
inconsistent with sections 518C.101 to 518C.616, sections 518C.701 to 518C.713 control.

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 518C.201, is amended to read:

518C.201 BASES FOR JURISDICTION OVER NONRESIDENT.

(a) In a proceeding to establish, enforce, or modify a support order or to determine
parentage of a child, a tribunal of this state may exercise personal jurisdiction over a
nonresident individual or the individual's guardian or conservator if:

(1) the individual is personally served with a summons or comparable document
within this state;

(2) the individual submits to the jurisdiction of this state by consent, by entering a
general appearance, or by filing a responsive document having the effect of waiving any
contest to personal jurisdiction;

(3) the individual resided with the child in this state;

(4) the individual resided in this state and provided prenatal expenses or support
for the child;

(5) the child resides in this state as a result of the acts or directives of the individual;

(6) the individual engaged in sexual intercourse in this state and the child may have
been conceived by that act of intercourse;

(7) the individual asserted parentage of a child under sections 257.51 to 257.75; or

(8) there is any other basis consistent with the constitutions of this state and the
United States for the exercise of personal jurisdiction.

(b) The bases of personal jurisdiction in paragraph (a) or in any other law of this state
may not be used to acquire personal jurisdiction for a tribunal of this state to modify a child
support order of another state unless the requirements of section 518C.611 are met, or, in
the case of a foreign support order, unless the requirements of section 518C.615 are met.

Sec. 6.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 518C.202, is amended to read:

518C.202 PROCEDURE WHEN EXERCISING DURATION OF PERSONAL
JURISDICTION OVER NONRESIDENT.

A tribunal of this state exercising personal jurisdiction over a nonresident under
section 518C.201 may apply section 518C.316 to receive evidence from another state,
and section 518C.318 to obtain discovery through a tribunal of another state. In all other
respects, sections 518C.301 to 518C.701 do not apply and the tribunal shall apply the
procedural and substantive law of this state, including the rules on choice of law other
than those established by this chapter. Personal jurisdiction acquired by a tribunal of this
state in a proceeding under this chapter or other law of this state relating to a support
order continues as long as a tribunal of this state has continuing, exclusive jurisdiction
to modify its order or continuing jurisdiction to enforce its order as provided by sections
518C.205, 518C.206, and 518C.211.

Sec. 7.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 518C.203, is amended to read:

518C.203 INITIATING AND RESPONDING TRIBUNAL OF THIS STATE.

Under this chapter, a tribunal of this state may serve as an initiating tribunal to
forward proceedings to a tribunal of another state and as a responding tribunal for
proceedings initiated in another state or a foreign country.

Sec. 8.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 518C.204, is amended to read:

518C.204 SIMULTANEOUS PROCEEDINGS IN ANOTHER STATE.

(a) A tribunal of this state may exercise jurisdiction to establish a support order if the
petition or comparable pleading is filed after a petition or comparable pleading is filed in
another state or a foreign country only if:

(1) the petition or comparable pleading in this state is filed before the expiration of
the time allowed in the other state or the foreign country for filing a responsive pleading
challenging the exercise of jurisdiction by the other state or the foreign country;

(2) the contesting party timely challenges the exercise of jurisdiction in the other
state or the foreign country; and

(3) if relevant, this state is the home state of the child.

(b) A tribunal of this state may not exercise jurisdiction to establish a support order
if the petition or comparable pleading is filed before a petition or comparable pleading is
filed in another state or a foreign country if:

(1) the petition or comparable pleading in the other state or foreign country is filed
before the expiration of the time allowed in this state for filing a responsive pleading
challenging the exercise of jurisdiction by this state;

(2) the contesting party timely challenges the exercise of jurisdiction in this state; and

(3) if relevant, the other state or foreign country is the home state of the child.

Sec. 9.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 518C.205, is amended to read:

518C.205 CONTINUING, EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION TO MODIFY
CHILD SUPPORT ORDER.

(a) A tribunal of this state issuing that has issued a support order consistent with the
law of this state has and shall exercise continuing, exclusive jurisdiction over a to modify
its child support order unless if the order is the controlling order and:

(1) at the time of the filing of a request for modification this state is no longer the
residence of the obligor, the individual obligee, and or the child for whose benefit the
support order is issued; or

(2) all of the parties who are individuals have filed written consents with the tribunal
of this state for a tribunal of another state to modify the order and assume continuing,
exclusive jurisdiction even if this state is not the residence of the obligor, the individual
obligee, or the child for whose benefit the support order is issued, the parties consent in a
record or in open court that the tribunal of this state may continue to exercise jurisdiction
to modify its order.

(b) A tribunal of this state issuing that has issued a child support order consistent
with the law of this state may not exercise its continuing, exclusive jurisdiction to modify
the order if the order has been modified by a tribunal of another state pursuant to this
chapter or a law substantially similar to this chapter.:

(1) all of the parties who are individuals file consent in a record with the tribunal of
this state that a tribunal of another state that has jurisdiction over at least one of the parties
who is an individual or that is located in the state of residence of the child may modify
the order and assume continuing, exclusive jurisdiction; or

(2) its order is not the controlling order.

(c) If a child support order tribunal of this another state is modified by a tribunal
of another state pursuant to this chapter or a law substantially similar to this chapter, a
tribunal of this state loses its continuing, exclusive jurisdiction with regard to prospective
enforcement of the order issued in this state, and may only: has issued a child support
order pursuant to this chapter or a law substantially similar to this chapter which modifies
a child support order of a tribunal of this state, tribunals of this state shall recognize the
continuing, exclusive jurisdiction of the tribunal of the other state.

(1) enforce the order that was modified as to amounts accruing before the
modification;

(2) enforce nonmodifiable aspects of that order; and

(3) provide other appropriate relief for violations of that order which occurred before
the effective date of the modification.

(d) A tribunal of this state shall recognize the that lacks continuing, exclusive
jurisdiction of a tribunal of another state which has issued a child support order pursuant
to this chapter or a law substantially similar to this chapter to modify a child support
order may serve as an initiating tribunal to request a tribunal of another state to modify a
support order issued in that state.

(e) A temporary support order issued ex parte or pending resolution of a jurisdictional
conflict does not create continuing, exclusive jurisdiction in the issuing tribunal.

(f) A tribunal of this state issuing a support order consistent with the law of this
state has continuing, exclusive jurisdiction over a spousal support order throughout the
existence of the support obligation. A tribunal of this state may not modify a spousal
support order issued by a tribunal of another state having continuing, exclusive jurisdiction
over that order under the law of that state.

Sec. 10.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 518C.206, is amended to read:

518C.206 ENFORCEMENT AND MODIFICATION OF SUPPORT ORDER
BY TRIBUNAL HAVING CONTINUING JURISDICTION.

(a) A tribunal of this state that has issued a child support order consistent with the
law of this state may serve as an initiating tribunal to request a tribunal of another state
to enforce or modify a support order issued in that state.:

(1) the order if the order is the controlling order and has not been modified by
a tribunal of another state that assumed jurisdiction pursuant to this chapter or a law
substantially similar to this chapter; or

(2) a money judgment for arrears of support and interest on the order accrued before
a determination that an order of a tribunal of another state is the controlling order.

(b) A tribunal of this state having continuing, exclusive jurisdiction over a support
order may act as a responding tribunal to enforce or modify the order. If a party subject to
the continuing, exclusive jurisdiction of the tribunal no longer resides in the issuing state, in
subsequent proceedings the tribunal may apply section 518C.316 to receive evidence from
another state and section 518C.318 to obtain discovery through a tribunal of another state.

