Sec. 18. 19-A MRSA §3007, sub-§§2-A to 2-C are enacted to read:

2-A.__Registration; reasonable efforts.__If the department requests registration of a child support order in this State for enforcement or for modification, the department shall make reasonable efforts:

A.__To ensure that the order to be registered is the controlling order; or

B.__If 2 or more child support orders exist and the identity of the controlling order has not been determined, to ensure that a request for such a determination is made in a tribunal having jurisdiction to do so.

2-B. Conversion of amounts to dollars.__If the department requests registration and enforcement of a support order, arrears or judgment stated in a foreign currency, the department shall convert the amounts stated in the foreign currency into the equivalent amounts in dollars under the applicable official or market exchange rate as publicly reported.

2-C. Issuance upon request.__The department shall issue or request a tribunal of this State to issue a child support order and an income-withholding order that redirect payment of current support, arrears and interest if requested to do so by a support enforcement agency of another state pursuant to Section 319 of the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act.

Uniform Comment

(This is Section 307 of the Uniform Act.)

The focus of Subsection (a) is on providing services to a petitioner, and not merely on "representing" the obligee. Care should be exercised in the use of terminology given this substantial alteration of past practice under RURESA. Not only may either the obligee or the obligor request services, but that request may be in the context of the establishment of an initial child-support order, enforcement or review and adjustment of an existing child-support order, or a modification of that order (upward or downward). Note that the Act does not distinguish between child support and spousal support for purposes of