HB 7217CS

CHAMBER ACTION




1The Health & Families Council recommends the following:
2
3     Council/Committee Substitute
4     Remove the entire bill and insert:
5
A bill to be entitled
6An act relating to child support; amending s. 61.13, F.S.;
7requiring either or both parents who owe support to secure
8a child support award; amending s. 61.30, F.S.; providing
9conditions for the imputation of income by the court under
10certain circumstances; providing for the determination of
11net income; providing the child support guidelines
12schedule; providing for income levels above what is
13reflected in the schedule; revising amount of child care
14costs to be added to the basic child support obligation;
15revising method for calculating each parent's percentage
16share of the child support need; revising method of
17calculating the total minimum child support need; revising
18factors to be considered by the court in adjusting child
19support awards; providing for calculation of child support
20orders in cases of split parenting arrangements;
21specifying the method for determining a child support
22order amount; amending s. 409.2563, F.S.; providing for
23the imputation of income under certain circumstances;
24amending s. 409.2564, F.S.; revising a threshold for
25arrearages before passport restrictions apply; amending s.
26409.25641, F.S.; requiring the Department of Revenue to
27employ automated administrative enforcement of support
28orders in interstate cases; authorizing the department to
29establish a corresponding case under certain
30circumstances; requiring the Office of Program Policy
31Analysis and Government Accountability to evaluate state
32compliance with federally required review of child support
33guidelines and provide a report to the Governor and
34Legislature; providing an effective date.
35
36Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
37
38     Section 1.  Paragraphs (a) and (c) of subsection (1) of
39section 61.13, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
40     61.13  Custody and support of children; visitation rights;
41power of court in making orders.--
42     (1)(a)  In a proceeding under this chapter, the court may
43at any time order either or both parents who owe a duty of
44support to a child to pay support in accordance with the child
45support guidelines in s. 61.30. The court initially entering an
46order requiring one or both parents to make child support
47payments shall have continuing jurisdiction after the entry of
48the initial order to modify the amount and terms and conditions
49of the child support payments when the modification is found
50necessary by the court in the best interests of the child, when
51the child reaches majority, or when there is a substantial
52change in the circumstances of the parties. The court initially
53entering a child support order shall also have continuing
54jurisdiction to require the obligee to report to the court on
55terms prescribed by the court regarding the disposition of the
56child support payments.
57     (c)  To the extent necessary to protect an award of child
58support, the court may order either or both parents who owe a
59duty of support to a child the obligor to purchase or maintain a
60life insurance policy or a bond, or to otherwise secure the
61child support award with any other assets which may be suitable
62for that purpose, depending upon the equities of the cause.
63     Section 2.  Section 61.30, Florida Statutes, is amended to
64read:
65     61.30  Child support guidelines; guidelines schedule;
66retroactive child support.--
67     (1)(a)  The child support guideline amount as determined by
68this section presumptively establishes the amount the trier of
69fact shall order as child support in an initial proceeding for
70such support or in a proceeding for modification of an existing
71order for such support, whether the proceeding arises under this
72or another chapter. The trier of fact may order payment of child
73support which varies, plus or minus 5 percent, from the
74guideline amount, after considering all relevant factors,
75including the needs of the child or children, age, station in
76life, standard of living, and the financial status and ability
77of each parent. The trier of fact may order payment of child
78support in an amount which varies more than 5 percent from such
79guideline amount only upon a written finding explaining why
80ordering payment of such guideline amount would be unjust or
81inappropriate. Notwithstanding the variance limitations of this
82section, the trier of fact shall order payment of child support
83which varies from the guideline amount as provided in paragraph
84(11)(b) whenever any of the children are required by court order
85or mediation agreement to spend a substantial amount of time
86with the primary and secondary residential parents. This
87requirement applies to any living arrangement, whether temporary
88or permanent.
89     (b)  The guidelines may provide the basis for proving a
90substantial change in circumstances upon which a modification of
91an existing order may be granted. However, the difference
92between the existing monthly obligation and the amount provided
93for under the guidelines shall be at least 15 percent or $50,
94whichever amount is greater, before the court may find that the
95guidelines provide a substantial change in circumstances.
96     (c)  For each support order reviewed by the department as
97required by s. 409.2564(11), if the amount of the child support
98award under the order differs by at least 10 percent but not
99less than $25 from the amount that would be awarded under s.
10061.30, the department shall seek to have the order modified and
101any modification shall be made without a requirement for proof
102or showing of a change in circumstances.
103     (2)  Income shall be determined on a monthly basis for each
104parent the obligor and for the obligee as follows:
