1st Engrossment - 81st Legislature (1999 - 2000) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am
1.1 A bill for an act 1.2 relating to family law; repealing the administrative 1.3 process for support orders; establishing a child 1.4 support magistrate system; appropriating money; 1.5 amending Minnesota Statutes 1998, sections 357.021, 1.6 subdivision 1a; 484.70, subdivision 1; 518.54, by 1.7 adding a subdivision; 518.551, subdivisions 9, 12, 13, 1.8 and 14; 518.575, subdivision 1; 518.616, subdivision 1.9 1; and 552.05, subdivision 10; proposing coding for 1.10 new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapters 484; and 518; 1.11 repealing Minnesota Statutes 1998, sections 518.5511; 1.12 and 518.5512. 1.13 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 1.14 ARTICLE 1 1.15 EXPEDITED ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES AND JUDICIAL PROCESS 1.16 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 484.70, 1.17 subdivision 1, is amended to read: 1.18 Subdivision 1. [APPOINTMENT.] The chief judge of the 1.19 judicial district may appoint one or more suitable persons to 1.20 act as referees. Referees shall hold office at the pleasure of 1.21 the judges of the district court and shall be learned in the 1.22 law, except that persons holding the office of referee on 1.23 January 1, 1983, may continue to serve under the terms and 1.24 conditions of their appointment. All referees are subject to 1.25 the administrative authority and assignment power of the chief 1.26 judge of the district as provided in section 484.69, subdivision 1.27 3, and are not limited to assignment to family, probate, 1.28 juvenile or special term court.Part time referees holding1.29office in the second judicial district pursuant to this2.1subdivision shall cease to hold office on July 31, 1984.2.2 Sec. 2. [484.702] [EXPEDITED CHILD SUPPORT HEARING 2.3 PROCESS.] 2.4 Subdivision 1. [CREATION; SCOPE.] (a) The supreme court 2.5 shall create an expedited child support hearing process to 2.6 establish parentage; establish, modify, and enforce child 2.7 support; and enforce maintenance, if combined with child 2.8 support. The process must be designed to handle child support 2.9 and paternity matters in compliance with federal law. 2.10 (b) All proceedings establishing, modifying, or enforcing 2.11 support orders; and enforcing maintenance orders, if combined 2.12 with a support proceeding, must be conducted in the expedited 2.13 process if the case is a IV-D case. Cases that are not IV-D 2.14 cases may not be conducted in the expedited process. 2.15 (c) This section does not prevent a party, upon timely 2.16 notice to the public authority, from commencing an action or 2.17 bringing a motion in district court for the establishment, 2.18 modification, or enforcement of support, or enforcement of 2.19 maintenance orders if combined with a support proceeding, where 2.20 additional issues involving domestic abuse, establishment or 2.21 modification of custody or visitation, or property issues exist 2.22 as noticed by the complaint, motion, counter motion, or counter 2.23 action. 2.24 (d) The expedited process may include contempt actions or 2.25 actions to establish parentage. 2.26 (e) The expedited process should meet the following goals: 2.27 (1) be streamlined and uniform statewide and result in 2.28 timely and consistent issuance of orders; 2.29 (2) be accessible to the parties without the need for an 2.30 attorney and minimize litigation; 2.31 (3) be a cost-effective use of limited financial resources; 2.32 and 2.33 (4) comply with applicable federal law. 2.34 Subd. 2. [ADMINISTRATION.] (a) The state court 2.35 administrator shall provide for the administration of the 2.36 expedited child support hearing process in each judicial 3.1 district. 3.2 (b) Until June 30, 2000, the office of administrative 3.3 hearings may contract with the state court administrator to 3.4 provide one or more administrative law judges to serve as child 3.5 support magistrates. The title to all personal property used in 3.6 the administrative child support process mutually agreed upon by 3.7 the office of administrative hearings and the office of the 3.8 state court administrator must be transferred to the state court 3.9 administrator for use in the expedited child support process. 3.10 Subd. 3. [APPOINTMENT OF CHILD SUPPORT MAGISTRATES.] The 3.11 chief judge of each judicial district may appoint one or more 3.12 suitable persons to act as child support magistrates for the 3.13 expedited child support hearing process, with the confirmation 3.14 of the supreme court. A child support magistrate may be hired 3.15 on a full-time, part-time, or contract basis. 3.16 Subd. 4. [TRAINING AND QUALIFICATIONS OF CHILD SUPPORT 3.17 MAGISTRATES.] The supreme court may: 3.18 (1) provide training for individuals who serve as child 3.19 support magistrates for the expedited child support hearing 3.20 process; 3.21 (2) establish minimum qualifications for child support 3.22 magistrates; and 3.23 (3) establish a policy for evaluating and removing child 3.24 support magistrates. 3.25 Subd. 5. [RULES.] The supreme court, in consultation with 3.26 the conference of chief judges, shall adopt rules to implement 3.27 the expedited child support hearing process under this section. 3.28 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 518.54, is 3.29 amended by adding a subdivision to read: 3.30 Subd. 14. [IV-D CASE.] "IV-D case" means a case where a 3.31 party has assigned to the state rights to child support because 3.32 of the receipt of public assistance as defined in section 3.33 256.741 or has applied for child support services under title 3.34 IV-D of the Social Security Act, United States Code, title 42, 3.35 section 654(4). 