0001| HOUSE BILL 90 | 0002| 43rd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 1997 | 0003| INTRODUCED BY | 0004| R. DAVID PEDERSON | 0005| | 0006| | 0007| | 0008| FOR THE COURTS, CORRECTIONS AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE | 0009| | 0010| AN ACT | 0011| RELATING TO FAMILY LAW; PROVIDING PROCEDURES FOR RECONCILIATION | 0012| OF MULTIPLE CHILD-SUPPORT ORDERS; CLARIFYING PROCEDURES FOR | 0013| INCOME-WITHHOLDING ORDERS; AMENDING, REPEALING AND ENACTING | 0014| SECTIONS OF THE UNIFORM INTERSTATE FAMILY SUPPORT ACT. | 0015| | 0016| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO: | 0017| Section 1. Section 40-6A-101 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1994, | 0018| Chapter 107, Section 101) is amended to read: | 0019| "40-6A-101. DEFINITIONS.--As used in the Uniform | 0020| Interstate Family Support Act: | 0021| (1) "child" means an individual, whether over or | 0022| under the age of majority, who is or is alleged to be owed a | 0023| duty of support by the individual's parent or who is or is | 0024| alleged to be the beneficiary of a support order directed to | 0025| the parent; | 0001| (2) "child-support order" means a support order for | 0002| a child, including a child who has attained the age of majority | 0003| under the law of the issuing state; | 0004| (3) "duty of support" means an obligation imposed | 0005| or imposable by law to provide support for a child, spouse or | 0006| former spouse, including an unsatisfied obligation to provide | 0007| support; | 0008| (4) "home state" means the state in which a child | 0009| lived with a parent or a person acting as parent for at least | 0010| six consecutive months immediately preceding the time of filing | 0011| of a petition or comparable pleading for support and, if a | 0012| child is less than six months old, the state in which the child | 0013| lived from birth with any of them. A period of temporary | 0014| absence of any of them is counted as part of the six-month or | 0015| other period; | 0016| (5) "income" includes earnings or other periodic | 0017| entitlements to money from any source and any other property | 0018| subject to withholding for support under the law of this state; | 0019| (6) "income-withholding order" means an order or | 0020| other legal process directed to an obligor's employer or other | 0021| debtor to withhold support from the income of the obligor; | 0022| (7) "initiating state" means a state [in] from | 0023| which a proceeding is forwarded or in which a proceeding is | 0024| filed for forwarding to a responding state under the Uniform | 0025| Interstate Family Support Act or a law or procedure | 0001| substantially similar to that act, the Uniform Reciprocal | 0002| Enforcement of Support Act or the Revised Uniform Reciprocal | 0003| Enforcement of Support Act [is filed for forwarding to a | 0004| responding state]; | 0005| (8) "initiating tribunal" means the authorized | 0006| tribunal in an initiating state; | 0007| (9) "issuing state" means the state in which a | 0008| tribunal issues a support order or renders a judgment | 0009| determining parentage; | 0010| (10) "issuing tribunal" means the tribunal that | 0011| issues a support order or renders a judgment determining | 0012| parentage; | 0013| (11) "law" includes decisional and statutory law | 0014| and rules and regulations having the force of law; | 0015| (12) "obligee" means: | 0016| (i) an individual to whom a duty of support is | 0017| or is alleged to be owed or in whose favor a support order has | 0018| been issued or a judgment determining parentage has been | 0019| rendered; | 0020| (ii) a state or political subdivision to which | 0021| the rights under a duty of support or support order have been | 0022| assigned or which has independent claims based on financial | 0023| assistance provided to an individual obligee; or | 0024| (iii) an individual seeking a judgment | 0025| determining parentage of the individual's child; | 0001| (13) "obligor" means an individual or the estate of | 0002| a decedent: | 0003| (i) who owes or is alleged to owe a duty of | 0004| support; | 0005| (ii) who is alleged but has not been | 0006| adjudicated to be a parent of a child; or | 0007| (iii) who is liable under a support order; | 0008| (14) "register" means to record a support order or | 0009| judgment determining parentage in the appropriate tribunal of | 0010| this state; | 0011| (15) "registering tribunal" means a tribunal in | 0012| which a support order is registered; | 0013| (16) "responding state" means a state [to] in | 0014| which a proceeding is filed or to which a proceeding is | 0015| forwarded for filing from an initiating state under the | 0016| Uniform Interstate Family Support Act, a law or procedure | 0017| substantially similar to that act, the Uniform Reciprocal | 0018| Enforcement of Support Act or the Revised Uniform Reciprocal | 0019| Enforcement of Support Act; | 0020| (17) "responding tribunal" means the authorized | 0021| tribunal in a responding state; | 0022| (18) "spousal support