105     (a)  Gross income shall include, but is not limited to, the
106following items:
107     1.  Salary or wages.
108     2.  Bonuses, commissions, allowances, overtime, tips, and
109other similar payments.
110     3.  Business income from sources such as self-employment,
111partnership, close corporations, and independent contracts.
112"Business income" means gross receipts minus ordinary and
113necessary expenses required to produce income.
114     4.  Disability benefits.
115     5.  All workers' compensation benefits and settlements.
116     6.  Unemployment compensation.
117     7.  Pension, retirement, or annuity payments.
118     8.  Social security benefits.
119     9.  Spousal support received from a previous marriage or
120court ordered in the marriage before the court.
121     10.  Interest and dividends.
122     11.  Rental income, which is gross receipts minus ordinary
123and necessary expenses required to produce the income.
124     12.  Income from royalties, trusts, or estates.
125     13.  Reimbursed expenses or in kind payments to the extent
126that they reduce living expenses.
127     14.  Gains derived from dealings in property, unless the
128gain is nonrecurring.
129     (b)1.  Income on a monthly basis shall be imputed to an
130unemployed or underemployed parent when such employment or
131underemployment is found by the court to be voluntary on that
132parent's part, absent a finding of fact by the court of physical
133or mental incapacity or other circumstances over which the
134parent has no control. In the event of such voluntary
135unemployment or underemployment, the employment potential and
136probable earnings level of the parent shall be determined based
137upon his or her recent work history, occupational
138qualifications, and prevailing earnings level in the community
139as provided in this paragraph; however, the court may refuse to
140impute income to a primary residential parent if the court finds
141it necessary for the parent to stay home with the child who is
142the subject of the child support calculation to care for that
143child.
144     2.  In order for the court to impute income under
145subparagraph 1., the court must make specific findings of fact
146consistent with the requirements of this paragraph. The party
147seeking to impute income has the burden to present competent,
148substantial evidence:
149     a.  That the unemployment or underemployment is voluntary;
150and
151     b.  That identifies the amount and source of the imputed
152income, through evidence of available income from employment for
153which the party is suitably qualified by education, experience,
154current licensure, or geographic location, with due
155consideration being given to the parties' current existing
156parental obligations and time-sharing plan and their historical
157compliance with the plan.
158     3.  A rebuttable presumption shall exist, which entitles
159the court to impute Florida minimum wage to a parent if no other
160evidentiary basis or mechanism for establishing a parent's gross
161income is available, absent a finding by the court that:
162     a.  The parent has a physical or mental incapacity that
163renders the parent unemployable or underemployed;
164     b.  The parent needs to stay home with a child who is the
165subject of the child support calculation proceedings and care
166for that child, thereby preventing the parent's employment or
167rendering the parent underemployed; or
168     c.  There are other circumstances over which the parent has
169no control, except for penal incarceration, which prevents the
170parent from earning an income.
171
172If evidence is produced that demonstrates that the parent is a
173resident of another state, the state minimum wage applicable to
174the parent's state of residence shall apply if it is greater
175than the Florida minimum wage. In the absence of a state minimum
176wage or if the other state's minimum wage is lower than the
177Florida minimum wage, the federal minimum wage as determined by
178the United States Department of Labor shall apply.
179     4.  Income may not be imputed beyond minimum wage
180requirements in subparagraph 3. based upon:
181     a.  Income records that are more than 5 years old at the
182time of the hearing or trial at which imputation is sought.
183     b.  Income at a level that a party has not previously ever
184earned in the past, unless recently degreed, licensed,
185certified, relicensed, or recertified and thus qualified for,
186subject to geographic location, with due consideration being
187given to the parties' current existing parental obligations and
188time-sharing plan and their historical compliance with the plan.
189     (c)  Public assistance as defined in s. 409.2554 shall be
190excluded from gross income.
191     (3)  Net income is obtained by subtracting allowable
192deductions from gross income. Allowable deductions shall
193include:
194     (a)  Federal, state, and local income tax deductions,
195adjusted for actual filing status and allowable dependents and
196income tax liabilities.
197     (b)  Federal insurance contributions or self-employment
198tax.
199     (c)  Mandatory union dues.
200     (d)  Mandatory retirement payments.
201     (e)  Health insurance payments, excluding payments for
202coverage of the minor child.
203     (f)  Court-ordered support for other children which is
204actually paid.
205     (g)  Spousal support paid pursuant to a court order from a
206previous marriage or the marriage before the court.
207     (4)  Net income for each parent the obligor and net income
208for the obligee shall be computed by subtracting allowable
209deductions from gross income.
210     (5)  Net income for each parent the obligor and net income
211for the obligee shall be added together for a combined net
212income.
213     (6)  The following guidelines schedules shall be applied to
214the combined net income to determine the minimum child support
215need:
216
 