3.36 Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 518.551, 4.1 subdivision 9, is amended to read: 4.2 Subd. 9. [ASSIGNMENT OF RIGHTS; JUDGMENT.] (a) The public 4.3 agency responsible for child support enforcement is joined as a 4.4 party in each case in which rights are assigned under section 4.5 256.741, subdivision 2. The court administrator shall enter and 4.6 docket a judgment obtained by operation of law under section 4.7 548.091, subdivision 1, in the name of the public agency to the 4.8 extent that the obligation has been assigned. When arrearages 4.9 are reduced to judgment under circumstances in which section 4.10 548.091 is not applicable, the court shall grant judgment in 4.11 favor of, and in the name of, the public agency to the extent 4.12 that the arrearages are assigned. After filing notice of an 4.13 assignment with the court administrator, who shall enter the 4.14 notice in the docket, the public agency may enforce a judgment 4.15 entered before the assignment of rights as if the judgment were 4.16 granted to it, and in its name, to the extent that the 4.17 arrearages in that judgment are assigned. 4.18 (b) The public authority is a real party in interest in any 4.19 IV-D case where there has been an assignment of support. In all 4.20 other IV-D cases, the public authority has a pecuniary interest, 4.21 as well as an interest in the welfare of the children involved 4.22 in those cases. The public authority may intervene as a matter 4.23 of right in those cases to assure that child support orders are 4.24 obtained and enforced which provide for an appropriate and 4.25 accurate level of child, medical, and child care support. If 4.26 the public authority participates in a IV-D case where the 4.27 action taken by the public authority requires the use of an 4.28 attorney's services, the public authority shall be represented 4.29 by an attorney consistent with the provisions in section 518.255. 4.30 Sec. 5. [518.5513] [PUBLIC AUTHORITY PROCEDURES FOR CHILD 4.31 AND MEDICAL SUPPORT ORDERS AND PARENTAGE ORDERS.] 4.32 Subdivision 1. [GENERAL.] The public authority may use the 4.33 provisions of this section in cases in which support rights are 4.34 assigned under section 256.741, subdivision 2, or where the 4.35 public authority is providing services under an application for 4.36 child support services. 5.1 Subd. 2. [ROLE OF NONATTORNEY EMPLOYEES; GENERAL 5.2 PROVISIONS.] (a) Nonattorney employees of the public authority 5.3 may: 5.4 (1) gather information and negotiate settlements on behalf 5.5 of the public authority; 5.6 (2) meet and confer with parties to a child support or 5.7 paternity proceeding in person, by mail, telephone, electronic 5.8 means, or any other method that facilitates communication and 5.9 agreement; and 5.10 (3) exercise other powers on behalf of the public authority 5.11 under this section as provided in subdivisions 3 to 5. 5.12 (b) In consultation with the county attorney, nonattorney 5.13 employees of the public authority may draft pleadings. The 5.14 county attorney must review and sign all pleadings. 5.15 Subd. 3. [PREPARATION OF FINANCIAL WORKSHEET.] (a) In 5.16 cases involving establishment or modification of a child support 5.17 order, a nonattorney employee of the public authority shall 5.18 prepare a financial worksheet that contains: 5.19 (1) names and addresses of the parties; 5.20 (2) Social Security numbers of the parties; 5.21 (3) number of members in household of each party and 5.22 dependents of the parties; 5.23 (4) names and addresses of the parties' employers; 5.24 (5) net income of the parties as defined in section 5.25 518.551, subdivision 5, with the authorized deductions itemized; 5.26 (6) amounts and sources of any other earnings and income of 5.27 the parties; 5.28 (7) health insurance coverage of parties; and 5.29 (8) any other information relevant to the determination of 5.30 child or medical support under section 518.171 or 518.551, 5.31 subdivision 5. 5.32 (b) In preparing the financial worksheet, the nonattorney 5.33 employee of the public authority shall obtain any income 5.34 information available to the public authority from the 5.35 department of economic security and serve this information on 5.36 the parties. The information must be filed with the court or 6.1 child support magistrate at least five days before any hearing 6.2 involving child support, medical support, or child care 6.3 reimbursement issues. 6.4 Subd. 4. [NONCONTESTED MATTERS.] Under the direction of 6.5 the county attorney and based on agreement of the parties, 6.6 nonattorney employees may prepare a stipulation, findings of 6.7 fact, conclusions of law, and proposed order. The documents 6.8 must be approved and signed by the county attorney as to form 6.9 and content before submission to the court or child support 6.10 magistrate for approval. 6.11 Subd. 5. [ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITY.] (a) The public 6.12 authority may take the following actions relating to 6.13 establishment of paternity or to establishment, modification, or 6.14 enforcement of support orders, without the necessity of 6.15 obtaining an order from any judicial or administrative tribunal: 6.16 (1) recognize and enforce orders of child support agencies 6.17 of other states; 6.18 (2) upon request for genetic testing by a child, parent, or 6.19 any alleged parent, and using the procedure in paragraph (b), 6.20 order the child, parent, or alleged parent to submit to blood or 6.21 genetic testing for the purpose of establishing paternity; 6.22 (3) subpoena financial or other information needed to 6.23 establish, modify, or enforce a child support order and request 6.24 sanctions for failure to respond to a subpoena; 6.25 (4) upon notice to the obligor, obligee, and the 6.26 appropriate court, direct the obligor or other payor to change 6.27 the payee to the central collections unit under sections 6.28 518.5851 to 518.5853; 