order" means a support order | 0023| for a spouse or former spouse of the obligor; | 0024| (19) "state" means a state of the United States, | 0025| the District of Columbia, [the Commonwealth of] Puerto Rico, | 0001| the United States Virgin Islands or any territory or insular | 0002| possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. | 0003| [The term] "State" includes an Indian tribe and [includes] | 0004| a foreign jurisdiction that has enacted a law or established | 0005| procedures for issuance and enforcement of support orders which | 0006| are substantially similar to the procedures under the Uniform | 0007| Interstate Family Support Act, the Uniform Reciprocal | 0008| Enforcement of Support Act or the Revised Uniform Reciprocal | 0009| Enforcement of Support Act; | 0010| (20) "support enforcement agency" means a public | 0011| official or agency authorized to seek: | 0012| (i) enforcement of support orders or laws | 0013| relating to the duty of support; | 0014| (ii) establishment or modification of child | 0015| support; | 0016| (iii) determination of parentage; or | 0017| (iv) to locate obligors or their assets; | 0018| (21) "support order" means a judgment, decree or | 0019| order, whether temporary, final or subject to modification, for | 0020| the benefit of a child, a spouse or a former spouse, which | 0021| provides for monetary support, health care, arrearages or | 0022| reimbursement, and may include related costs and fees, | 0023| interest, income withholding, attorney's fees and other relief; | 0024| and | 0025| (22) "tribunal" means a court, administrative | 0001| agency or quasi-judicial entity authorized to establish, | 0002| enforce or modify support orders or to determine parentage." | 0003| Section 2. Section 40-6A-102 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1994, | 0004| Chapter 107, Section 102) is amended to read: | 0005| "40-6A-102. [TRIBUNALS OF THIS] TRIBUNAL OF STATE.-- | 0006| The district courts are the tribunals of this state." | 0007| Section 3. Section 40-6A-203 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1994, | 0008| Chapter 107, Section 203) is amended to read: | 0009| "40-6A-203. INITIATING AND RESPONDING TRIBUNAL OF | 0010| [THIS] STATE.--Under the Uniform Interstate Family Support | 0011| Act, a tribunal of this state may serve as an initiating | 0012| tribunal to forward proceedings to another state and as a | 0013| responding tribunal for proceedings initiated in another | 0014| state." | 0015| Section 4. Section 40-6A-205 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1994, | 0016| Chapter 107, Section 205) is amended to read: | 0017| "40-6A-205. CONTINUING, EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION.-- | 0018| (a) A tribunal of this state issuing a support | 0019| order consistent with the law of this state has continuing, | 0020| exclusive jurisdiction over a child-support order: | 0021| (1) as long as this state remains the | 0022| residence of the obligor, the individual obligee or the child | 0023| for whose benefit the support order is issued; or | 0024| (2) until [each individual party has] all | 0025| of the parties who are individuals have filed written | 0001| [consent] consents with the tribunal of this state for a | 0002| tribunal of another state to modify the order and assume | 0003| continuing, exclusive jurisdiction. | 0004| (b) A tribunal of this state issuing a child- | 0005| support order consistent with the law of this state may not | 0006| exercise its continuing jurisdiction to modify the order if the | 0007| order has been modified by a tribunal of another state pursuant | 0008| to a law substantially similar to the Uniform Interstate Family | 0009| Support Act. | 0010| (c) If a child-support order of this state is | 0011| modified by a tribunal of another state pursuant to a law | 0012| substantially similar to the Uniform Interstate Family Support | 0013| Act, a tribunal of this state loses its continuing, exclusive | 0014| jurisdiction with regard to prospective enforcement of the | 0015| order issued in this state and may only: | 0016| (1) enforce the order that was modified as to | 0017| amounts accruing before the modification; | 0018| (2) enforce nonmodifiable aspects of that | 0019| order; and | 0020| (3) provide other appropriate relief for | 0021| violations of that order which occurred before the effective | 0022| date of the modification. | 0023| (d) A tribunal of this state shall recognize the | 0024| continuing, exclusive jurisdiction of a tribunal of another | 0025| state which has issued a child-support order pursuant to a law | 0001| substantially similar to the Uniform Interstate Family Support | 0002| Act. | 0003| (e) A temporary support order issued ex parte or | 0004| pending resolution of a jurisdictional conflict does not create | 0005| continuing, exclusive jurisdiction in the issuing tribunal. | 0006| (f) A tribunal of this state issuing a support | 0007| order consistent with the law of this state has continuing, | 0008| exclusive jurisdiction over a spousal support order throughout | 0009| the existence of the support obligation. A tribunal of this | 0010| state may not modify a spousal support order issued by a | 0011| tribunal of another state having continuing, exclusive | 0012| jurisdiction over that order under the law of that state." | 0013| Section 5. Section 40-6A-207 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1994, | 0014| Chapter 107, Section 207) is amended to read: | 0015| "40-6A-207. RECOGNITION OF [CHILD SUPPORT ORDERS] | 0016| CONTROLLING CHILD-SUPPORT ORDER.