(c) A tribunal of this state which lacks continuing, exclusive jurisdiction over a
spousal support order may not serve as a responding tribunal to modify a spousal support
order of another state.

Sec. 11.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 518C.207, is amended to read:

518C.207 RECOGNITION OF CONTROLLING CHILD SUPPORT ORDER.

(a) If a proceeding is brought under this chapter and only one tribunal has issued a
child support order, the order of that tribunal is controlling and must be recognized.

(b) If a proceeding is brought under this chapter, and two or more child support
orders have been issued by tribunals of this state or, another state, or a foreign country
with regard to the same obligor and child, a tribunal of this state having personal
jurisdiction over both the obligor and the individual obligee shall apply the following rules
in determining and by order shall determine which order to recognize for purposes of
continuing, exclusive jurisdiction controls and must be recognized:

(1) If only one of the tribunals would have continuing, exclusive jurisdiction under
this chapter, the order of that tribunal is controlling and must be recognized.

(2) If more than one of the tribunals would have continuing, exclusive jurisdiction
under this chapter,:

(i) an order issued by a tribunal in the current home state of the child must be
recognized, but controls; or

(ii) if an order has not been issued in the current home state of the child, the order
most recently issued is controlling and must be recognized controls.

(3) If none of the tribunals would have continuing, exclusive jurisdiction under this
chapter, the tribunal of this state having jurisdiction over the parties shall issue a child
support order, which is controlling and must be recognized controls.

(c) If two or more child support orders have been issued for the same obligor and child
and if the obligor or the individual obligee resides in this state, a party may, upon request of
a party who is an individual or that is a support enforcement agency, a tribunal of this state
to having personal jurisdiction over both the obligor and the obligee who is an individual
shall determine which order controls and must be recognized under paragraph (b). The
request may be filed with a registration for enforcement or registration for modification
pursuant to sections 518C.601 to 518C.616, or may be filed as a separate proceeding.

(d) A request to determine which is the controlling order must be accompanied by a
certified copy of every child support order in effect and the applicable record of payments.
The requesting party shall give notice of the request to each party whose rights may
be affected by the determination.

(d) (e) The tribunal that issued the controlling order that must be recognized as
controlling under paragraph (a), (b), or (c) is the tribunal that has continuing, exclusive
jurisdiction in accordance with to the extent provided in section 518C.205, or 518C.206.

(e) (f) A tribunal of this state which determines by order the identity of which is
the controlling child support order under paragraph (b), clause (1) or (2), or paragraph
(c), or which issues a new controlling child support order under paragraph (b), clause (3),
shall include state in that order:

(1) the basis upon which the tribunal made its determination.;

(2) the amount of prospective support, if any; and

(3) the total amount of consolidated arrears and accrued interest, if any, under all of
the orders after all payments made are credited as provided by section 518C.209.

(f) (g) Within 30 days after issuance of the order determining the identity of which is
the controlling order, the party obtaining that order shall file a certified copy of it with each
tribunal that had issued or registered an earlier order of child support. A party who obtains
or support enforcement agency obtaining the order and that fails to file a certified copy is
subject to appropriate sanctions by a tribunal in which the issue of failure to file arises.
The failure to file does not affect the validity or enforceability of the controlling order.

(h) An order that has been determined to be the controlling order, or a judgment for
consolidated arrears of support and interest, if any, made pursuant to this section must be
recognized in proceedings under this chapter.

Sec. 12.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 518C.208, is amended to read:

518C.208 MULTIPLE CHILD SUPPORT ORDERS FOR TWO OR MORE
OBLIGEES.

In responding to multiple registrations or petitions for enforcement of two or more
child support orders in effect at the same time with regard to the same obligor and different
individual obligees, at least one of which was issued by a tribunal of another state or a
foreign country, a tribunal of this state shall enforce those orders in the same manner as if
the multiple orders had been issued by a tribunal of this state.

Sec. 13.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 518C.209, is amended to read:

518C.209 CREDIT FOR PAYMENTS.

A tribunal of this state shall credit amounts collected and credited for a particular
period pursuant to a any child support order issued by a tribunal of another state must be
credited against the amounts accruing or accrued owed for the same period under a any
other child support order for the support of the same child issued by the tribunal of this
state, another state, or a foreign country.

Sec. 14.

[518C.210] APPLICATION TO NONRESIDENT SUBJECT TO
PERSONAL JURISDICTION.

A tribunal of this state exercising personal jurisdiction over a nonresident in a
proceeding under this chapter, under other law of this state relating to a support order, or
recognizing a foreign support order may receive evidence from outside this state pursuant
to section 518C.316, communicate with a tribunal outside this state pursuant to section
518C.317, and obtain discovery through a tribunal outside this state pursuant to section
518C.318. In all other respects, sections 518C.301 to 518C.616 do not apply, and the
tribunal shall apply the procedural and substantive law of this state.

Sec. 15.

[518C.211] CONTINUING, EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION TO MODIFY
SPOUSAL SUPPORT ORDER.

(a) A tribunal of this state issuing a spousal support order consistent with the law
of this state has continuing, exclusive jurisdiction to modify the spousal support order
throughout the existence of the support obligation.

(b) A tribunal of this state may not modify a spousal support order issued by a
tribunal of another state or a foreign country having continuing, exclusive jurisdiction over
that order under the law of that state or foreign country.

(c) A tribunal of this state that has continuing, exclusive jurisdiction over a spousal
support order may serve as:

(1) an initiating tribunal to request a tribunal of another state to enforce the spousal
support order issued in this state; or

(2) a responding tribunal to enforce or modify its own spousal support order.

Sec. 16.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 518C.301, is amended to read:

518C.301 PROCEEDINGS UNDER THIS CHAPTER.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, sections 518C.301 to 518C.319
apply to all proceedings under this chapter.

(b) This chapter provides for the following proceedings:

(1) establishment of an order for spousal support or child support pursuant to
section 518C.401;

(2) enforcement of a support order and income-withholding order of another state or
a foreign country without registration pursuant to sections 518C.501 and 518C.502;

(3) registration of an order for spousal support or child support of another state or a
foreign country for enforcement pursuant to sections 518C.601 to 518C.612;

(4) modification of an order for child support or spousal support issued by a tribunal
of this state pursuant to sections 518C.203 to 518C.206;

(5) registration of an order for child support of another state or a foreign country for
modification pursuant to sections 518C.601 to 518C.612;

(6) determination of parentage of a child pursuant to section 518C.701; and

(7) assertion of jurisdiction over nonresidents pursuant to sections 518C.201 and
518C.202.

(c) An individual petitioner or a support enforcement agency may commence a
proceeding authorized under this chapter by filing a petition in an initiating tribunal for
forwarding to a responding tribunal or by filing a petition or a comparable pleading
directly in a tribunal of another state or a foreign country which has or can obtain personal
jurisdiction over the respondent.

Sec. 17.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 518C.303, is amended to read:

518C.303 APPLICATION OF LAW OF THIS STATE.

Except as otherwise provided by this chapter, a responding tribunal of this state shall:

(1) shall apply the procedural and substantive law, including the rules on choice of
law, generally applicable to similar proceedings originating in this state and may exercise
all powers and provide all remedies available in those proceedings; and

(2) shall determine the duty of support and the amount payable in accordance with
the law and support guidelines of this state.

Sec. 18.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 518C.304, is amended to read:

518C.304 DUTIES OF INITIATING TRIBUNAL.

(a) Upon the filing of a petition authorized by this chapter, an initiating tribunal of
this state shall forward three copies of the petition and its accompanying documents:

(1) to the responding tribunal or appropriate support enforcement agency in the
responding state; or

(2) if the identity of the responding tribunal is unknown, to the state information
agency of the responding state with a request that they be forwarded to the appropriate
tribunal and that receipt be acknowledged.