6.29 (5) order income withholding of child support under section 6.30 518.6111; 6.31 (6) secure assets to satisfy the debt or arrearage in cases 6.32 in which there is a support debt or arrearage by: 6.33 (i) intercepting or seizing periodic or lump sum payments 6.34 from state or local agencies, including reemployment insurance, 6.35 workers' compensation payments, judgments, settlements, 6.36 lotteries, and other lump sum payments; 7.1 (ii) attaching and seizing assets of the obligor held in 7.2 financial institutions or public or private retirement funds; 7.3 and 7.4 (iii) imposing liens in accordance with section 548.091 7.5 and, in appropriate cases, forcing the sale of property and the 7.6 distribution of proceeds; 7.7 (7) for the purpose of securing overdue support, increase 7.8 the amount of the monthly support payments by an additional 7.9 amount equal to 20 percent of the monthly support payment to 7.10 include amounts for debts or arrearages; and 7.11 (8) subpoena an employer or payor of funds to provide 7.12 promptly information on the employment, compensation, and 7.13 benefits of an individual employed by that employer as an 7.14 employee or contractor, and to request sanctions for failure to 7.15 respond to the subpoena as provided by law. 7.16 (b) A request for genetic testing by a child, parent, or 7.17 alleged parent must be support by a sworn statement by the 7.18 person requesting genetic testing alleging paternity, which sets 7.19 forth facts establishing a reasonable possibility of the 7.20 requisite sexual contact between the parties, or denying 7.21 paternity, and setting forth facts establishing a reasonable 7.22 possibility of the nonexistence of sexual contact between the 7.23 alleged parties. The order for genetic tests may be served 7.24 anywhere within the state and served outside the state in the 7.25 same manner as prescribed by law for service of subpoenas issued 7.26 by the district court of this state. If the child, parent, or 7.27 alleged parent fails to comply with the genetic testing order, 7.28 the public authority may seek to enforce that order in district 7.29 court through a motion to compel testing. No results obtained 7.30 through genetic testing done in response to an order issued 7.31 under this section may be used in any criminal proceeding. 7.32 (c) Subpoenas may be served anywhere within the state and 7.33 served outside the state in the same manner as prescribed by law 7.34 for service of process of subpoenas issued by the district court 7.35 of this state. When a subpoena under this subdivision is served 7.36 on a third-party recordkeeper, written notice of the subpoena 8.1 shall be mailed to the person who is the subject of the 8.2 subpoenaed material at the person's last known address within 8.3 three days of the day the subpoena is served. This notice 8.4 provision does not apply if there is reasonable cause to believe 8.5 the giving of the notice may lead to interference with the 8.6 production of the subpoenaed documents. 8.7 (d) A person served with a subpoena may make a written 8.8 objection to the public authority or court before the time 8.9 specified in the subpoena for compliance. The public authority 8.10 or the court shall cancel or modify the subpoena, if 8.11 appropriate. The public authority shall pay the reasonable 8.12 costs of producing the documents, if requested. 8.13 (e) Subpoenas are enforceable in the same manner as 8.14 subpoenas of the district court. Upon motion of the IV-D 8.15 attorney, the court may issue an order directing the production 8.16 of the records. Failure to comply with the court order may 8.17 subject the person who fails to comply to civil or criminal 8.18 contempt of court. 8.19 (f) The administrative actions under this subdivision are 8.20 subject to due process safeguards, including requirements for 8.21 notice, opportunity to contest the action, and opportunity to 8.22 appeal the order to the judge, judicial officer, or child 8.23 support magistrate. 8.24 Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 552.05, 8.25 subdivision 10, is amended to read: 8.26 Subd. 10. [FORMS.] Thecommissioner of human services8.27shallsupreme court is requested to developstatutoryforms for 8.28 use as required under this chapter.In developing these forms,8.29the commissioner shall consult with the attorney general,8.30representatives of financial institutions, and legal services.8.31The commissioner shall report back to the legislature by8.32February 1, 1998, with recommended forms to be included in this8.33chapter.8.34 Sec. 7. [TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS.] 8.35 Judicial districts are encouraged to utilize the existing 8.36 expertise of child support administrative law judges in 9.1 appointing child support magistrates under section 2 in order to 9.2 facilitate the transfer of these functions to the judicial 9.3 branch. 9.4 Sec. 8. [APPROPRIATION.] 9.5 $....... is appropriated from the general fund to the 9.6 supreme court for purposes of funding the child support 9.7 magistrate positions under this article. This appropriation is 9.8 available until June 30, 2001. 