-- | 0017| (a) If a proceeding is brought under the Uniform | 0018| Interstate Family Support Act and only one tribunal has issued | 0019| a child-support order, the order of that tribunal controls and | 0020| must be so recognized. | 0021| (b) If a proceeding is brought under the Uniform | 0022| Interstate Family Support Act and [one] two or more child- | 0023| support orders have been issued [in this] by tribunals of | 0024| this state or another state with regard to [an] the same | 0025| obligor and [a] child, a tribunal of this state shall apply | 0001| the following rules in determining which order to recognize for | 0002| purposes of continuing, exclusive jurisdiction: | 0003| [(1) if only one tribunal has issued a child | 0004| support order, the order of that tribunal must be recognized; | 0005| (2) if two or more tribunals have issued child | 0006| support orders for the same obligor and child and] | 0007| (1) if only one of the tribunals would have | 0008| continuing, exclusive jurisdiction under the Uniform Interstate | 0009| Family Support Act, the order of that tribunal [must be] | 0010| controls and shall be so recognized; | 0011| [(3) if two or more tribunals have issued | 0012| child support orders for the same obligor and child and] | 0013| (2) if more than one of the tribunals would | 0014| have continuing, exclusive jurisdiction under the Uniform | 0015| Interstate Family Support Act, an order issued by a tribunal in | 0016| the current home state of the child [must be] controls and | 0017| must be so recognized, but if an order has not been issued in | 0018| the current home state of the child, the order most recently | 0019| issued [must be] controls and must be so recognized; and | 0020| [(4) if two or more tribunals have issued | 0021| child support orders for the same obligor and child and] | 0022| (3) if none of the tribunals would have | 0023| continuing, exclusive jurisdiction under the Uniform Interstate | 0024| Family Support Act, the tribunal of this state [may] having | 0025| jurisdiction over the parties shall issue a child-support | 0001| order, which [must be] controls and must be so recognized. | 0002| (c) If two or more child-support orders have been | 0003| issued for the same obligor and child and if the obligor or the | 0004| individual obligee resides in this state, a party may request a | 0005| tribunal of this state to determine which order controls and | 0006| must be so recognized under Subsection (b) of this section. | 0007| The request must be accompanied by a certified copy of every | 0008| support order in effect. The requesting party shall give | 0009| notice of the request to each party whose rights may be | 0010| affected by the determination. | 0011| [(b)] (d) The tribunal that [has issued an order | 0012| recognized under subsection (a)] issued the controlling order | 0013| under Subsection (a), (b) or (c) of this section is the | 0014| tribunal [having] that has continuing, exclusive | 0015| jurisdiction under Section 40-6A-205 NMSA 1978. | 0016| (e) A tribunal of this state that determines by | 0017| order the identity of the controlling order under Paragraph (1) | 0018| or (2) of Subsection (b) of this section or which issues a new | 0019| controlling order under Paragraph (3) of Subsection (b) of this | 0020| section shall state in that order the basis upon which the | 0021| tribunal made its determination. | 0022| (f) Within thirty days after issuance of an order | 0023| determining the identity of the controlling order, the party | 0024| obtaining the order shall file a certified copy of it with each | 0025| tribunal that issued or registered an earlier order of child | 0001| support. A party who obtains the order and fails to file a | 0002| certified copy is subject to appropriate sanctions by a | 0003| tribunal in which the issue of failure to file arises. The | 0004| failure to file does not affect the validity or enforceability | 0005| of the controlling order." | 0006| Section 6. Section 40-6A-303 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1994, | 0007| Chapter 107, Section 303) is amended to read: | 0008| "40-6A-303. APPLICATION OF LAW OF [THIS] STATE.