(b) If a responding state has not enacted this chapter or a law or procedure
substantially similar to this chapter requested by the responding tribunal, a tribunal of this
state may shall issue a certificate or other documents and make findings required by the
law of the responding state. If the responding state tribunal is in a foreign jurisdiction
country, the tribunal may of this state shall specify the amount of support sought, convert
that amount into the equivalent amount in the foreign currency under applicable official
or market exchange rate as publicly reported, and provide other documents necessary to
satisfy the requirements of the responding state foreign tribunal.

Sec. 19.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 518C.305, is amended to read:

518C.305 DUTIES AND POWERS OF RESPONDING TRIBUNAL.

(a) When a responding tribunal of this state receives a petition or comparable
pleading from an initiating tribunal or directly pursuant to section 518C.301, paragraph
(c), it shall cause the petition or pleading to be filed and notify the petitioner where and
when it was filed.

(b) A responding tribunal of this state, to the extent otherwise authorized by law,
may do one or more of the following:

(1) issue establish or enforce a support order, modify a child support order, determine
the controlling child support order, or render a judgment to determine parentage of a child;

(2) order an obligor to comply with a support order, specifying the amount and
the manner of compliance;

(3) order income withholding;

(4) determine the amount of any arrearages, and specify a method of payment;

(5) enforce orders by civil or criminal contempt, or both;

(6) set aside property for satisfaction of the support order;

(7) place liens and order execution on the obligor's property;

(8) order an obligor to keep the tribunal informed of the obligor's current residential
address, electronic mail address, telephone number, employer, address of employment,
and telephone number at the place of employment;

(9) issue a bench warrant for an obligor who has failed after proper notice to appear
at a hearing ordered by the tribunal and enter the bench warrant in any local and state
computer systems for criminal warrants;

(10) order the obligor to seek appropriate employment by specified methods;

(11) award reasonable attorney's fees and other fees and costs; and

(12) grant any other available remedy.

(c) A responding tribunal of this state shall include in a support order issued under
this chapter, or in the documents accompanying the order, the calculations on which
the support order is based.

(d) A responding tribunal of this state may not condition the payment of a support
order issued under this chapter upon compliance by a party with provisions for visitation.

(e) If a responding tribunal of this state issues an order under this chapter, the
tribunal shall send a copy of the order to the petitioner and the respondent and to the
initiating tribunal, if any.

(f) If requested to enforce a support order, arrears, or judgment or modify a support
order stated in a foreign currency, a responding tribunal of this state shall convert the
amount stated in the foreign currency to the equivalent amount in dollars under the
applicable official or market exchange rate as publicly reported.

Sec. 20.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 518C.306, is amended to read:

518C.306 INAPPROPRIATE TRIBUNAL.

If a petition or comparable pleading is received by an inappropriate tribunal of
this state, it the tribunal shall forward the pleading and accompanying documents to
an appropriate tribunal in this state or another state and notify the petitioner where and
when the pleading was sent.

Sec. 21.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 518C.307, is amended to read:

518C.307 DUTIES OF SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT AGENCY.

(a) A support enforcement agency of this state, upon request, shall provide services
to a petitioner in a proceeding under this chapter.

(b) A support enforcement agency that is providing services to the petitioner as
appropriate shall:

(1) take all steps necessary to enable an appropriate tribunal in of this state or,
another state, or a foreign country to obtain jurisdiction over the respondent;

(2) request an appropriate tribunal to set a date, time, and place for a hearing;

(3) make a reasonable effort to obtain all relevant information, including information
as to income and property of the parties;

(4) within two days, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, after
receipt of a written notice in a record from an initiating, responding, or registering tribunal,
send a copy of the notice to the petitioner;

(5) within two days, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, after
receipt of a written communication in a record from the respondent or the respondent's
attorney, send a copy of the communication to the petitioner; and

(6) notify the petitioner if jurisdiction over the respondent cannot be obtained.

(c) A support enforcement agency of this state that requests registration of a child
support order in this state for enforcement or for modification shall make reasonable efforts:

(1) to ensure that the order to be registered is the controlling order; or

(2) if two or more child support orders exist and the identity of the controlling
order has not been determined, to ensure that a request for such a determination is made
in a tribunal having jurisdiction to do so.

(d) A support enforcement agency of this state that requests registration and
enforcement of a support order, arrears, or judgment stated in a foreign currency shall
convert the amounts stated in the foreign currency into the equivalent amounts in dollars
under the applicable official or market exchange rate as publicly reported.

(e) A support enforcement agency of this state shall request a tribunal of this state
to issue a child support order and an income-withholding order that redirect payment of
current support, arrears, and interest if requested to do so by a support enforcement agency
of another state pursuant to section 518C.319.

(c) (f) This chapter does not create or negate a relationship of attorney and client or
other fiduciary relationship between a support enforcement agency or the attorney for the
agency and the individual being assisted by the agency.

Sec. 22.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 518C.308, is amended to read:

518C.308 DUTY OF ATTORNEY GENERAL.

(a) If the attorney general determines that the support enforcement agency is
neglecting or refusing to provide services to an individual, the attorney general may
order the agency to perform its duties under this chapter or may provide those services
directly to the individual.

(b) The attorney general may determine that a foreign country has established a
reciprocal arrangement for child support with this state and take appropriate action for
notification of that determination.

Sec. 23.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 518C.310, is amended to read:

518C.310 DUTIES OF STATE INFORMATION AGENCY.

(a) The unit within the Department of Human Services that receives and disseminates
incoming interstate actions under title IV-D of the Social Security Act is the State
Information Agency under this chapter.

(b) The State Information Agency shall:

(1) compile and maintain a current list, including addresses, of the tribunals in this
state which have jurisdiction under this chapter and any support enforcement agencies in
this state and transmit a copy to the state information agency of every other state;

(2) maintain a register of tribunals and support enforcement agencies received from
other states;

(3) forward to the appropriate tribunal in the place in this state in which the individual
obligee or the obligor resides, or in which the obligor's property is believed to be located, all
documents concerning a proceeding under this chapter received from an initiating tribunal
or the state information agency of the initiating another state or a foreign country; and

(4) obtain information concerning the location of the obligor and the obligor's
property within this state not exempt from execution, by such means as postal verification
and federal or state locator services, examination of telephone directories, requests for the
obligor's address from employers, and examination of governmental records, including, to
the extent not prohibited by other law, those relating to real property, vital statistics, law
enforcement, taxation, motor vehicles, driver's licenses, and Social Security.

Sec. 24.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 518C.311, is amended to read:

518C.311 PLEADINGS AND ACCOMPANYING DOCUMENTS.

(a) A petitioner seeking to establish or modify a support order or to, determine
parentage of a child, or register and modify a support order of a tribunal of another state or
a foreign country, in a proceeding under this chapter must verify the file a petition. Unless
otherwise ordered under section 518C.312, the petition or accompanying documents must
provide, so far as known, the name, residential address, and Social Security numbers
of the obligor and the obligee, and the name, sex, residential address, Social Security
number, and date of birth of each child for whom support is sought or whose parenthood is
to be determined. The petition must be accompanied by a certified copy of any support
order in effect. The petition may include any other information that may assist in locating
or identifying the respondent.

(b) The petition must specify the relief sought. The petition and accompanying
documents must conform substantially with the requirements imposed by the forms
mandated by federal law for use in cases filed by a support enforcement agency.

Sec. 25.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 518C.312, is amended to read:

518C.312 NONDISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION IN EXCEPTIONAL
CIRCUMSTANCES.