9.9 ARTICLE 2 9.10 ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS REPEAL 9.11 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 357.021, 9.12 subdivision 1a, is amended to read: 9.13 Subd. 1a. [TRANSMITTAL OF FEES TO STATE TREASURER.] (a) 9.14 Every person, including the state of Minnesota and all bodies 9.15 politic and corporate, who shall transact any business in the 9.16 district court, shall pay to the court administrator of said 9.17 court the sundry fees prescribed in subdivision 2. Except as 9.18 provided in paragraph (d), the court administrator shall 9.19 transmit the fees monthly to the state treasurer for deposit in 9.20 the state treasury and credit to the general fund. 9.21 (b) In a county which has a screener-collector position, 9.22 fees paid by a county pursuant to this subdivision shall be 9.23 transmitted monthly to the county treasurer, who shall apply the 9.24 fees first to reimburse the county for the amount of the salary 9.25 paid for the screener-collector position. The balance of the 9.26 fees collected shall then be forwarded to the state treasurer 9.27 for deposit in the state treasury and credited to the general 9.28 fund. In a county in the eighth judicial district which has a 9.29 screener-collector position, the fees paid by a county shall be 9.30 transmitted monthly to the state treasurer for deposit in the 9.31 state treasury and credited to the general fund. A 9.32 screener-collector position for purposes of this paragraph is an 9.33 employee whose function is to increase the collection of fines 9.34 and to review the incomes of potential clients of the public 9.35 defender, in order to verify eligibility for that service. 9.36 (c) No fee is required under this section from the public 10.1 authority or the party the public authority represents in an 10.2 action for: 10.3 (1) child support enforcement or modification, medical 10.4 assistance enforcement, or establishment of parentage in the 10.5 district court, or child or medical support enforcement10.6conducted by an administrative law judge in an administrative10.7hearing under section 518.5511; 10.8 (2) civil commitment under chapter 253B; 10.9 (3) the appointment of a public conservator or public 10.10 guardian or any other action under chapters 252A and 525; 10.11 (4) wrongfully obtaining public assistance under section 10.12 256.98 or 256D.07, or recovery of overpayments of public 10.13 assistance; 10.14 (5) court relief under chapter 260; 10.15 (6) forfeiture of property under sections 169.1217 and 10.16 609.531 to 609.5317; 10.17 (7) recovery of amounts issued by political subdivisions or 10.18 public institutions under sections 246.52, 252.27, 256.045, 10.19 256.25, 256.87, 256B.042, 256B.14, 256B.15, 256B.37, and 10.20 260.251, or other sections referring to other forms of public 10.21 assistance; 10.22 (8) restitution under section 611A.04; or 10.23 (9) actions seeking monetary relief in favor of the state 10.24 pursuant to section 16D.14, subdivision 5. 10.25 (d) The fees collected for child support modifications 10.26 under subdivision 2, clause (13), must be transmitted to the 10.27 county treasurer for deposit in the county general fund. The 10.28 fees must be used by the county to pay for child support 10.29 enforcement efforts by county attorneys. 10.30 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 518.551, 10.31 subdivision 12, is amended to read: 10.32 Subd. 12. [OCCUPATIONAL LICENSE SUSPENSION.] (a) Upon 10.33 motion of an obligee, if the court finds that the obligor is or 10.34 may be licensed by a licensing board listed in section 214.01 or 10.35 other state, county, or municipal agency or board that issues an 10.36 occupational license and the obligor is in arrears in 11.1 court-ordered child support or maintenance payments or both in 11.2 an amount equal to or greater than three times the obligor's 11.3 total monthly support and maintenance payments and is not in 11.4 compliance with a written payment agreement regarding both 11.5 current support and arrearages approved by the court,an11.6administrative law judge,a child support magistrate, or the 11.7 public authority,the administrative law judge, orthe court 11.8 shall direct the licensing board or other licensing agency to 11.9 suspend the license under section 214.101. The court's order 11.10 must be stayed for 90 days in order to allow the obligor to 11.11 execute a written payment agreement regarding both current 11.12 support and arrearages. The payment agreement must be approved 11.13 by either the court or the public authority responsible for 11.14 child support enforcement. If the obligor has not executed or 11.15 is not in compliance with a written payment agreement regarding 11.16 both current support and arrearages after the 90 days expires, 11.17 the court's order becomes effective. If the obligor is a 11.18 licensed attorney, the court shall report the matter to the 11.19 lawyers professional responsibility board for appropriate action 11.20 in accordance with the rules of professional conduct. The 11.21 remedy under this subdivision is in addition to any other 11.22 enforcement remedy available to the court. 11.23 (b) If a public authority responsible for child support 11.24 enforcement finds that the obligor is or may be licensed by a 11.25 licensing board listed in section 214.01 or other state, county, 11.26 or municipal agency or board that issues an occupational license 11.27 and the obligor is in arrears in court-ordered child support or 11.28 maintenance payments or both in an amount equal to or greater 11.29 than three times the obligor's total monthly support and 11.30 maintenance payments and is not in compliance with a written 11.31 payment agreement regarding both current support and arrearages 11.32 approved by the court,an administrative law judge,a child 11.33 support magistrate, or the public authority, the court, an11.34administrative law judge,or the public authority shall direct 11.35 the licensing board or other licensing agency to suspend the 11.36 license under section 214.101. If the obligor is a licensed 12.1 attorney, the public authority may report the matter to the 12.2 lawyers professional responsibility board for appropriate action 12.3 in accordance with the rules of professional conduct. The 12.4 remedy under this subdivision is in addition to any other 12.5 enforcement remedy available to the public authority. 