--Except | 0009| as otherwise provided by the Uniform Interstate Family Support | 0010| Act, a responding tribunal of this state: | 0011| (1) shall apply the procedural and substantive law, | 0012| including the rules on choice of law, generally applicable to | 0013| similar proceedings originating in this state and may exercise | 0014| all powers and provide all remedies available in those | 0015| proceedings; and | 0016| (2) shall determine the duty of support and the | 0017| amount payable in accordance with the law and support | 0018| guidelines of this state." | 0019| Section 7. Section 40-6A-304 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1994, | 0020| Chapter 107, Section 304) is amended to read: | 0021| "40-6A-304. DUTIES OF INITIATING TRIBUNAL.-- | 0022| (a) Upon the filing of a petition authorized by | 0023| the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act, an initiating | 0024| tribunal of this state shall forward three copies of the | 0025| petition and its accompanying documents: | 0001| (1) to the responding tribunal or appropriate | 0002| support enforcement agency in the responding state; or | 0003| (2) if the identity of the responding tribunal | 0004| is unknown, to the state information agency of the responding | 0005| state with a request that they be forwarded to the appropriate | 0006| tribunal and that receipt be acknowledged. | 0007| (b) If a responding state has not enacted the | 0008| Uniform Interstate Family Support Act or a law or procedure | 0009| substantially similar to that act, a tribunal of this state may | 0010| issue a certificate or other document and make findings | 0011| required by the law of the responding state. If the responding | 0012| state is a foreign jurisdiction, the tribunal may specify the | 0013| amount of support sought and provide other documents necessary | 0014| to satisfy the requirements of the responding state." | 0015| Section 8. Section 40-6A-305 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1994, | 0016| Chapter 107, Section 305) is amended to read: | 0017| "40-6A-305. DUTIES AND POWERS OF RESPONDING TRIBUNAL.-- | 0018| (a) When a responding tribunal of this state | 0019| receives a petition or comparable pleading from an initiating | 0020| tribunal or directly pursuant to [Section 301(c) of the | 0021| Uniform Interstate Family Support Act] Subsection (c) of | 0022| Section 40-6A-301 NMSA 1978, it shall cause the petition or | 0023| pleading to be filed and notify the petitioner [by first class | 0024| mail] where and when it was filed. | 0025| (b) A responding tribunal of this state, to the | 0001| extent otherwise authorized by law, may do one or more of the | 0002| following: | 0003| (1) issue or enforce a support order, modify a | 0004| child-support order or render a judgment to determine | 0005| parentage; | 0006| (2) order an obligor to comply with a support | 0007| order, specifying the amount and the manner of compliance; | 0008| (3) order income withholding; | 0009| (4) determine the amount of any arrearage and | 0010| specify a method of payment; | 0011| (5) enforce orders by civil or criminal | 0012| contempt, or both; | 0013| (6) set aside property for satisfaction of the | 0014| support order; | 0015| (7) place liens and order execution on the | 0016| obligor's property; | 0017| (8) order an obligor to keep the tribunal | 0018| informed of the obligor's current residential address, | 0019| telephone number, employer, address of employment and telephone | 0020| number at the place of employment; | 0021| (9) issue a bench warrant for an obligor who | 0022| has failed after proper notice to appear at a hearing ordered | 0023| by the tribunal and enter the bench warrant in any local and | 0024| state computer systems for criminal warrants; | 0025| (10) order the obligor to seek appropriate | 0001| employment by specified methods; | 0002| (11) award reasonable attorney's fees and | 0003| other fees and costs; and | 0004| (12) grant any other available remedy. | 0005| (c) A responding tribunal of this state shall | 0006| include in a support order issued under the Uniform Interstate | 0007| Family Support Act, or in the documents accompanying the order, | 0008| the calculations on which the support order is based. | 0009| (d) A responding tribunal of this state may not | 0010| condition the payment of a support order issued under the | 0011| Uniform Interstate Family Support Act upon compliance by a | 0012| party with provisions for visitation. | 0013| (e) If a responding tribunal of this state issues | 0014| an order under the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act, the | 0015| tribunal shall send a copy of the order [by first class mail] | 0016| to the petitioner and the respondent and to the initiating | 0017| tribunal, if any." | 0018| Section 9. Section 40-6A-307 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1994, | 0019| Chapter 107, Section 307) is amended to read: | 0020| "40-6A-307. DUTIES OF SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT AGENCY.