1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to spousal maintenance; authorizing the
1.3 	Department of Human Services to collect spousal
1.4 	maintenance; amending Minnesota Statutes 2004,
1.5 	sections 518.54, subdivision 4a; 518.551, subdivision
1.6 	1.
1.7 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.8 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 518.54,
1.9 	subdivision 4a, is amended to read:
1.10 		Subd. 4a.Support order. (a) "Support order" means a
1.11 	judgment, decree, or order, whether temporary, final, or subject
1.12 	to modification, issued by a court or administrative agency of
1.13 	competent jurisdiction~~,~~:
1.14 	(1) for the support and maintenance of a child, including a
1.15 	child who has attained the age of majority under the law of the
1.16 	issuing state~~, or~~ ;
1.17 	(2) for a child and the parent with whom the child is
1.18 	living, that provides for monetary support, child care, medical
1.19 	support including expenses for confinement and pregnancy,
1.20 	arrearages, or reimbursement~~, and that~~ ; or 
1.21 	(3) for the maintenance of a spouse.
1.22 	(b) The support order may include related costs and fees,
1.23 	interest and penalties, income withholding, and other relief.
1.24 	This definition applies to orders issued under this chapter and
1.25 	chapters 256, 257, and 518C.

1.26 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 518.551,
2.1 	subdivision 1, is amended to read:
2.2 		Subdivision 1.Scope; payment to public agency.  (a) This
2.3 	section applies to all proceedings involving a support order,
2.4 	including, but not limited to, a support order establishing an
2.5 	order for past support or reimbursement of public assistance.
2.6 	(b) The court shall direct that all payments ordered for
2.7 	maintenance ~~and~~ or support be made to the public agency
2.8 	responsible for child support enforcement so long as the obligee
2.9 	is receiving or has applied for public assistance, or has
2.10 	applied for child support ~~and~~ or maintenance collection
2.11 	services.  Public authorities responsible for child support
2.12 	enforcement may act on behalf of other public authorities
2.13 	responsible for child support enforcement.  This includes the
2.14 	authority to represent the legal interests of or execute
2.15 	documents on behalf of the other public authority in connection
2.16 	with the establishment, enforcement, and collection of child
2.17 	support, maintenance, or medical support, and collection on
2.18 	judgments.
2.19 	(c) Payments made to the public authority other than
2.20 	payments under section 518.6111 must be credited as of the date
2.21 	the payment is received by the central collections unit.
2.22 	(d) Amounts received by the public agency responsible for
2.23 	child support enforcement greater than the amount granted to the
2.24 	obligee shall be remitted to the obligee.