12.6 (c) At least 90 days before notifying a licensing authority 12.7 or the lawyers professional responsibility board under paragraph 12.8 (b), the public authority shall mail a written notice to the 12.9 license holder addressed to the license holder's last known 12.10 address that the public authority intends to seek license 12.11 suspension under this subdivision and that the license holder 12.12 must request a hearing within 30 days in order to contest the 12.13 suspension. If the license holder makes a written request for a 12.14 hearing within 30 days of the date of the notice,eithera court 12.15 hearingor a contested administrative proceedingmust be held 12.16under section 518.5511, subdivision 4. Notwithstanding any law 12.17 to the contrary, the license holder must be served with 14 days' 12.18 notice in writing specifying the time and place of the hearing 12.19 and the allegations against the license holder. The notice may 12.20 be served personally or by mail. If the public authority does 12.21 not receive a request for a hearing within 30 days of the date 12.22 of the notice, and the obligor does not execute a written 12.23 payment agreement regarding both current support and arrearages 12.24 approved by the public authority within 90 days of the date of 12.25 the notice, the public authority shall direct the licensing 12.26 board or other licensing agency to suspend the obligor's license 12.27 under paragraph (b), or shall report the matter to the lawyers 12.28 professional responsibility board. 12.29 (d)The administrative law judge, on behalf ofThe public 12.30 authority,or the court shall notify the lawyers professional 12.31 responsibility board for appropriate action in accordance with 12.32 the rules of professional responsibility conduct or order the 12.33 licensing board or licensing agency to suspend the license if 12.34 the judge finds that: 12.35 (1) the person is licensed by a licensing board or other 12.36 state agency that issues an occupational license; 13.1 (2) the person has not made full payment of arrearages 13.2 found to be due by the public authority; and 13.3 (3) the person has not executed or is not in compliance 13.4 with a payment plan approved by the court,an administrative law13.5judge,a child support magistrate, or the public authority. 13.6 (e) Within 15 days of the date on which the obligor either 13.7 makes full payment of arrearages found to be due by the court or 13.8 public authority or executes and initiates good faith compliance 13.9 with a written payment plan approved by the court,an13.10administrative law judge,a child support magistrate, or the 13.11 public authority, the court,an administrative law judge,a 13.12 child support magistrate, or the public authority responsible 13.13 for child support enforcement shall notify the licensing board 13.14 or licensing agency or the lawyers professional responsibility 13.15 board that the obligor is no longer ineligible for license 13.16 issuance, reinstatement, or renewal under this subdivision. 13.17 (f) In addition to the criteria established under this 13.18 section for the suspension of an obligor's occupational license, 13.19 a court,an administrative law judge,a child support 13.20 magistrate, or the public authority may direct the licensing 13.21 board or other licensing agency to suspend the license of a 13.22 party who has failed, after receiving notice, to comply with a 13.23 subpoena relating to a paternity or child support proceeding. 13.24 Notice to an obligor of intent to suspend must be served by 13.25 first class mail at the obligor's last known address. The 13.26 notice must inform the obligor of the right to request a 13.27 hearing. If the obligor makes a written request within ten days 13.28 of the date of the hearing, acontested administrative13.29proceedinghearing must be heldunder section 518.5511,13.30subdivision 4. At the hearing, the only issues to be considered 13.31 are mistake of fact and whether the obligor received the 13.32 subpoena. 13.33 (g) The license of an obligor who fails to remain in 13.34 compliance with an approved payment agreement may be suspended. 13.35 Notice to the obligor of an intent to suspend under this 13.36 paragraph must be served by first class mail at the obligor's 14.1 last known address and must include a notice of hearing. The 14.2 notice must be served upon the obligor not less than ten days 14.3 before the date of the hearing. If the obligor appears at the 14.4 hearing and the judge determines that the obligor has failed to 14.5 comply with an approved payment agreement, the judge shall 14.6 notify the occupational licensing board or agency to suspend the 14.7 obligor's license under paragraph (c). If the obligor fails to 14.8 appear at the hearing, the public authority may notify the 14.9 occupational or licensing board to suspend the obligor's license 14.10 under paragraph (c). 14.11 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 518.551, 14.12 subdivision 13, is amended to read: 14.13 Subd. 13. [DRIVER'S LICENSE SUSPENSION.] (a) Upon motion 14.14 of an obligee, which has been properly served on the obligor and 14.15 upon which there has been an opportunity for hearing, if a court 14.16 finds that the obligor has been or may be issued a driver's 14.17 license by the commissioner of public safety and the obligor is 14.18 in arrears in court-ordered child support or maintenance 14.19 payments, or both, in an amount equal to or greater than three 14.20 times the obligor's total monthly support and maintenance 14.21 payments and is not in compliance with a written payment 14.22 agreement regarding both current support and arrearages approved 14.23 by the court,an administrative law judge,a child support 14.24 magistrate, or the public authority, the court shall order the 14.25 commissioner of public safety to suspend the obligor's driver's 14.26 license. The court's order must be stayed for 90 days in order 14.27 to allow the obligor to execute a written payment agreement 14.28 regarding both current support and arrearages, which payment 14.29 agreement must be approved by either the court or the public 14.30 authority responsible for child support enforcement. If the 14.31 obligor has not executed or is not in compliance with a written 14.32 payment agreement regarding both current support and arrearages 14.33 after the 90 days expires, the court's order becomes effective 14.34 and the commissioner of public safety shall suspend the 14.35 obligor's driver's license. The remedy under this subdivision 14.36 is in addition to any other enforcement remedy available to the 15.1 court. An obligee may not bring a motion under this paragraph 15.2 within 12 months of a denial of a previous motion under this 15.3 paragraph. 