CHILD SUPPORT AMNESTY
House Bill 5259
Sponsor: Rep. John Stahl
House Bill 5261
Sponsor: Rep. Jennifer Elkins
House Bill 5262
Sponsor: Rep. Doug Hart
Committee: Family and Children Services
Complete to 1-13-04
A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILLS 5259, 5261, AND 5262 AS INTRODUCED 11-5-03
House Bills 5259 and 5261 would amend the Friend of the Court Act (MCL 552.511) and the Support and Parenting Time Enforcement Act (MCL 552.603), respectively, to require the Office of Child Support, within the Family Independence Agency, to comply with the child support amnesty program that would be established by House Bill 4654. (House Bill 4654 would amend the Office of Child Support Act. See the summary by the House Legislative Analysis Section dated 5-14-03.) A payer would not be able to participate in the amnesty program if prosecution for the failure to pay child support had already been initiated before the payer sought participation. The bills are tie-barred to House Bill 4654.
House Bill 5262 would amend the Michigan Penal Code (MCL 750.161a) to specify that if an individual is participating in the child support amnesty program established by House Bill 4654, prosecution for the failure to pay such support could not be initiated during that amnesty period. A payer would not be able to participate in the amnesty program if prosecution for the failure to pay child support had been initiated before the payer sought participation. A payer who makes full payment of past due support during the amnesty period would not be prosecuted for failure to pay before the start of the amnesty period. The bill is tie-barred to House Bill 4654 and would not apply six months after its effective date.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.