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H.B. 222

             1     

SUPPORT OBLIGATION FOR CHILDREN IN STATE

             2     
CUSTODY

             3     
2011 GENERAL SESSION

             4     
STATE OF UTAH

             5     
Chief Sponsor: Larry B. Wiley

             6     
Senate Sponsor: ____________

             7     
             8      LONG TITLE
             9      General Description:
             10          This bill requires the court to provide a hearing upon request on whether a parent or
             11      guardian should be required to pay child support for a child in state custody.
             12      Highlighted Provisions:
             13          This bill:
             14          .    allows a parent or guardian to request a hearing on child support for a child in state
             15      custody;
             16          .    requires the court to hold a hearing if requested by a parent or guardian; and
             17          .    sets the standard for the court review at clear and convincing evidence.
             18      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             19          None
             20      Other Special Clauses:
             21          None
             22      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             23      AMENDS:
             24          78A-6-1106, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 3
             25     
             26      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             27          Section 1. Section 78A-6-1106 is amended to read:


             28           78A-6-1106. Child support obligation when custody of a child is vested in an
             29      individual or institution.
             30          (1) [When] Unless the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that requiring
             31      payment would produce an unjust result, the court shall order the parents, a parent, guardian
             32      subject to Subsection (2), or any other obligated person to pay child support for each month a
             33      child is in custody when legal custody of a child is vested by the court in:
             34          (a) a secure youth corrections facility; or
             35          (b) any other state department, division, or agency other than the child's parents[,] or
             36      [if] guardian.
             37          (2) If the guardianship of the child has been granted to another party and an agreement
             38      for a guardianship subsidy has been signed by the guardian, the court shall order the [parents, a
             39      parent, or any other obligated person] guardian to pay child support for each month the child is
             40      in custody. A court may not order payments from a guardian if no guardianship subsidy exists.
             41          (3) (a) In the [same] proceeding in which the court vested legal custody of a child in a
             42      person or agency other than the child's parents or guardian, the court shall inform the parents,
             43      [a parent] guardian, or any other obligated person, verbally and in writing, [of the requirement]
             44      that:
             45          (i) they are required, if ordered, to pay child support in accordance with Title 78B,
             46      Chapter 12, Utah Child Support Act[.]; and
             47          (ii) they may make a written request for a hearing to determine whether child support
             48      will be ordered.
             49          (b) If requested in writing by a parent, guardian, or any other obligated person, the
             50      court shall hold a separate hearing to determine whether support should be ordered.
             51          (4) The court shall schedule a hearing requested under Subsection (3) as soon as
             52      practicable. The court may not order payment until the hearing. If the court determines that
             53      the parents or guardians are liable for support, the order may set the date for accrual of amounts
             54      from the date on which the court vested legal custody of a child in a person or agency other
             55      than the child's parents. Amounts may not accrue for more than 90 days.
             56          [(2)] (5) If legal custody of a child is vested by the court in a secure youth corrections
             57      facility, or any other state department, division, or agency, the court may refer the
             58      establishment of a child support order to the Office of Recovery Services. The referral shall be


             59      sent to the Office of Recovery Services within three working days of the hearing. Support
             60      obligation amounts shall be set by the Office of Recovery Services in accordance with Title
             61      78B, Chapter 12, Utah Child Support Act.
             62          [(3)] (6) If referred to the Office of Recovery Services pursuant to Subsection [(2)] (5),
             63      the court shall also inform the parties that they are required to contact the Office of Recovery
             64      Services within 30 days of the date of the hearing to establish a child support order and the
             65      penalty in Subsection [(5)] (8) for failing to do so. If there is no existing child support order
             66      for the child, the liability for support shall accrue beginning on the 61st day following the
             67      hearing that occurs the first time the court vests custody of the child in a secure youth
             68      corrections facility, or any other state department, division, or agency other than his parents.
             69          [(4)] (7) If a child is returned home and legal custody is subsequently vested by the
             70      court in a secure youth corrections facility or any other state department, division, or agency
             71      other than his parents, the liability for support shall accrue from the date the child is
             72      subsequently removed from the home, including time spent in detention or sheltered care.
             73          [(5)] (8) (a) If the parents, parent, or other obligated person meets with the Office of
             74      Recovery Services within 30 days of the date of the hearing, the child support order may not
             75      include a judgment for past due support for more than two months.
             76          (b) Notwithstanding Subsection [(5)] (8)(a), the court may order the liability of support
             77      to begin to accrue from the date of the proceeding referenced in Subsection (1) if:
             78          (i) the parents, a parent, guardian, or any other person obligated fails to:
             79          (A) attend a hearing scheduled in accordance with Subsection (3); or
             80          (B) meet with the Office of Recovery Services within 30 days after being informed
             81      orally and in writing by the court of that requirement; and
             82          (ii) the Office of Recovery Services took reasonable steps under the circumstances to
             83      contact the parents, parent, or other person obligated within the subsequent 30-day period to
             84      facilitate the establishment of the child support order.
             85          (c) For purposes of Subsection [(5)] (8)(b)(ii), the Office of Recovery Services shall be
             86      presumed to have taken reasonable steps if the office:
             87          (i) has a signed, returned receipt for a certified letter mailed to the address of the
             88      parents, parent, or other obligated person regarding the requirement that a child support order
             89      be established; or


             90          (ii) has had a documented conversation, whether by telephone or in person, with the
             91      parents, parent, or other obligated person regarding the requirement that a child support order
             92      be established.
             93          [(6)] (9) In collecting arrears, the Office of Recovery Services shall comply with
             94      Section 62A-11-320 in setting a payment schedule or demanding payment in full.
             95          [(7)] (10) Unless otherwise ordered, the parents or other person shall pay the child
             96      support to the Office of Recovery Services. The clerk of the court, the Office of Recovery
             97      Services, or the Department of Human Services and its divisions shall have authority to receive
             98      periodic payments for the care and maintenance of the child, such as Social Security payments
             99      or railroad retirement payments made in the name of or for the benefit of the child.
             100          [(8)] (11) No court order under this section against a parent or other person shall be
             101      entered, unless notice of hearing has been served within the state, a voluntary appearance is
             102      made, or a waiver of service given. The notice shall specify that a hearing with respect to the
             103      financial support of the child will be held.
             104          [(9)] (12) An existing child support order payable to a parent or other obligated person
             105      shall be assigned to the Department of Human Services as provided in Section 62A-1-117 .
             106          [(10)] (13) (a) Subsections [(3)] (6) through [(9) shall] (12) do not apply if legal
             107      custody of a child is vested by the court in an individual.
             108          (b) If legal custody of a child is vested by the court in an individual, the court may
             109      order the parents, a parent, or any other obligated person to pay child support to the individual.
             110      In the same proceeding the court shall inform the parents, a parent, or any other obligated
             111      person, verbally and in writing, of the requirement to pay child support in accordance with
             112      Title 78B, Chapter 12, Utah Child Support Act.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 1-11-11 4:43 PM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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