Upon a finding, which may be made ex parte, that the health, safety, or liberty
of a party or child would be unreasonably put at risk by the disclosure of identifying
information, or if an existing order so provides, a tribunal shall order that the address of
the child or party or other identifying information not be disclosed in a pleading or other
document filed in a proceeding under this chapter. If a party alleges in an affidavit or a
pleading under oath that the health, safety, or liberty of a party or child would be jeopardized
by disclosure of specific identifying information, that information must be sealed and may
not be disclosed to the other party or the public. After a hearing in which a tribunal takes
into consideration the health, safety, or liberty of the party or child, the tribunal may order
disclosure of information that the tribunal determines to be in the interest of justice.

Sec. 26.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 518C.313, is amended to read:

518C.313 COSTS AND FEES.

(a) The petitioner may not be required to pay a filing fee or other costs.

(b) If an obligee prevails, a responding tribunal of this state may assess against an
obligor filing fees, reasonable attorney's fees, other costs, and necessary travel and other
reasonable expenses incurred by the obligee and the obligee's witnesses. The tribunal may
not assess fees, costs, or expenses against the obligee or the support enforcement agency
of either the initiating or the responding state or foreign country, except as provided by
other law. Attorney's fees may be taxed as costs, and may be ordered paid directly to the
attorney, who may enforce the order in the attorney's own name. Payment of support owed
to the obligee has priority over fees, costs, and expenses.

(c) The tribunal shall order the payment of costs and reasonable attorney's fees if
it determines that a hearing was requested primarily for delay. In a proceeding under
sections 518C.601 to 518C.612 518C.616, a hearing is presumed to have been requested
primarily for delay if a registered support order is confirmed or enforced without change.

Sec. 27.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 518C.314, is amended to read:

518C.314 LIMITED IMMUNITY OF PETITIONER.

(a) Participation by a petitioner in a proceeding under this chapter before a
responding tribunal, whether in person, by private attorney, or through services provided
by the support enforcement agency, does not confer personal jurisdiction over the
petitioner in another proceeding.

(b) A petitioner is not amenable to service of civil process while physically present
in this state to participate in a proceeding under this chapter.

(c) The immunity granted by this section does not extend to civil litigation based on
acts unrelated to a proceeding under this chapter committed by a party while present in
this state to participate in the proceeding.

Sec. 28.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 518C.316, is amended to read:

518C.316 SPECIAL RULES OF EVIDENCE AND PROCEDURE.

(a) The physical presence of the petitioner in a responding tribunal of this state is
not required for the establishment, enforcement, or modification of a support order or the
rendition of a judgment determining parentage of a child.

(b) A verified petition, affidavit, document substantially complying with federally
mandated forms, and a document incorporated by reference in any of them, not excluded
under the hearsay rule if given in person, is admissible in evidence if given under oath by
a party or witness residing in another outside this state.

(c) A copy of the record of child support payments certified as a true copy of the
original by the custodian of the record may be forwarded to a responding tribunal. The copy
is evidence of facts asserted in it, and is admissible to show whether payments were made.

(d) Copies of bills for testing for parentage of a child, and for prenatal and postnatal
health care of the mother and child, furnished to the adverse party at least ten days before
trial, are admissible in evidence to prove the amount of the charges billed and that the
charges were reasonable, necessary, and customary.

(e) Documentary evidence transmitted from another outside this state to a tribunal
of this state by telephone, telecopier, or other electronic means that do not provide an
original writing record may not be excluded from evidence on an objection based on
the means of transmission.

(f) In a proceeding under this chapter, a tribunal of this state may shall permit a party
or witness residing in another outside this state to be deposed or to testify under penalty of
perjury by telephone, audiovisual means, or other electronic means at a designated tribunal
or other location in that state. A tribunal of this state shall cooperate with other tribunals
of other states in designating an appropriate location for the deposition or testimony.

(g) If a party called to testify at a civil hearing refuses to answer on the ground that
the testimony may be self-incriminating, the trier of fact may draw an adverse inference
from the refusal.

(h) A privilege against disclosure of communications between spouses does not
apply in a proceeding under this chapter.

(i) The defense of immunity based on the relationship of husband and wife or parent
and child does not apply in a proceeding under this chapter.

(j) A voluntary acknowledgment of paternity, certified as a true copy, is admissible
to establish parentage of a child.

Sec. 29.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 518C.317, is amended to read:

518C.317 COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN TRIBUNALS.

A tribunal of this state may communicate with a tribunal of another outside this state
in writing, by e-mail, or by telephone or other means, to obtain information concerning
the laws of that state, the legal effect of a judgment, decree, or order of that tribunal, and
the status of a proceeding in the other state. A tribunal of this state may furnish similar
information by similar means to a tribunal of another outside this state.

Sec. 30.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 518C.318, is amended to read:

518C.318 ASSISTANCE WITH DISCOVERY.

A tribunal of this state may:

(1) request a tribunal of another outside this state to assist in obtaining discovery; and

(2) upon request, compel a person over whom which it has jurisdiction to respond to
a discovery order issued by a tribunal of another outside this state.

Sec. 31.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 518C.319, is amended to read:

518C.319 RECEIPT AND DISBURSEMENT OF PAYMENTS.

(a) A support enforcement agency or tribunal of this state shall disburse promptly
any amounts received pursuant to a support order, as directed by the order. The agency
or tribunal shall furnish to a requesting party or tribunal of another state or a foreign
country a certified statement by the custodian of the record of the amounts and dates
of all payments received.

(b) If neither the obligor, not the obligee who is an individual, nor the child resides
in this state, upon request from the support enforcement agency of this state or another
state, the support enforcement agency of this state or a tribunal of this state shall:

(1) direct that the support payment be made to the support enforcement agency in
the state in which the obligee is receiving services; and

(2) issue and send to the obligor's employer a conforming income-withholding order
or an administrative notice of change of payee, reflecting the redirected payments.

(c) The support enforcement agency of this state receiving redirected payments from
another state pursuant to a law similar to paragraph (b) shall furnish to a requesting party
or tribunal of the other state a certified statement by the custodian of the record of the
amount and dates of all payments received.

Sec. 32.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 518C.401, is amended to read:

518C.401 PETITION TO ESTABLISH ESTABLISHMENT OF SUPPORT
ORDER.

(a) If a support order entitled to recognition under this chapter has not been issued,
a responding tribunal of this state with personal jurisdiction over the parties may issue
a support order if:

(1) the individual seeking the order resides in another outside this state; or

(2) the support enforcement agency seeking the order is located in another outside
this state.

(b) The tribunal may issue a temporary child support order if the tribunal determines
that such an order is appropriate and the individual ordered to pay is:

(1) the respondent has signed a verified statement acknowledging parentage;

(2) the respondent has been determined by law to be the parent; or

(3) there is other clear and convincing evidence that the respondent is the child's
parent.

(1) a presumed father of the child;

(2) petitioning to have his paternity adjudicated;

(3) identified as the father of the child through genetic testing;

(4) an alleged father who has declined to submit to genetic testing;

(5) shown by clear and convincing evidence to be the father of the child;

(6) an acknowledged father as provided by section 257.55;

(7) the mother of the child; or

(8) an individual who has been ordered to pay child support in a previous proceeding
and the order has not been reversed or vacated.

(c) Upon a finding, after notice and opportunity to be heard, that an obligor owes a
duty of support, the tribunal shall issue a support order directed to the obligor and may
issue other orders according to section 518C.305.

Sec. 33.

[518C.402] PROCEEDING TO DETERMINE PARENTAGE.