Combined Monthly NetAvailable IncomeChild or Children
217
 
           OneTwoThreeFourFiveSix
218
 
650.00747575767778
219
 
700.00119120121123124125
220
 
750.00164166167169171173
221
 
800.00190211213216218220
222
 
850.00202257259262265268
223
 
900.00213302305309312315
224
 
950.00224347351355359363
225
 
1000.00235365397402406410
226
 
1050.00246382443448453458
227
 
1100.00258400489495500505
228
 
1150.00269417522541547553
229
 
1200.00280435544588594600
230
 
1250.00290451565634641648
231
 
1300.00300467584659688695
232
 
1350.00310482603681735743
233
 
1400.00320498623702765790
234
 
1450.00330513642724789838
235
 
1500.00340529662746813869
236
 
1550.00350544681768836895
237
 
1600.00360560701790860920
238
 
1650.00370575720812884945
239
 
1700.00380591740833907971
240
 
1750.00390606759855931996
241
 
1800.004006227798779551022
242
 
1850.004106387989009791048
243
 
1900.0042165481892310041074
244
 
1950.0043167083994610291101
245
 
2000.0044268685996810541128
246
 
2050.0045270287999110791154
247
 
2100.00463718899101411041181
248
 
2150.00473734919103711291207
249
 
2200.00484751940106011541234
250
 
2250.00494767960108211791261
251
 
2300.00505783980110512041287
252
 
2350.005157991000112812291314
253
 
2400.005268151020115112541340
254
 
2450.005368311041117412791367
255
 
2500.005478471061119613041394
256
 
2550.005578641081121913291420
257
 
2600.005688801101124213541447
258
 
2650.005788961121126513791473
259
 
2700.005889121141128714031500
260
 
2750.005979271160130814261524
261
 
2800.006079411178132814481549
262
 
2850.006169561197134914711573
263
 
2900.006269711215137014941598
264
 
2950.006359861234139115171622
265
 
3000.0064410011252141215401647
266
 
3050.0065410161271143315631671
267
 
3100.0066310311289145315861695
268
 
3150.0067310451308147416081720
269
 
3200.0068210601327149516311744
270
 
3250.0069110751345151616541769
271
 
3300.0070110901364153716771793
272
 
3350.0071011051382155817001818
273
 
3400.0072011201401157917231842
274
 
3450.0072911351419159917451867
275
 
3500.0073811491438162017681891
276
 
3550.0074811641456164117911915
277
 
3600.0075711791475166218141940
278
 
3650.0076711941493168318371964
279
 
3700.0077612081503170218571987
280
 
3750.0078412211520172118782009
281
 
3800.0079312341536174018992031
282
 
3850.0080212481553175919202053
283
 
3900.0081112611570177819402075
284
 
3950.0081912751587179719612097
285
 
4000.0082812881603181619822119
286
 
4050.0083713021620183520022141
287
 
4100.0084613151637185420232163
288
 
4150.0085413291654187320442185
289
 
4200.0086313421670189220642207
290
 
4250.0087213551687191120852229
291
 
4300.0088113691704193021062251
292
 
4350.0088913821721194921272273
293
 
4400.0089813961737196821472295
294
 
4450.0090714091754198721682317
295
 
4500.0091614231771200621892339
296
 
4550.0092414361788202422092361
297
 
4600.0093314501804204322302384
298
 
4650.0094214631821206222512406
299
 
4700.0095114771838208122712428
300
 
4750.0095914901855210022922450
301
 
4800.0096815031871211923132472
302
 
4850.0097715171888213823342494
303
 
4900.0098615301905215723542516
304
 
4950.0099315421927217423722535
305
 
5000.00100015511939218823872551
306
 
5050.00100615611952220224022567
307
 
5100.00101315711964221524172583
