UNIFORM INTERSTATE FAMILY SUPP. ACT                                                   S.B. 517-520:

                                                                                                    SUMMARY OF BILL

                                                                                      REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

Senate Bills 517 through 520 (as reported without amendment)

Sponsor:  Senator Peter MacGregor (S.B. 517 & 518)

               Senator Judy K. Emmons (S.B. 519 & 520)

Committee:  Families, Seniors and Human Services

CONTENT

Senate Bill 517 would repeal the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (UIFSA) and reenact it with amendments, particularly with respect to support proceedings under the Hague Convention on the International Recovery of Child Support and Other Forms of Family Maintenance. The Uniform Act provides for the recognition and enforcement of family support orders across state lines.

(The Convention provides for a system of cooperation between Contracting States (signatories to the Convention) in the processing of international applications for maintenance agreements, and provides for the recognition and enforcement of such agreements. The United States signed the Convention in 2007, and the Uniform Law Commission adopted amendments to UIFSA in 2008 to incorporate changes required by the Convention.)

Senate Bills 518, 519, and 520 would amend the Friend of the Court Act, the Office of Child Support Act, and the Support and Parenting Time Enforcement Act, respectively, to delete Michigan Compiled Law citations to the current Uniform Interstate Family Support Act.

All of the bills would take effect on January 1, 2016. Senate Bills 518, 519, and 520 are tie-barred to Senate Bill 517.

MCL 552.502 (S.B. 518)                                            Legislative Analyst:  Patrick Affholter

       400.233 (S.B. 519)

       552.602 (S.B. 520)

FISCAL IMPACT

The bills would have no direct fiscal impact on State or local government. If the bills are not enacted however, there is a risk of a significant fiscal impact on State government. Federal law requires that the 2008 amendments to UIFSA be enacted in every jurisdiction as a condition for continued receipt of Federal funds supporting state child support programs. As the bills would bring Michigan into compliance with Federal law, any penalty for not enacting the bills would be avoided. If not in compliance, the State risks losing an estimated $175.0 million in child support funding for fiscal year 2015-16. Furthermore, if the bills are not passed, the State might not be in compliance with policies that govern the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant, which could jeopardize the receipt of approximately $775.0 million, depending on the interpretation of the Federal statutes and rules. Additionally, there could be a minor fiscal impact on the State if any child support orders originate from countries not currently served by Michigan courts.

Date Completed:  10-23-15                                                  Fiscal Analyst:  John Maxwell

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.