A tribunal of this state authorized to determine parentage of a child may serve as a
responding tribunal in a proceeding to determine parentage of a child brought under this
chapter or a law or procedure substantially similar to this chapter.

Sec. 34.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 518C.501, is amended to read:

518C.501 EMPLOYER'S RECEIPT OF INCOME-WITHHOLDING ORDER
OF ANOTHER STATE.

An income-withholding order issued in another state may be sent by or on behalf
of the obligee, or by the support enforcement agency, to the person or entity defined as
the obligor's employer under section 518A.53 without first filing a petition or comparable
pleading or registering the order with a tribunal of this state.

Sec. 35.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 518C.503, is amended to read:

518C.503 EMPLOYER'S COMPLIANCE WITH MULTIPLE TWO OR
MORE INCOME-WITHHOLDING ORDERS.

If the obligor's employer receives multiple two or more income-withholding orders
with respect to withhold support from the earnings of the same obligor, the employer
satisfies the terms of the multiple orders if the employer complies with the law of the state
of the obligor's principal place of employment to establish the priorities for withholding
and allocating income withheld for multiple two or more child support obligees.

Sec. 36.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 518C.504, is amended to read:

518C.504 IMMUNITY FROM CIVIL LIABILITY.

An employer who that complies with an income-withholding order issued in another
state in accordance with this chapter is not subject to civil liability to any individual or
agency with regard to the employer's withholding of child support from the obligor's
income.

Sec. 37.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 518C.505, is amended to read:

518C.505 PENALTIES FOR NONCOMPLIANCE.

An employer who that willfully fails to comply with an income-withholding order
issued by in another state and received for enforcement is subject to the same penalties
that may be imposed for noncompliance with an order issued by a tribunal of this state.

Sec. 38.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 518C.506, is amended to read:

518C.506 CONTEST BY OBLIGOR.

(a) An obligor may contest the validity or enforcement of an income-withholding
order issued in another state and received directly by an employer in this state by registering
the order in a tribunal of this state and filing a contest to that order as provided in sections
518C.601 to 518C.616, or otherwise contesting the order in the same manner as if the
order had been issued by a tribunal of this state. Section 518C.604 applies to the contest.

(b) The obligor shall give notice of the contest to:

(1) a support enforcement agency providing services to the obligee;

(2) each employer which that has directly received an income-withholding order
relating to the obligor; and

(3) the person or agency designated to receive payments in the income-withholding
order or, if no person or agency is designated, to the obligee.

Sec. 39.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 518C.508, is amended to read:

518C.508 ADMINISTRATIVE ENFORCEMENT OF ORDERS.

(a) A party or support enforcement agency seeking to enforce a support order or an
income-withholding order, or both, issued by a tribunal of in another state or a foreign
support order may send the documents required for registering the order to a support
enforcement agency of this state.

(b) Upon receipt of the documents, the support enforcement agency, without
initially seeking to register the order, shall consider and may, if appropriate, use any
administrative procedure authorized by the laws of this state to enforce a support order
or an income-withholding order, or both. If the obligor does not contest administrative
enforcement, the order need not be registered. If the obligor contests the validity or
administrative enforcement of the order, the support enforcement agency shall register the
order under this chapter.

Sec. 40.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 518C.601, is amended to read:

518C.601 REGISTRATION OF ORDER FOR ENFORCEMENT.

A support order or an income-withholding order issued by a tribunal of in another
state or a foreign support order may be registered in this state for enforcement.

Sec. 41.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 518C.602, is amended to read:

518C.602 PROCEDURE TO REGISTER ORDER FOR ENFORCEMENT.

(a) Except as otherwise provided ins section 518C.706, a support order or
income-withholding order of another state or a foreign support order may be registered
in this state by sending the following documents and information to the registering
tribunal in this state:

(1) a letter of transmittal to the tribunal requesting registration and enforcement;

(2) two copies, including one certified copy, of all orders the order to be registered,
including any modification of an the order;

(3) a sworn statement by the party person seeking registration or a certified statement
by the custodian of the records showing the amount of any arrearage;

(4) the name of the obligor and, if known:

(i) the obligor's address and Social Security number;

(ii) the name and address of the obligor's employer and any other source of income
of the obligor; and

(iii) a description and the location of property of the obligor in this state not exempt
from execution; and

(5) except as otherwise provided in section 518C.312, the name and address of the
obligee and, if applicable, the agency or person to whom support payments are to be
remitted.

(b) On receipt of a request for registration, the registering tribunal shall cause the order
to be filed as a foreign judgment an order of a tribunal of another state or a foreign support
order, together with one copy of the documents and information, regardless of their form.

(c) A petition or comparable pleading seeking a remedy that must be affirmatively
sought under other law of this state may be filed at the same time as the request for
registration or later. The pleading must specify the grounds for the remedy sought.

(d) If two or more orders are in effect, the person requesting registration shall:

(1) furnish to the tribunal a copy of every support order asserted to be in effect in
addition to the documents specified in this section;

(2) specify the order alleged to be the controlling order, if any; and

(3) specify the amount of consolidated arrears, if any.

(e) A request for a determination of which is the controlling order may be filed
separately or with a request for registration and enforcement or for registration and
modification. The person requesting registration shall give notice of the request to each
party who rights may be affected by the determination.

Sec. 42.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 518C.603, is amended to read:

518C.603 EFFECT OF REGISTRATION FOR ENFORCEMENT.

(a) A support order or income-withholding order issued in another state or a foreign
support order is registered when the order is filed in the registering tribunal of this state.

(b) A registered support order issued in another state or a foreign country is
enforceable in the same manner and is subject to the same procedures as an order issued
by a tribunal of this state.

(c) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, a tribunal of this state shall
recognize and enforce, but may not modify, a registered support order if the issuing
tribunal had jurisdiction.

Sec. 43.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 518C.604, is amended to read:

518C.604 CHOICE OF LAW.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (d), the law of the issuing state or
foreign country governs:

(1) the nature, extent, amount, and duration of current payments and under a
registered support order;

(2) the computation and payment of arrearages and accrual of interest on the
arrearages under the support order; and

(3) the existence and satisfaction of other obligations of support and the payment of
arrearages under the support order.

(b) In a proceeding for arrearages, the statute of limitation under the laws of this
state or of the issuing state or foreign country, whichever is longer, applies.

(c) A responding tribunal of this state shall apply the procedures and remedies of
this state to enforce current support and collect arrears and interest due on a support order
of another state or a foreign country registered in this state.

(d) After a tribunal of this state or another state determines which is the controlling
order and issues an order consolidating arrears, if any, a tribunal of this state shall
prospectively apply the law of the state or foreign country issuing the controlling order,
including its law on interest on arrears, on current and future support, and on consolidated
arrears.

Sec. 44.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 518C.605, is amended to read:

518C.605 NOTICE OF REGISTRATION OF ORDER.

(a) When a support order or income-withholding order issued in another state or
foreign support order is registered, the registering tribunal of this state shall notify the
nonregistering party. The notice must be accompanied by a copy of the registered order
and the documents and relevant information accompanying the order.

(b) The notice must inform the nonregistering party:

(1) that a registered order is enforceable as of the date of registration in the same
manner as an order issued by a tribunal of this state;

(2) that a hearing to contest the validity or enforcement of the registered order must be
requested within 20 days after notice unless the registered order is under section 518C.707;

(3) that failure to contest the validity or enforcement of the registered order in a
timely manner will result in confirmation of the order and enforcement of the order and
the alleged arrearages and precludes further contest of that order with respect to any
matter that could have been asserted; and

(4) of the amount of any alleged arrearages.