-- | 0021| (a) A support enforcement agency of this state, | 0022| upon request, shall provide services to a petitioner in a | 0023| proceeding under the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act. | 0024| (b) A support enforcement agency that is providing | 0025| services to the petitioner as appropriate shall: | 0001| (1) take all steps necessary to enable an | 0002| appropriate tribunal in this state or another state to obtain | 0003| jurisdiction over the respondent; | 0004| (2) request an appropriate tribunal to set a | 0005| date, time and place for a hearing; | 0006| (3) make a reasonable effort to obtain all | 0007| relevant information, including information as to income and | 0008| property of the parties; | 0009| (4) within two days, exclusive of Saturdays, | 0010| Sundays and legal holidays, after receipt of a written notice | 0011| from an initiating, responding or registering tribunal, send a | 0012| copy of the notice [by first class mail] to the petitioner; | 0013| (5) within two days, exclusive of Saturdays, | 0014| Sundays and legal holidays, after receipt of a written | 0015| communication from the respondent or the respondent's attorney, | 0016| send a copy of the communication [by first class mail] to the | 0017| petitioner; and | 0018| (6) notify the petitioner if jurisdiction over | 0019| the respondent cannot be obtained. | 0020| (c) The Uniform Interstate Family Support Act does | 0021| not create or negate a relationship of attorney and client or | 0022| other fiduciary relationship between a support enforcement | 0023| agency or the attorney for the agency and the individual being | 0024| assisted by the agency." | 0025| Section 10. Section 40-6A-501 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1994, | 0001| Chapter 107, Section 501) is amended to read: | 0002| "40-6A-501. [RECOGNITION] EMPLOYER'S RECEIPT OF | 0003| INCOME-WITHHOLDING ORDER OF ANOTHER STATE. [(a)] An | 0004| income-withholding order issued in another state may be sent | 0005| [by first class mail] to the obligor's employer without first | 0006| filing a petition or comparable pleading or registering the | 0007| order with a tribunal of this state. [Upon receipt of the | 0008| order, the employer shall: | 0009| (1) treat an income-withholding order issued in | 0010| another state which appears regular on its face as if it had | 0011| been issued by a tribunal of this state; | 0012| (2) immediately provide a copy of the order to | 0013| the obligor; and | 0014| (3) distribute the funds as directed in the | 0015| withholding order. | 0016| (b) An obligor may contest the validity or | 0017| enforcement of an income-withholding order issued in another | 0018| state in the same manner as if the order had been issued by a | 0019| tribunal of this state. Section 604 of the Uniform Interstate | 0020| Family Support Act applies to the contest. The obligor shall | 0021| give notice of the contest to any support enforcement agency | 0022| providing services to the obligee and to: | 0023| (1) the person or agency designated to receive | 0024| payments in the income-withholding order; or | 0025| (2) if no person or agency is designated, the | 0001| obligee.]" | 0002| Section 11. Section 40-6A-502 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1994, | 0003| Chapter 107, Section 502) is repealed and a new Section | 0004| 40-6A-502 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read: | 0005| "40-6A-502. [NEW MATERIAL] EMPLOYER'S COMPLIANCE WITH | 0006| INCOME-WITHOLDING ORDER OF ANOTHER STATE.-- | 0007| (a) Upon receipt of an income-witholding order, the | 0008| obligor's employer shall immediately provide a copy of the | 0009| order to the obligor. | 0010| (b) The employer shall treat an income-witholding | 0011| order issued in another state that appears regular on its face | 0012| as if it had been issued by a tribunal of this state. | 0013| (c) Except as otherwise provided in Subsection (d) | 0014| of this section and Section 40-6A-503 NMSA 1978 the employer | 0015| shall withhold and distribute the funds as directed in the | 0016| withholding order by complying with terms of the order that | 0017| specify: | 0018| (1) the duration and amount of periodic | 0019| payments of current child support, stated as a sum certain; | 0020| (2) the person or agency designated to receive | 0021| payments and the address to which the payments are to be | 0022| forwarded; | 0023| (3) medical support, whether in the form of | 0024| periodic cash payment, stated as a sum certain, or ordering the | 0025| obligor to provide health insurance coverage for the child | 0001| under a policy available through the obligor's employment; | 0002| (4) the amount of periodic payments of fees | 0003| and costs for a support enforcement agency, the issuing | 0004| tribunal and the obligor's attorney, stated as sums certain; | 0005| and | 0006| (5) the amount of periodic payments of | 0007| arrearages and interest on arrearages, stated as sums certain. | 0008| (d) An employer shall comply with the law of the | 0009| state of the obligor's principal place of employment for | 0010| withholding from income with respect to: | 0011| (1) the employer's fee for processing an | 0012| income-withholding order; | 0013| (2) the maximum amount permitted to be | 0014| withheld from the obligor's income; and | 0015| (3) the times within which the employer must | 0016| implement the withholding order and forward the child-support | 0017| payment." | 0018| Section 12. A new section of the Uniform Interstate | 0019| Family Support Act, Section 40-6A-503 NMSA 1978, is enacted to | 0020| read: | 0021| "40-6A-503. [NEW MATERIAL] COMPLIANCE WITH MULTIPLE | 0022| INCOME-WITHHOLDING ORDERS.