2002 House Bill 6004 / Public Act 565

Introduced in the House

May 7, 2002

Introduced by Rep. Jim Howell (R-94)

To revise Michigan’s system of child support enforcement. The bill would rename the "Friend of the Court" as the "Court Family Services Office," and also make substantive changes to the process by which child support orders issued in divorce proceedings are enforced. All support orders would state the amount of support as a monthly amount, due the first day of the following month. Currently, past due payments constitute a lien against the payer's real and personal property, with certain exceptions. The bill would clarify the process of perfecting the lien, and would authorize liens against a payer's financial assets, which could be taken for disbursement to the beneficiary. The bill would also allow suspension of a payer's occupational, driver's, recreational, or sporting license after child support payments are one month in arrears, rather than six months as in current law. The bill is part of a legislative package comprised of House Bills 6004 to 6012, 6017, and 6020.

Referred to the Committee on Civil Law and the Judiciary

May 28, 2002

Substitute offered

To replace the previous version of the bill with one which eliminates the proposal to change the name of the Friend of the Court office to the "Court Family Services Office," and changes the delinquency amount that would trigger the suspension of a payer's occupational, driver's, recreational, or sporting license from one- to two months worth of support (rather than six months worth as in current law). The substitute and incorporates other detail changes resulting from committee testimony and deliberation which do not affect the substance of the bill as previously described.

The substitute passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Stephen Adamini (D-109)

To clarify a technical provision contained in the bill.

The amendment passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Jim Howell (R-94)

To increase from 21 to 28 days the time a child support payer has to challenge an action to remove the delinquent amounts from his or her bank account.

The amendment passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Jim Howell (R-94)

To increase from 14 to 21 days the time a child support payer has to file a change of address with a Friend of the Court office after moving, remedy delinquent payments without being subject to financial asset freezing and removal, and challenge or request a review of an asset freeze and removal action.

The amendment passed by voice vote

Passed in the House 99 to 0 (details)

To revise Michigan’s system of child support enforcement. All child support orders would state the amount of support as a monthly amount, due the first day of the following month. Currently, past due payments constitute a lien against the payer's real and personal property, with certain exceptions. It would clarify and simplify the process of perfecting the lien, and would authorize liens against a payer's financial assets, which could be taken for disbursement to the custodial parent. The bill would also allow suspension of a payer's occupational, driver's, recreational, or sporting license after child support payments are two months in arrears, rather than six months as in current law. The bill is part of a legislative package comprised of House Bills 6004 to 6012, 6017, and 6020.

Received in the Senate

May 28, 2002

July 9, 2002

Substitute offered

To replace the previous version of the bill with one containing technical changes that do not affect its substance as previously described, amended to require interest be paid to a person whose financial assets were seized by mistake.

The substitute passed by voice vote

Passed in the Senate 36 to 0 (details)

Received in the House

Aug. 13, 2002

Sept. 17, 2002

Passed in the House 107 to 0 (details)

To concur with the Senate-passed version of the bill.

Signed with partial veto by Gov. John Engler

Oct. 3, 2002