308
 
5150.00101915801976222924322599
309
 
5200.00102515901988224324472615
310
 
5250.00103215992000225624622631
311
 
5300.00103816092012227024772647
312
 
5350.00104516192024228324922663
313
 
5400.00105116282037229725072679
314
 
5450.00105716382049231125222695
315
 
5500.00106416472061232425372711
316
 
5550.00107016572073233825522727
317
 
5600.00107716672085235225672743
318
 
5650.00108316762097236525822759
319
 
5700.00108916862109237925972775
320
 
5750.00109616952122239326122791
321
 
5800.00110217052134240626272807
322
 
5850.00110717132144241826392820
323
 
5900.00111117212155242926512833
324
 
5950.00111617292165244026632847
325
 
6000.00112117372175245126762860
326
 
6050.00112617462185246226882874
327
 
6100.00113117542196247327002887
328
 
6150.00113617622206248427122900
329
 
6200.00114117702216249527242914
330
 
6250.00114517782227250627372927
331
 
6300.00115017862237251727492941
332
 
6350.00115517952247252927612954
333
 
6400.00116018032258254027732967
334
 
6450.00116518112268255127852981
335
 
6500.00117018192278256227982994
336
 
6550.00117518272288257328103008
337
 
6600.00117918352299258428223021
338
 
6650.00118418432309259528343034
339
 
6700.00118918502317260428453045
340
 
6750.00119318562325261328543055
341
 
6800.00119618622332262128633064
342
 
6850.00120018682340263028723074
343
 
6900.00120418732347263928823084
344
 
6950.00120818792355264728913094
345
 
7000.00121218852362265629003103
346
 
7050.00121618912370266429093113
347
 
7100.00122018972378267329193123
348
 
7150.00122419032385268129283133
349
 
7200.00122819092393269029373142
350
 
7250.00123219152400269829463152
351
 
7300.00123519212408270729563162
352
 
7350.00123919272415271629653172
353
 
7400.00124319332423272429743181
354
 
7450.00124719392430273329833191
355
 
7500.00125119452438274129933201
356
 
7550.00125519512446275030023211
357
 
7600.00125919572453275830113220
358
 
7650.00126319632461276730203230
359
 
7700.00126719692468277530303240
360
 
7750.00127119752476278430393250
361
 
7800.00127419812483279230483259
362
 
7850.00127819872491280130573269
363
 
7900.00128219922498281030673279
364
 
7950.00128619982506281830763289
365
 
8000.00129020042513282730853298
366
 
8050.00129420102521283530943308
367
 
8100.00129820162529284431043318
368
 
8150.00130220222536285231133328
369
 
8200.00130620282544286131223337
370
 
8250.00131020342551286931313347
371
 
8300.00131320402559287831413357
372
 
8350.00131720462566288731503367
373
 
8400.00132120522574289531593376
374
 
8450.00132520582581290431683386
375
 
8500.00132920642589291231783396
376
 
8550.00133320702597292131873406
377
 
8600.00133720762604292931963415
378
 
8650.00134120822612293832053425
379
 
8700.00134520882619294632153435
380
 
8750.00134920942627295532243445
381
 
8800.00135221002634296332333454
382
 
8850.00135621062642297232423464
383
 
8900.00136021112649298132523474
384
 
8950.00136421172657298932613484
385
 
9000.00136821232664299832703493
386
 
9050.00137221292672300632793503
387
 
9100.00137621352680301532893513
388
 
9150.00138021412687302332983523
389
 
9200.00138421472695303233073532
390
 
9250.00138821532702304033163542
391
 
9300.00139121592710304933263552
392
 
9350.00139521652717305833353562
393
 