--If an obligor's employer receives | 0023| multiple income-withholding orders with respect to the earnings | 0024| of the same obligor, the employer satisfies the terms of the | 0025| multiple orders if the employer complies with the law of the | 0001| state of the obligor's principal place of employment to | 0002| establish the priorities for withholding and allocating income | 0003| withheld for multiple child-support obligees." | 0004| Section 13. A new section of the Uniform Interstate | 0005| Family Support Act, Section 40-6A-504 NMSA 1978, is enacted to | 0006| read: | 0007| "40-6A-504. [NEW MATERIAL] IMMUNITY FROM CIVIL | 0008| LIABILITY.--An employer who complies with an income-withholding | 0009| order issued in another state in accordance with this article | 0010| is not subject to civil liability to an individual or agency | 0011| with regard to the employer's withholding of child support from | 0012| the obligor's income." | 0013| Section 14. A new section of the Uniform Interstate | 0014| Family Support Act, Section 40-6A-505 NMSA 1978, is enacted to | 0015| read: | 0016| "40-6A-505. [NEW MATERIAL] PENALTIES FOR | 0017| NONCOMPLIANCE.--An employer who willfully fails to comply with | 0018| an income-withholding order issued in another state and | 0019| received for enforcement is subject to the same penalties that | 0020| may be imposed for noncompliance with an order issued by a | 0021| tribunal of this state." | 0022| Section 15. A new section of the Uniform Interstate | 0023| Family Support Act, Section 40-6A-506 NMSA 1978, is enacted to | 0024| read: | 0025| "40-6A-506. [NEW MATERIAL] CONTEST BY OBLIGOR.-- | 0001| (a) An obligor may contest the validity or | 0002| enforcement of an income-withholding order issued in another | 0003| state and received directly by an employer in this state in the | 0004| same manner as if the order had been issued by a tribunal of | 0005| this state. Section 40-6A-604 NMSA 1978 applies to the | 0006| contest. | 0007| (b) The obligor shall give notice of the contest | 0008| to: | 0009| (1) a support enforcement agency providing | 0010| services to the obligee; | 0011| (2) each employer that has directly received | 0012| an income-withholding order; and | 0013| (3) the person or agency designated to receive | 0014| payments in the income-withholding order or, if no person or | 0015| agency is designated, to the obligee." | 0016| Section 16. A new section of the Uniform Interstate | 0017| Family Support Act, Section 40-6A-507 NMSA 1978, is enacted to | 0018| read: | 0019| "40-6A-507. [NEW MATERIAL] ADMINISTRATIVE ENFORCEMENT | 0020| OF ORDERS.-- | 0021| (a) A party seeking to enforce a support order or | 0022| an income-withholding order, or both, issued by a tribunal of | 0023| another state may send the documents required for registering | 0024| the order to a support enforcement agency of this state. | 0025| (b) Upon receipt of the documents, the support | 0001| enforcement agency, without initially seeking to register the | 0002| order, shall consider and, if appropriate, use any | 0003| administrative procedure authorized by the law of this state to | 0004| enforce a support order or an income-withholding order, or | 0005| both. If the obligor does not contest administrative | 0006| enforcement, the order need not be registered. If the obligor | 0007| contests the validity or administrative enforcement of the | 0008| order, the support enforcement agency shall register the order | 0009| pursuant to the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act." | 0010| Section 17. Section 40-6A-605 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1994, | 0011| Chapter 107, Section 605) is amended to read: | 0012| "40-6A-605. NOTICE OF REGISTRATION OF ORDER.-- | 0013| (a) When a support order or income-withholding | 0014| order issued in another state is registered, the registering | 0015| tribunal shall notify the nonregistering party. [Notice must | 0016| be given by first class, certified or registered mail or by any | 0017| means of personal service authorized by the law of this | 0018| state.] The notice [must] shall be accompanied by a copy | 0019| of the registered order and the documents and relevant | 0020| information accompanying the order. | 0021| (b) The notice [must] shall inform the | 0022| nonregistering party: | 0023| (1) that a registered order is enforceable as | 0024| of the date of registration in the same manner as an order | 0025| issued by a tribunal of this state; | 0001| (2) that a hearing to contest the validity or | 0002| enforcement of the registered order must be requested within | 0003| twenty days after the date of mailing or personal service of | 0004| the notice; | 0005| (3) that failure to contest the validity or | 0006| enforcement of the registered order in a timely manner will | 0007| result in confirmation of the order and enforcement of the | 0008| order and the alleged arrearage and precludes further contest | 0009| of that order with respect to any matter that could have been | 0010| asserted; and | 0011| (4) of the amount of any alleged arrearage. | 0012| (c) Upon registration of an income-withholding | 0013| order for enforcement, the registering tribunal shall notify | 0014| the obligor's employer." | 0015| Section 18. Section 40-6A-606 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1994, | 0016| Chapter 107, Section 606) is amended to read: | 0017| "40-6A-606. PROCEDURE TO CONTEST VALIDITY OR ENFORCEMENT | 0018| OF REGISTERED ORDER.