15.4 (b) If a public authority responsible for child support 15.5 enforcement determines that the obligor has been or may be 15.6 issued a driver's license by the commissioner of public safety 15.7 and the obligor is in arrears in court-ordered child support or 15.8 maintenance payments or both in an amount equal to or greater 15.9 than three times the obligor's total monthly support and 15.10 maintenance payments and not in compliance with a written 15.11 payment agreement regarding both current support and arrearages 15.12 approved by the court,an administrative law judge,a child 15.13 support magistrate, or the public authority, the public 15.14 authority shall direct the commissioner of public safety to 15.15 suspend the obligor's driver's license. The remedy under this 15.16 subdivision is in addition to any other enforcement remedy 15.17 available to the public authority. 15.18 (c) At least 90 days prior to notifying the commissioner of 15.19 public safety according to paragraph (b), the public authority 15.20 must mail a written notice to the obligor at the obligor's last 15.21 known address, that it intends to seek suspension of the 15.22 obligor's driver's license and that the obligor must request a 15.23 hearing within 30 days in order to contest the suspension. If 15.24 the obligor makes a written request for a hearing within 30 days 15.25 of the date of the notice,eithera court hearingor a contested15.26administrative proceedingmust be heldunder section 518.5511,15.27subdivision 4. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the 15.28 obligor must be served with 14 days' notice in writing 15.29 specifying the time and place of the hearing and the allegations 15.30 against the obligor. The notice may be served personally or by 15.31 mail. If the public authority does not receive a request for a 15.32 hearing within 30 days of the date of the notice, and the 15.33 obligor does not execute a written payment agreement regarding 15.34 both current support and arrearages approved by the public 15.35 authority within 90 days of the date of the notice, the public 15.36 authority shall direct the commissioner of public safety to 16.1 suspend the obligor's driver's license under paragraph (b). 16.2 (d) At a hearing requested by the obligor under paragraph 16.3 (c), and on finding that the obligor is in arrears in 16.4 court-ordered child support or maintenance payments or both in 16.5 an amount equal to or greater than three times the obligor's 16.6 total monthly support and maintenance payments, the district 16.7 courtor the administrative law judgeor child support 16.8 magistrate shall order the commissioner of public safety to 16.9 suspend the obligor's driver's license or operating privileges 16.10 unless the court oradministrative law judgechild support 16.11 magistrate determines that the obligor has executed and is in 16.12 compliance with a written payment agreement regarding both 16.13 current support and arrearages approved by the court,an16.14administrative law judge,a child support magistrate, or the 16.15 public authority. 16.16 (e) An obligor whose driver's license or operating 16.17 privileges are suspended may provide proof to the public 16.18 authority responsible for child support enforcement that the 16.19 obligor is in compliance with all written payment agreements 16.20 regarding both current support and arrearages. Within 15 days 16.21 of the receipt of that proof, the public authority shall inform 16.22 the commissioner of public safety that the obligor's driver's 16.23 license or operating privileges should no longer be suspended. 16.24 (f) On January 15, 1997, and every two years after that, 16.25 the commissioner of human services shall submit a report to the 16.26 legislature that identifies the following information relevant 16.27 to the implementation of this section: 16.28 (1) the number of child support obligors notified of an 16.29 intent to suspend a driver's license; 16.30 (2) the amount collected in payments from the child support 16.31 obligors notified of an intent to suspend a driver's license; 16.32 (3) the number of cases paid in full and payment agreements 16.33 executed in response to notification of an intent to suspend a 16.34 driver's license; 16.35 (4) the number of cases in which there has been 16.36 notification and no payments or payment agreements; 17.1 (5) the number of driver's licenses suspended; and 17.2 (6) the cost of implementation and operation of the 17.3 requirements of this section. 17.4 (g) In addition to the criteria established under this 17.5 section for the suspension of an obligor's driver's license, a 17.6 court,an administrative law judge,a child support magistrate, 17.7 or the public authority may direct the commissioner of public 17.8 safety to suspend the license of a party who has failed, after 17.9 receiving notice, to comply with a subpoena relating to a 17.10 paternity or child support proceeding. Notice to an obligor of 17.11 intent to suspend must be served by first class mail at the 17.12 obligor's last known address. The notice must inform the 17.13 obligor of the right to request a hearing. If the obligor makes 17.14 a written request within ten days of the date of the hearing, 17.15 acontested administrative proceeding must be held under section17.16518.5511, subdivision 4hearing must be held. At the hearing, 17.17 the only issues to be considered are mistake of fact and whether 17.18 the obligor received the subpoena. 