CHAPTER 562

H.P. 1293 - L.D. 1771

An Act Regarding Child Support Collection Practices

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

Sec. 1. 19-A MRSA §2109 is enacted to read:

§2109.__Limitations on collection of child support

A person other than an employee of the department who enters into an agreement with another to collect child support is subject to the following limitations.

1.__Fee limitation.__In a contingent-fee contract for the collection of child support, the fee may be based only upon the amount of unpaid past child support arrearage calculated as of the date when the contract is signed.__A fee may not be based on current or future child support payments and may be assessed only on funds actually received by the child support obligee.

2.__Collection practices limitations.__Each person who enters into an agreement with another to collect child support is subject to the provisions of Title 32, chapter 109-A if either the support obligee or the support obligor is a resident of this State.

3.__Requirement for written contract.__Each agreement between a person who collects or offers to collect child support and a child support obligee must be in writing, dated and signed by the support obligee.__The contract must contain a full and