-- | 0019| (a) A nonregistering party seeking to contest the | 0020| validity or enforcement of a registered order in this state | 0021| shall request a hearing within twenty days after the date of | 0022| mailing or personal service of notice of the registration. The | 0023| nonregistering party may seek to vacate the registration, to | 0024| assert any defense to an allegation of noncompliance with the | 0025| registered order or to contest the remedies being sought or the | 0001| amount of any alleged arrearage pursuant to Section [607 of | 0002| the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act] 40-6A-607 NMSA | 0003| 1978. | 0004| (b) If the nonregistering party fails to contest | 0005| the validity or enforcement of the registered order in a timely | 0006| manner, the order is confirmed by operation of law. | 0007| (c) If a nonregistering party requests a hearing to | 0008| contest the validity or enforcement of the registered order, | 0009| the registering tribunal shall schedule the matter for hearing | 0010| and give notice to the parties [by first class mail] of the | 0011| date, time and place of the hearing." | 0012| Section 19. Section 40-6A-611 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1994, | 0013| Chapter 107, Section 611) is amended to read: | 0014| "40-6A-611. MODIFICATION OF CHILD-SUPPORT ORDER OF | 0015| ANOTHER STATE.-- | 0016| (a) After a child-support order issued in another | 0017| state has been registered in this state, the responding | 0018| tribunal of this state may modify that order only if Section | 0019| 40-6A-613 NMSA 1978 does not apply and after notice and | 0020| hearing it finds that: | 0021| (1) the following requirements are met: | 0022| (i) the child, the individual obligee | 0023| and the obligor do not reside in the issuing state; | 0024| (ii) a petitioner who is a nonresident | 0025| of this state seeks modification; and | 0001| (iii) the respondent is subject to the | 0002| personal jurisdiction of the tribunal of this state; or | 0003| (2) [an individual party or] the child or a | 0004| party who is an individual is subject to the personal | 0005| jurisdiction of the tribunal of this state and all of the | 0006| [individual] parties who are individuals have filed [a | 0007| written consent] written consents in the issuing tribunal | 0008| [providing that] for a tribunal of this state [may] to | 0009| modify the support order and assume continuing, exclusive | 0010| jurisdiction over the order. However, if the issuing state is | 0011| a foreign jurisdiction that has not enacted a law or | 0012| established procedures substantially similar to the procedures | 0013| under the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act, the consent | 0014| otherwise required of an individual residing in this state is | 0015| not required for the tribunal to assume jurisdiction to modify | 0016| the child-support order. | 0017| (b) Modification of a registered child-support | 0018| order is subject to the same requirements, procedures and | 0019| defenses that apply to the modification of an order issued by a | 0020| tribunal of this state, and the order may be enforced and | 0021| satisfied in the same manner. | 0022| (c) A tribunal of this state may not modify any | 0023| aspect of a child-support order that may not be modified under | 0024| the law of the issuing state. | 0025| (d) On issuance of an order modifying a child- | 0001| support order issued in another state, a tribunal of this state | 0002| becomes the tribunal [of] having continuing, exclusive | 0003| jurisdiction. If two or more tribunals have issued child- | 0004| support orders for the same obligor and child, the order that | 0005| controls and shall be so recognized under Section 40-6A-207 | 0006| NMSA 1978 establishes the aspects of the support order which | 0007| are nonmodifiable. | 0008| [(e) Within thirty days after issuance of a | 0009| modified child support order, the party obtaining the | 0010| modification shall file a certified copy of the order with the | 0011| issuing tribunal which had continuing, exclusive jurisdiction | 0012| over the earlier order and in each tribunal in which the party | 0013| knows that earlier order has been registered.]" | 0014| Section 20. A new section of the Uniform Interstate | 0015| Family Support Act, Section 40-6A-613 NMSA 1978, is enacted to | 0016| read: | 0017| "40-6A-613. [NEW MATERIAL] JURISDICTION TO MODIFY | 0018| CHILD-SUPPORT ORDER OF ANOTHER STATE WHEN INDIVIDUAL PARTIES | 0019| RESIDE IN THIS STATE.