17.19 (h) The license of an obligor who fails to remain in 17.20 compliance with an approved payment agreement may be suspended. 17.21 Notice to the obligor of an intent to suspend under this 17.22 paragraph must be served by first class mail at the obligor's 17.23 last known address and must include a notice of hearing. The 17.24 notice must be served upon the obligor not less than ten days 17.25 before the date of the hearing. If the obligor appears at the 17.26 hearing and the judge determines that the obligor has failed to 17.27 comply with an approved payment agreement, the judge shall 17.28 notify the department of public safety to suspend the obligor's 17.29 license under paragraph (c). If the obligor fails to appear at 17.30 the hearing, the public authority may notify the department of 17.31 public safety to suspend the obligor's license under paragraph 17.32 (c). 17.33 Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 518.551, 17.34 subdivision 14, is amended to read: 17.35 Subd. 14. [MOTOR VEHICLE LIEN.] (a) Upon motion of an 17.36 obligee, if a court finds that the obligor is a debtor for a 18.1 judgment debt resulting from nonpayment of court-ordered child 18.2 support or maintenance payments, or both, in an amount equal to 18.3 or greater than three times the obligor's total monthly support 18.4 and maintenance payments, the court shall order the commissioner 18.5 of public safety to enter a lien in the name of the obligee or 18.6 in the name of the state of Minnesota, as appropriate, in 18.7 accordance with section 168A.05, subdivision 8, unless the court 18.8 finds that the obligor is in compliance with a written payment 18.9 agreement regarding both current support and arrearages approved 18.10 by the court,an administrative law judge,a child support 18.11 magistrate, or the public authority. The court's order must be 18.12 stayed for 90 days in order to allow the obligor to execute a 18.13 written payment agreement regarding both current support and 18.14 arrearages, which agreement shall be approved by either the 18.15 court or the public authority responsible for child support 18.16 enforcement. If the obligor has not executed or is not in 18.17 compliance with a written payment agreement regarding both 18.18 current support and arrearages approved by the court,an18.19administrative law judge,a child support magistrate, or the 18.20 public authority within the 90-day period, the court's order 18.21 becomes effective and the commissioner of public safety shall 18.22 record the lien on any motor vehicle certificate of title 18.23 subsequently issued in the name of the obligor. The remedy 18.24 under this subdivision is in addition to any other enforcement 18.25 remedy available to the court. 18.26 (b) If a public authority responsible for child support 18.27 enforcement determines that the obligor is a debtor for judgment 18.28 debt resulting from nonpayment of court-ordered child support or 18.29 maintenance payments, or both, in an amount equal to or greater 18.30 than three times the obligor's total monthly support and 18.31 maintenance payments, the public authority shall direct the 18.32 commissioner of public safety to enter a lien in the name of the 18.33 obligee or in the name of the state of Minnesota, as 18.34 appropriate, under section 168A.05, subdivision 8, on any motor 18.35 vehicle certificate of title subsequently issued in the name of 18.36 the obligor unless the public authority determines that the 19.1 obligor is in compliance with a written payment agreement 19.2 regarding both current support and arrearages approved by the 19.3 court,an administrative law judge,a child support magistrate, 19.4 or the public authority. The remedy under this subdivision is 19.5 in addition to any other enforcement remedy available to the 19.6 public agency. 19.7 (c) At least 90 days prior to notifying the commissioner of 19.8 public safety pursuant to paragraph (b), the public authority 19.9 must mail a written notice to the obligor at the obligor's last 19.10 known address, that it intends to record a lien on any motor 19.11 vehicle certificate of title subsequently issued in the name of 19.12 the obligor and that the obligor must request a hearing within 19.13 30 days in order to contest the action. If the obligor makes a 19.14 written request for a hearing within 30 days of the date of the 19.15 notice,eithera court hearingor a contested administrative19.16proceedingmust be heldunder section 518.5511, subdivision 4. 19.17 Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the obligor must be 19.18 served with 14 days' notice in writing specifying the time and 19.19 place of the hearing and the allegations against the obligor. 19.20 The notice may be served personally or by mail. If the public 19.21 authority does not receive a request for a hearing within 30 19.22 days of the date of the notice and the obligor does not execute 19.23 or is not in compliance with a written payment agreement 19.24 regarding both current support and arrearages approved by the 19.25 public authority within 90 days of the date of the notice, the 19.26 public authority shall direct the commissioner of public safety 19.27 to record the lien under paragraph (b). 