PUBLIC Law, Chapter 479, An Act To Streamline Enforcement of Child Support Orders Issued by the Penobscot Nation

An Act To Streamline Enforcement of Child Support Orders Issued by the Penobscot Nation

Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and

Whereas, this legislation needs to take effect as soon as possible to provide the Penobscot Nation with the ability to enforce child support orders against delinquent parents; and

Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 29-A MRSA §2459-A is enacted to read:

§ 2459-A. Suspension of license for failure to meet family financial responsibility; Penobscot Nation

1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.

A. "Penobscot Nation" means the Penobscot Nation Tribal Court or the entity authorized by the governing body of the Penobscot Nation pursuant to Title 30, section 6209-B to exercise jurisdiction over child support enforcement matters.

B. "Support obligor" means an individual who owes a duty of support and over whom the Penobscot Nation has jurisdiction.

C. "Support order" means a judgment, decree or order, whether temporary, final or subject to modification, issued by the Penobscot Nation for the support and maintenance of a child or a child and the parent with whom the child is living that provides for monetary support, health care, arrearages or reimbursement and may include related costs and fees, interest and penalties, income withholding, attorney's fees and other relief.

2. Compliance with support orders. In addition to other qualifications and conditions established by this Title, the right of an individual subject to the jurisdiction of the Penobscot Nation to hold a motor vehicle operator's license or permit issued by the State is subject to the requirements of this section.

3. Certification of noncompliance. Upon receipt of a written certification from the Penobscot Nation that a support obligor who owns or operates a motor vehicle is not in compliance with a support order, the Secretary of State shall suspend the license and right to operate and obtain the license of the individual so certified. The Secretary of State may not reinstate an operator's license suspended for noncompliance with a support order until the Penobscot Nation issues a release that states the support obligor is in compliance with the support order or the Penobscot Nation orders reinstatement.

4. Notice of suspension. Upon suspending an individual's license, permit or privilege to operate under subsection 3, the Secretary of State shall notify the individual of the suspension. A notice of suspension must specify the reason and statutory grounds for the suspension and the effective date of the suspension and may include any other notices prescribed by the Secretary of State. The notice must inform the individual that in order to apply for reinstatement, the individual must obtain a release from the Penobscot Nation. The notice must inform the individual that the individual may file a petition for judicial review of the notice of suspension in the Superior Court within 30 days of receipt of the notice. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, Title 5, section 9052, subsection 1 does not apply to a notice of suspension issued under this section.

5. Temporary license. Upon being presented with a conditional release issued by the Penobscot Nation and at the request of an individual whose operator's license, permit or privilege to operate has been suspended under this section, the Secretary of State may issue the individual a temporary license valid for a period not to exceed 120 days.

6. Rules. The Secretary of State shall adopt rules to implement and enforce the requirements of this section. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as described in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.

7. Agreement. The Secretary of State and the Penobscot Nation may enter into an agreement to carry out the requirements of this section.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.

Effective 90 days following adjournment of the 126th Legislature, Second Regular Session, unless otherwise indicated.

HP1211 LD 1688	PUBLIC Law, Chapter 479 on - Session - 126th Maine Legislature
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