-- | 0020| (a) If all of the parties who are individuals | 0021| reside in this state and the child does not reside in the | 0022| issuing state, a tribunal of this state has jurisdiction to | 0023| enforce and to modify the issuing state's child-support order | 0024| in a proceeding to register that order. | 0025| (b) A tribunal of this state exercising | 0001| jurisdiction under this section shall apply the provisions of | 0002| Articles 1 and 2 and this article of the Uniform Interstate | 0003| Family Support Act and the procedural and substantive law of | 0004| this state to the proceeding for enforcement or modification. | 0005| Articles 3, 4, 5, 7 and 8 of the Uniform Interstate Family | 0006| Support Act do not apply." | 0007| Section 21. A new section of the Uniform Interstate Family | 0008| Support Act, Section 40-6A-614 NMSA 1978, is enacted to read: | 0009| "40-6A-614. [NEW MATERIAL] NOTICE TO ISSUING TRIBUNAL | 0010| OF MODIFICATION.--Within thirty days after issuance of a | 0011| modified child-support order, the party obtaining the | 0012| modification shall file a certified copy of the order with the | 0013| issuing tribunal that had continuing, exclusive jurisdiction | 0014| over the earlier order, and in each tribunal in which the party | 0015| knows the earlier order has been registered. A party who | 0016| obtains the order and fails to file a certified copy is subject | 0017| to appropriate sanctions by a tribunal in which the issue of | 0018| failure to file arises. The failure to file does not affect | 0019| the validity or enforceability of the modified order of the new | 0020| tribunal having continuing, exclusive jurisdiction." | 0021| Section 22. Section 40-6A-902 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1994, | 0022| Chapter 107, Section 902) is amended to read: | 0023| "40-6A-902. SHORT TITLE. [This act] Chapter 40, | 0024| Article 6A NMSA 1978 may be cited as the "Uniform Interstate | 0025| Family Support Act"." | 0001| Section 23. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the | 0002| provisions of this act is July 1, 1997. | 0003|  | 0004| | 0005| | 0006| | 0007| | 0008| | 0009| | 0010| | 0011| | 0012| | 0013| | 0014| | 0015| State of New Mexico | 0016| House of Representatives | 0017| | 0018| FORTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE | 0019| FIRST SESSION, 1997 | 0020| | 0021| | 0022| January 31, 1997 | 0023| | 0024| | 0025| Mr. Speaker: | 0001| | 0002| Your JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, to whom has been referred | 0003| | 0004| HOUSE BILL 90 | 0005| | 0006| has had it under consideration and reports same with | 0007| recommendation that it DO PASS, amended as follows: | 0008| | 0009| 1. On page 4, line 14, after "Act" strike the comma and | 0010| insert in lieu thereof "or". | 0011| | 0012| 2. On page 14, between lines 11 and 12, insert the | 0013| following new section: | 0014| | 0015| "Section 9. Section 40-6A-306 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1994, | 0016| Chapter 107, Section 306) is amended to read: | 0017| | 0018| "40-6A-306. INAPPROPRIATE TRIBUNAL.--If a petition or | 0019| comparable pleading is received by an inappropriate tribunal of | 0020| this state, it shall forward the pleading and accompanying | 0021| documents to an appropriate tribunal in this state or another | 0022| state and notify the petitioner [by first class mail] where and | 0023| when the pleading was sent."". | 0024| | 0025| 3. Renumber the succeeding sections accordingly. | 0001| | 0002| 4. On page 17, line 23, strike "obligor's" and insert in | 0003| lieu | 0004| thereof "obligee's". | 0005| | 0006| 5. On page 19, line 8, strike "in" and insert in lieu | 0007| thereof "by". | 0008| | 0009| 6. On page 21, line 14, strike "the date of mailing or | 0010| personal service of the". | 0011| | 0012| 7. On page 22, lines 7 and 8, strike "the date of mailing | 0013| or personal service of". | 0014| | 0015| 8. On page 24, line 9, after the period insert "If two or | 0016| more tribunals have issued child-support orders for the same | 0017| obligor and child, the order that controls and shall be so | 0018| recognized under Section 40-6A-207 NMSA 1978 establishes the | 0019| aspects of the support order which are nonmodifiable.". | 0020| | 0021| 9. On page 24, line 13, after the period strike the | 0022| remainder of the line in its entirety and strike lines 14 through | 0023| 17 in their entirety. | 0024| | 0025| Respectfully submitted, | 0001| | 0002| | 0003| | 0004| | 0005| | 0006| Thomas P. Foy, Chairman | 0007| | 0008| | 0009| Adopted Not Adopted | 0010| | 0011| (Chief Clerk) (Chief Clerk) | 0012| | 0013| Date | 0014| | 0015| The roll call vote was 12 For 0 Against | 0016| Yes: 12 | 0017| Excused: Sanchez | 0018| Absent: None | 0019| | 0020| | 0021| .115292.1 | 0022| G:\BILLTEXT\BILLW_97\H0090 |