19.28 (d) At a hearing requested by the obligor under paragraph 19.29 (c), and on finding that the obligor is in arrears in 19.30 court-ordered child support or maintenance payments or both in 19.31 an amount equal to or greater than three times the obligor's 19.32 total monthly support and maintenance payments, the district 19.33 court orthe administrative law judgechild support magistrate 19.34 shall order the commissioner of public safety to record the lien 19.35 unless the court oradministrative law judgechild support 19.36 magistrate determines that the obligor has executed and is in 20.1 compliance with a written payment agreement regarding both 20.2 current support and arrearages determined to be acceptable by 20.3 the court,an administrative law judge,a child support 20.4 magistrate, or the public authority. 20.5 (e) An obligor may provide proof to the court or the public 20.6 authority responsible for child support enforcement that the 20.7 obligor is in compliance with all written payment agreements 20.8 regarding both current support and arrearages or that the value 20.9 of the motor vehicle is less than the exemption provided under 20.10 section 550.37. Within 15 days of the receipt of that proof, 20.11 the court or public authority shall either execute a release of 20.12 security interest under section 168A.20, subdivision 4, and mail 20.13 or deliver the release to the owner or other authorized person 20.14 or shall direct the commissioner of public safety not to enter a 20.15 lien on any motor vehicle certificate of title subsequently 20.16 issued in the name of the obligor in instances where a lien has 20.17 not yet been entered. 20.18 (f) Any lien recorded against a motor vehicle certificate 20.19 of title under this section and section 168A.05, subdivision 8, 20.20 attaches only to the nonexempt value of the motor vehicle as 20.21 determined in accordance with section 550.37. The value of a 20.22 motor vehicle must be determined in accordance with the retail 20.23 value described in the N.A.D.A. Official Used Car Guide, Midwest 20.24 Edition, for the current year, or in accordance with the 20.25 purchase price as defined in section 297B.01, subdivision 8. 20.26 Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 518.575, 20.27 subdivision 1, is amended to read: 20.28 Subdivision 1. [MAKING NAMES PUBLIC.] At least once each 20.29 year, the commissioner of human services, in consultation with 20.30 the attorney general, shall publish a list of the names and 20.31 other identifying information of no more than 25 persons who (1) 20.32 are child support obligors, (2) are at least $10,000 in arrears, 20.33 (3) are not in compliance with a written payment agreement 20.34 regarding both current support and arrearages approved by the 20.35 court,an administrative law judge,a child support magistrate, 20.36 or the public authority, (4) cannot currently be located by the 21.1 public authority for the purposes of enforcing a support order, 21.2 and (5) have not made a support payment except tax intercept 21.3 payments, in the preceding 12 months. 21.4 Identifying information may include the obligor's name, 21.5 last known address, amount owed, date of birth, photograph, the 21.6 number of children for whom support is owed, and any additional 21.7 information about the obligor that would assist in identifying 21.8 or locating the obligor. The commissioner and attorney general 21.9 may use posters, media presentations, electronic technology, and 21.10 other means that the commissioner and attorney general determine 21.11 are appropriate for dissemination of the information, including 21.12 publication on the Internet. The commissioner and attorney 21.13 general may make any or all of the identifying information 21.14 regarding these persons public. Information regarding an 21.15 obligor who meets the criteria in this subdivision will only be 21.16 made public subsequent to that person's selection by the 21.17 commissioner and attorney general. 21.18 Before making public the name of the obligor, the 21.19 department of human services shall send a notice to the 21.20 obligor's last known address which states the department's 21.21 intention to make public information on the obligor. The notice 21.22 must also provide an opportunity to have the obligor's name 21.23 removed from the list by paying the arrearage or by entering 21.24 into an agreement to pay the arrearage, or by providing 21.25 information to the public authority that there is good cause not 21.26 to make the information public. The notice must include the 21.27 final date when the payment or agreement can be accepted. 21.28 The department of human services shall obtain the written 21.29 consent of the obligee to make the name of the obligor public. 21.30 Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 518.616, 21.31 subdivision 1, is amended to read: 21.32 Subdivision 1. [COURT ORDER.] For any support order being 21.33 enforced by the public authority, the public authority may seek 21.34 a court order requiring the obligor to seek employment if: 21.35 (1) employment of the obligor cannot be verified; 21.36 (2) the obligor is in arrears in court-ordered child 22.1 support or maintenance payments or both in an amount equal to or 22.2 greater than three times the obligor's total monthly support and 22.3 maintenance payments; and 22.4 (3) the obligor is not in compliance with a written payment 22.5 plan. 22.6 Upon proper notice being given to the obligor, the court 22.7 may enter a seek employment order if it finds that the obligor 22.8 has not provided proof of gainful employment and has not 22.9 consented to an order for income withholding under section 22.10 518.6111 or entered into a written payment plan approved by the 22.11 court,an administrative law judge,a child support magistrate, 22.12 or the public authority. 22.13 Sec. 7. [REPEALER.] 22.14 Minnesota Statutes 1998, sections 518.5511; and 518.5512, 22.15 are repealed. 22.16 Sec. 8. [EFFECTIVE DATE; APPLICATION.] 22.17 This act is effective July 1, 1999.