(c) If the registering party asserts that two or more orders are in effect, a notice
must also:

(1) identify the two or more orders and the order alleged by the registering party to
be the controlling order and the consolidated arrears, if any;

(2) notify the nonregistering party of the right to a determination of which is the
controlling order;

(3) state that the procedures provided in paragraph (b) apply to the determination of
which is the controlling order; and

(4) state that failure to contest the validity or enforcement of the order alleged to
be the controlling order in a timely manner may result in confirmation that the order
is the controlling order.

(c) (d) Upon registration of an income-withholding order for enforcement, the
support enforcement agency, or the registering tribunal shall notify the obligor's employer
pursuant to section 518A.53.

Sec. 45.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 518C.606, is amended to read:

518C.606 PROCEDURE TO CONTEST VALIDITY OR ENFORCEMENT
OF REGISTERED SUPPORT ORDER.

(a) A nonregistering party seeking to contest the validity or enforcement of a
registered support order in this state shall request a hearing within 20 days after notice of
the registration the time required by section 518C.605. The nonregistering party may seek
to vacate the registration, to assert any defense to an allegation of noncompliance with
the registered order, or to contest the remedies being sought or the amount of any alleged
arrearages pursuant to section 518C.607.

(b) If the nonregistering party fails to contest the validity or enforcement of the
registered support order in a timely manner, the order is confirmed by operation of law.

(c) If a nonregistering party requests a hearing to contest the validity or enforcement
of the registered support order, the registering tribunal shall schedule the matter for
hearing and give notice to the parties of the date, time, and place of the hearing.

Sec. 46.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 518C.607, is amended to read:

518C.607 CONTEST OF REGISTRATION OR ENFORCEMENT.

(a) A party contesting the validity or enforcement of a registered support order or
seeking to vacate the registration has the burden of proving one or more of the following
defenses:

(1) the issuing tribunal lacked personal jurisdiction over the contesting party;

(2) the order was obtained by fraud;

(3) the order has been vacated, suspended, or modified by a later order;

(4) the issuing tribunal has stayed the order pending appeal;

(5) there is a defense under the law of this state to the remedy sought;

(6) full or partial payment has been made; or

(7) the statute of limitation under section 518C.604 precludes enforcement of some
or all of the arrearages.; or

(8) the alleged controlling order is not the controlling order.

(b) If a party presents evidence establishing a full or partial defense under paragraph
(a), a tribunal may stay enforcement of the a registered support order, continue the
proceeding to permit production of additional relevant evidence, and issue other
appropriate orders. An uncontested portion of the registered support order may be
enforced by all remedies available under the law of this state.

(c) If the contesting party does not establish a defense under paragraph (a) to the
validity or enforcement of the a registered support order, the registering tribunal shall
issue an order confirming the order.

Sec. 47.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 518C.608, is amended to read:

518C.608 CONFIRMED ORDER.

Confirmation of a registered support order, whether by operation of law or after
notice and hearing, precludes further contest of the order with respect to any matter that
could have been asserted at the time of registration.

Sec. 48.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 518C.609, is amended to read:

518C.609 PROCEDURE TO REGISTER CHILD SUPPORT ORDER OF
ANOTHER STATE FOR MODIFICATION.

A party or support enforcement agency seeking to modify, or to modify and enforce,
a child support order issued in another state shall register that order in this state in the
same manner provided in sections 518C.601 to 518C.604 518C.608 if the order has not
been registered. A petition for modification may be filed at the same time as a request for
registration, or later. The pleading must specify the grounds for modification.

Sec. 49.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 518C.610, is amended to read:

518C.610 EFFECT OF REGISTRATION FOR MODIFICATION.

A tribunal of this state may enforce a child support order of another state registered
for purposes of modification, in the same manner as if the order had been issued by
a tribunal of this state, but the registered support order may be modified only if the
requirements of section 518C.611 or 518C.613 have been met.

Sec. 50.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 518C.611, is amended to read:

518C.611 MODIFICATION OF CHILD SUPPORT ORDER OF ANOTHER
STATE.

(a) After a child support order issued in another state has been registered in this state,
the responding If section 518C.613 does not apply, upon petition a tribunal of this state
may modify that order only if section 518C.613 does not apply and a child support order
issued in another state that is registered in this state if, after notice and hearing, it finds that:

(1) the following requirements are met:

(i) neither the child, nor the individual obligee who is an individual, and nor the
obligor do not reside resides in the issuing state;

(ii) a petitioner who is a nonresident of this state seeks modification; and

(iii) the respondent is subject to the personal jurisdiction of the tribunal of this state; or

(2) this state is the residence of the child, or a party who is an individual, is subject
to the personal jurisdiction of the tribunal of this state and all of the parties who are
individuals have filed written consents in a record in the issuing tribunal for a tribunal
of this state to modify the support order and assume continuing, exclusive jurisdiction
over the order. However, if the issuing state is a foreign jurisdiction that has not enacted a
law or established procedures substantially similar to the procedures in this chapter, the
consent otherwise required of an individual residing in this state is not required for the
tribunal to assume jurisdiction to modify the child support order.

(b) Modification of a registered child support order is subject to the same
requirements, procedures, and defenses that apply to the modification of an order issued
by a tribunal of this state and the order may be enforced and satisfied in the same manner.

(c) A tribunal of this state may not modify any aspect of a child support order that
may not be modified under the law of the issuing state, including the duration of the
obligation of support. If two or more tribunals have issued child support orders for the
same obligor and child, the order that controls and must be recognized under section
518C.207 establishes the aspects of the support order which are nonmodifiable.

(d) In a proceeding to modify a child support order, the law of the state that is
determined to have issued the initial controlling order governs the duration of the
obligation of support. The obligor's fulfillment of the duty of support established by that
order precludes imposition of a further obligation of support by a tribunal of this state.

(d) (e) On issuance of an order modifying a child support order issued in another state,
a tribunal of this state becomes the tribunal of having continuing, exclusive jurisdiction.

(f) Notwithstanding paragraphs (a) to (d) and section 518C.201, paragraph (b), a
tribunal of this state retains jurisdiction to modify an order issued by a tribunal of this
state if:

(1) one party resides in another state; and

(2) the other party resides outside the United States.

Sec. 51.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 518C.612, is amended to read:

518C.612 RECOGNITION OF ORDER MODIFIED IN ANOTHER STATE.

If a child support order issued by a tribunal of this state shall recognize a modification
of its earlier child support order is modified by a tribunal of another state which assumed
jurisdiction according to this chapter or a law substantially similar to this chapter and,
upon request, except as otherwise provided in this chapter, shall a tribunal of this state:

(1) may enforce the its order that was modified only as to amounts arrears and
interest accruing before the modification;

(2) enforce only nonmodifiable aspects of that order;

(3) (2) may provide other appropriate relief only for violations of that its order which
occurred before the effective date of the modification; and

(4) (3) shall recognize the modifying order of the other state, upon registration,
for the purpose of enforcement.

Sec. 52.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 518C.613, is amended to read:

518C.613 JURISDICTION TO MODIFY SUPPORT ORDER OF ANOTHER
STATE WHEN INDIVIDUAL PARTIES RESIDE IN THIS STATE.

(a) If all of the parties who are individuals reside in this state and the child does not
reside in the issuing state, a tribunal of this state has jurisdiction to enforce and to modify
the issuing state's child support order in a proceeding to register that order.

(b) A tribunal of this state exercising jurisdiction as provided in this section shall
apply sections 518C.101 to 518C.209 and 518C.601 to 518C.614 518C.616 to the
enforcement or modification proceeding. Sections 518C.301 to 518C.507 518C.508
and 518C.701 to 518C.802 do not apply and the tribunal shall apply the procedural and
substantive law of this state.

