An Act Concerning the Collection of Child Support Obligations
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, currently child support obligations are automatically suspended during the period a child support obligor receives public assistance; and
Whereas, current law prohibits the collection of child support debts from child support obligors who are receiving public assistance; and
Whereas, lump sum payments to child support obligors should be available for satisfying past-due child support debts, even while obligors are receiving public assistance; and
Whereas, amending the law to allow the interception of lump sum payments will benefit children due child support; and
Whereas, the Department of Health and Human Services will amend its rules to ensure that a child support obligor receiving public assistance does not lose benefits based on a lump sum payment when the lump sum payment is intercepted and used to pay past-due child support; and
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,
Sec. 1. 19-A MRSA §2302, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 2001, c. 255, §1, is amended to read:
A debt previously incurred under section 2301 may not be collected from a responsible parent while that parent is an assisted obligor , except that such a debt may be collected from nonrecurring lump sum income, as defined in Title 22, section 3762, subsection 11, paragraph A, of a responsible parent while that parent is an assisted obligor.
Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect July 1, 2012.