Sec. 53.

[518C.615] JURISDICTION TO MODIFY CHILD SUPPORT ORDER
OF FOREIGN COUNTRY.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in section 518C.711, if a foreign country lacks or
refuses to exercise jurisdiction to modify its child support order pursuant to its laws, a
tribunal of this state may assume jurisdiction to modify the child support order and bind
all individuals subject to the personal jurisdiction of the tribunal whether the consent to
modification of a child support order otherwise required of the individual pursuant to
section 518C.611 has been given or whether the individual seeking modification is a
resident of this state or of the foreign country.

(b) An order issued by a tribunal of this state modifying a foreign child support order
pursuant to this section is the controlling order.

Sec. 54.

[518C.616] PROCEDURE TO REGISTER CHILD SUPPORT ORDER
OF FOREIGN COUNTRY FOR MODIFICATION.

A party or support enforcement agency seeking to modify, or to modify and enforce,
a foreign child support order not under the convention may register that order in this state
under sections 518C.601 to 518C.608 if the order has not been registered. A petition for
modification may be filed at the same time as a request for registration, or at another time.
The petition must specify the grounds for modification.

Sec. 55.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 518C.701, is amended to read:

518C.701 PROCEEDING TO DETERMINE PARENTAGE DEFINITIONS.

In sections 518C.701 to 518C.713:

(a) A tribunal of this state may serve as an initiating or responding tribunal in a
proceeding brought under this chapter or a law or procedure substantially similar to this
chapter, or under a law or procedure substantially similar to the Uniform Reciprocal
Enforcement of Support Act, or the Revised Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support
Act to determine that the petitioner is a parent of a particular child or to determine that a
respondent is a parent of that child "Application" means a request under the convention
by an obligee or obligor, or on behalf of a child, made through a central authority for
assistance from another central authority.

(b) In a proceeding to determine parentage, a responding tribunal of this state shall
apply the Parentage Act, sections 257.51 to 257.74, and the rules of this state on choice
of law "Central authority" means the entity designated by the United States or a foreign
country described in section 518C.101, paragraph (e), clause (4), to perform the functions
specified in the convention.

(c) "Convention support order" means a support order of a tribunal of a foreign
country described in section 518C.101, paragraph (e), clause (4).

(d) "Direct request" means a petition filed by an individual in a tribunal of this state
in a proceeding involving an obligee, obligor, or child residing outside the United States.

(e) "Foreign central authority" means the entity designated by a foreign country
described in section 518C.101, paragraph (e), clause (4), to perform the functions specified
in the convention.

(f) "Foreign support agreement":

(1) means an agreement for support in a record that:

(i) is enforceable as a support order in the country of origin;

(ii) has been:

(A) formally drawn up or registered as an authentic instrument by a foreign tribunal;
or

(B) authenticated by, or concluded, registered, or filed with a foreign tribunal; and

(iii) may be reviewed and modified by a foreign tribunal; and

(2) includes a maintenance arrangement or authentic instrument under the convention.

(g) "United States central authority" means the Secretary of the United States
Department of Health and Human Services.

Sec. 56.

[518C.702] APPLICABILITY.

Sections 518C.701 to 518C.713 apply only to a support proceeding under the
convention. In such a proceeding, if a provision of sections 518C.701 to 518C.713 is
inconsistent with sections 518C.101 to 518C.616, sections 518C.701 to 518C.713 control.

Sec. 57.

[518C.703] RELATIONSHIP OF DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN
SERVICES TO UNITED STATES CENTRAL AUTHORITY.

The Department of Human Services of this state is recognized as the agency
designated by the United States central authority to perform specific functions under
the convention.

Sec. 58.

[518C.704] INITIATION BY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
OF SUPPORT PROCEEDING UNDER CONVENTION.

(a) In a support proceeding under sections 518C.701 to 518C.713, the Department of
Human Services of this state shall:

(1) transmit and receive applications; and

(2) initiate or facilitate the institution of a proceeding regarding an application
in a tribunal of this state.

(b) The following support proceedings are available to an obligee under the
convention:

(1) recognition or recognition and enforcement of a foreign support order;

(2) enforcement of a support order issued or recognized in this state;

(3) establishment of a support order if there is no existing order, including, if
necessary, determination of parentage of a child;

(4) establishment of a support order if recognition of a foreign support order is
refused under section 518C.708, paragraph (b), clause (2), (4), or (9);

(5) modification of a support order of a tribunal of this state; and

(6) modification of a support order of a tribunal of another state or a foreign country.

(c) The following support proceedings are available under the convention to an
obligor against which there is an existing support order:

(1) recognition of an order suspending or limiting enforcement of an existing support
order of a tribunal of this state;

(2) modification of a support order of a tribunal of this state; and

(3) modification of a support order of a tribunal of another state or a foreign country.

(d) A tribunal of this state may not require security, bond, or deposit, however
described, to guarantee the payment of costs and expenses in proceedings under the
convention.

Sec. 59.

[518C.705] DIRECT REQUEST.

(a) A petitioner may file a direct request seeking establishment or modification
of a support order or determination of parentage of a child. In the proceeding, the law
of this state applies.

(b) A petitioner may file a direct request seeking recognition and enforcement of a
support order or support agreement. In the proceeding, sections 518C.706 to 518C.713
apply.

(c) In a direct request for recognition and enforcement of a convention support
order or foreign support agreement:

(1) a security, bond, or deposit is not required to guarantee the payment of costs
and expenses; and

(2) an obligee or obligor that in the issuing country has benefited from free legal
assistance is entitled to benefit, at least to the same extent, from any free legal assistance
provided for by the law of this state under the same circumstances.

(d) A petitioner filing a direct request is not entitled to assistance from the
Department of Human Services.

(e) Sections 518C.701 to 518C.713 do not prevent the application of laws of
this state that provide simplified, more expeditious rules regarding a direct request for
recognition and enforcement of a foreign support order or foreign support agreement.

Sec. 60.

[518C.706] REGISTRATION OF CONVENTION SUPPORT ORDER.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in sections 518C.701 to 518C.713, a party who is
an individual or a support enforcement agency seeking recognition of a convention support
order shall register the order in this state as provided in sections 518C.601 to 518C.616.

(b) Notwithstanding sections 518C.311 and 518C.602, paragraph (a), a request for
registration of a convention support order must be accompanied by:

(1) a complete text of the support order or an abstract or extract of the support order
drawn up by the issuing foreign tribunal, which may be in the form recommended by the
Hague Conference on Private International Law;

(2) a record stating that the support order is enforceable in the issuing country;

(3) if the respondent did not appear and was not represented in the proceedings
in the issuing country, a record attesting, as appropriate, either that the respondent had
proper notice of the proceedings and an opportunity to be heard or that the respondent
had proper notice of the support order and an opportunity to be heard in a challenge
or appeal on fact or law before a tribunal;

(4) a record showing the amount of arrears, if any, and the date the amount was
calculated;

(5) a record showing a requirement for automatic adjustment of the amount of
support, if any, and the information necessary to make the appropriate calculations; and

(6) if necessary, a record showing the extent to which the applicant received free
legal assistance in the issuing country.

(c) A request for registration of a convention support order may seek recognition
and partial enforcement of the order.

(d) A tribunal of this state may vacate the registration of a convention support order
without the filing of a contest under section 518C.707 only if, acting on its own motion,
the tribunal finds that recognition and enforcement of the order would be manifestly
incompatible with public policy.

(e) The tribunal shall promptly notify the parties of the registration or the order
vacating the registration of a convention support order.

Sec. 61.

[518C.707] CONTEST OF REGISTERED CONVENTION SUPPORT
ORDER.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in sections 518C.701 to 518C.713, sections
518C.605 to 518C.608 apply to a contest of a registered convention support order.

(b) A party contesting a registered convention support order shall file a contest no later
than 30 days after notice of the registration, but if the contesting party does not reside in the
United States, the contest must be filed no later than 60 days after notice of the registration.

(c) If the nonregistering party fails to contest the registered convention support order
by the time specified in paragraph (b), the order is enforceable.

(d) A contest of a registered convention support order may be based only on grounds
set forth in section 518C.708. The contesting party bears the burden of proof.

(e) In a contest of a registered convention support order, a tribunal of this state:

(1) is bound by the findings of fact on which the foreign tribunal based its
jurisdiction; and

(2) may not review the merits of the order.

(f) A tribunal of this state deciding a contest of a registered convention support order
shall promptly notify the parties of its decision.

(g) A challenge or appeal, if any, does not stay the enforcement of a convention
support order unless there are exceptional circumstances.

Sec. 62.

[518C.708] RECOGNITION AND ENFORCEMENT OF REGISTERED
CONVENTION SUPPORT ORDER.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (b), a tribunal of this state shall
recognize and enforce a registered convention support order.

(b) The following grounds are the only grounds on which a tribunal of this state may
refuse recognition and enforcement of a registered convention support order:

(1) recognition and enforcement of the order is manifestly incompatible with public
policy, including the failure of the issuing tribunal to observe minimum standards of due
process, which include notice and an opportunity to be heard;

(2) the issuing tribunal lacked personal jurisdiction consistent with section 518C.201;

(3) the order is not enforceable in the issuing country;

(4) the order was obtained by fraud in connection with a matter of procedure;

(5) a record transmitted in accordance with section 518C.706 lacks authenticity or
integrity;

(6) a proceeding between the same parties and having the same purpose is pending
before a tribunal of this state and that proceeding was the first to be filed;

(7) the order is incompatible with a more recent support order involving the same
parties and having the same purpose if the more recent support order is entitled to
recognition and enforcement under this chapter in this state;

(8) payment, to the extent alleged arrears have been paid in whole or in part;

(9) in a case in which the respondent neither appeared nor was represented in the
proceeding in the issuing foreign country:

(i) if the law of that country provides for prior notice of proceedings, the respondent
did not have proper notice of the proceedings and an opportunity to be heard; or

(ii) if the law of that country does not provide for prior notice of the proceedings,
the respondent did not have proper notice of the order and an opportunity to be heard in
a challenge or appeal on fact or law before a tribunal; or

(10) the order was made in violation of section 518C.711.

(c) If a tribunal of this state does not recognize a convention support order under
paragraph (b), clause (2), (4), or (9):

(1) the tribunal may not dismiss the proceeding without allowing a reasonable time
for a party to request the establishment of a new convention support order; and

(2) the Department of Human Services shall take all appropriate measures to request
a child support order for the obligee if the application for recognition and enforcement
was received under section 518C.704.

Sec. 63.

[518C.709] PARTIAL ENFORCEMENT.

If a tribunal of this state does not recognize and enforce a convention support order
in its entirety, it shall enforce any severable part of the order. An application or direct
request may seek recognition and partial enforcement of a convention support order.

Sec. 64.

[518C.710] FOREIGN SUPPORT AGREEMENT.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in paragraphs (c) and (d), a tribunal of this state
shall recognize and enforce a foreign support agreement registered in this state.

(b) An application or direct request for recognition and enforcement of a foreign
support agreement must be accompanied by:

(1) a complete text of the foreign support agreement; and

(2) a record stating that the foreign support agreement is enforceable as an order
of support in the issuing country.

(c) A tribunal of this state may vacate the registration of a foreign support agreement
only if, acting on its own motion, the tribunal finds that recognition and enforcement
would be manifestly incompatible with public policy.

(d) In a contest of a foreign support agreement, a tribunal of this state may refuse
recognition and enforcement of the agreement if it finds:

(1) recognition and enforcement of the agreement is manifestly incompatible with
public policy;

(2) the agreement was obtained by fraud or falsification;

(3) the agreement is incompatible with a support order involving the same parties
and having the same purpose in this state, another state, or a foreign country if the support
order is entitled to recognition and enforcement under this chapter in this state; or

(4) the record submitted under paragraph (b) lacks authenticity or integrity.

(e) A proceeding for recognition and enforcement of a foreign support agreement
must be suspended during the pendency of a challenge to or appeal of the agreement
before a tribunal of another state or a foreign country.

Sec. 65.

[518C.711] MODIFICATION OF CONVENTION CHILD SUPPORT
ORDER.

(a) A tribunal of this state may not modify a convention child support order if the
obligee remains a resident of the foreign country where the support order was issued unless:

(1) the obligee submits to the jurisdiction of a tribunal of this state, either expressly
or by defending on the merits of the case without objecting to the jurisdiction at the first
available opportunity; or

(2) the foreign tribunal lacks or refuses to exercise jurisdiction to modify its support
order or issue a new support order.

(b) If a tribunal of this state does not modify a convention child support order
because the order is not recognized in this state, section 518C.708, paragraph (c), applies.

Sec. 66.

[518C.712] PERSONAL INFORMATION; LIMIT ON USE.

Personal information gathered or transmitted under sections 518C.701 to 518C.713
may be used only for the purposes for which it was gathered or transmitted.

Sec. 67.

[518C.713] RECORD IN ORIGINAL LANGUAGE; ENGLISH
TRANSLATION.

A record filed with a tribunal of this state under sections 518C.701 to 518C.713
must be in the original language and, if not in English, must be accompanied by an
English translation.

Sec. 68.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 518C.801, is amended to read:

518C.801 GROUNDS FOR RENDITION.

(a) For purposes of this article this section and section 518C.802, "governor"
includes an individual performing the functions of governor or the executive authority of
a state covered by this chapter.

(b) The governor of this state may:

(1) demand that the governor of another state surrender an individual found in the
other state who is charged criminally in this state with having failed to provide for the
support of an obligee; or

(2) on the demand by the governor of another state, surrender an individual found in
this state who is charged criminally in the other state with having failed to provide for
the support of an obligee.

(c) A provision for extradition of individuals not inconsistent with this chapter
applies to the demand even if the individual whose surrender is demanded was not in the
demanding state when the crime was allegedly committed and has not fled therefrom
from the demanding state.

Sec. 69.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 518C.902, is amended to read:

518C.902 SHORT TITLE TRANSITIONAL PROVISION.

This chapter may be cited as the "Uniform Interstate Family Support Act." applies to
proceedings begun on or after the effective date of this act to establish a support order or
determine parentage of a child or to register, recognize, enforce, or modify a prior support
order, determination, or agreement, whenever issued or entered.

Sec. 70.

[518C.905] SHORT TITLE.

This chapter may be cited as the "Uniform Interstate Family Support Act."

Sec. 71. REVISOR'S INSTRUCTION.

The revisor of statutes shall renumber Minnesota Statutes, section 518C.5025, as
Minnesota Statutes, section 518C.502, and Minnesota Statutes, section 518C.508, as
Minnesota Statutes, section 518C.507, and correct any references in Minnesota Statutes or
Minnesota Rules to those sections.

Sec. 72. REPEALER.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 518C.502, is repealed.

Sec. 73. EFFECTIVE DATE.

This act becomes effective on the date that the United States deposits the instrument
of ratification for the Hague Convention on the International Recovery of Child Support
and Other Forms of Family Maintenance with the Hague Conference on Private
International Law.