9400.00139921712725306633443571
394
 
9450.00140321772732307533533581
395
 
9500.00140721832740308333633591
396
 
9550.00141121892748309233723601
397
 
9600.00141521952755310033813610
398
 
9650.00141922012763310933903620
399
 
9700.00142222062767311533963628
400
 
9750.00142522102772312134023634
401
 
9800.00142722132776312634083641
402
 
9850.00143022172781313234143647
403
 
9900.00143222212786313734203653
404
 
9950.00143522252791314334263659
405
 
10000.00143722282795314834323666
406
407For combined monthly available income less than the amount set
408out on the above schedules, the parent should be ordered to pay
409a child support amount, determined on a case-by-case basis, to
410establish the principle of payment and lay the basis for
411increased orders should the parent's income increase in the
412future. For combined monthly available income greater than the
413amount set out in the above schedules, the obligation shall be
414the minimum amount of support provided by the guidelines
415schedule plus the following percentages multiplied by the amount
416of income over $10,000:
417
 
Child or Children
418
 
OneTwoThreeFourFiveSix
419
 
5.0%7.5%9.5%11.0%12.0%12.5%
420
421These percentages shall not be used to determine child support
422beyond the amount necessary to satisfy the reasonable needs of
423the child or children.
424     (7)  Child care costs incurred on behalf of the children
425due to employment, job search, or education calculated to result
426in employment or to enhance income of current employment of
427either parent shall be reduced by 25 percent and then shall be
428added to the basic obligation. After the adjusted child care
429costs are added to the basic obligation, any moneys prepaid by
430the noncustodial parent for child care costs for the child or
431children of this action shall be deducted from that noncustodial
432parent's child support obligation for that child or those
433children. Child care costs shall not exceed the level required
434to provide quality care from a licensed source for the children.
435     (8)  Health insurance costs resulting from coverage ordered
436pursuant to s. 61.13(1)(b), and any noncovered medical, dental,
437and prescription medication expenses of the child, shall be
438added to the basic obligation unless these expenses have been
439ordered to be separately paid on a percentage basis. After the
440health insurance costs are added to the basic obligation, any
441moneys prepaid by the noncustodial parent for health-related
442costs for the child or children of this action shall be deducted
443from that noncustodial parent's child support obligation for
444that child or those children.
445     (9)  Each parent's percentage share of the child support
446need shall be determined by dividing each parent's net monthly
447income by the combined net monthly income.
448     (10)  The total minimum child support need shall be
449determined by adding child care costs and health insurance costs
450to the minimum child support need. Each parent's actual dollar
451share of the total minimum child support need shall be
452determined by multiplying the minimum child support need by each
453parent's percentage share of the combined monthly net income.
454     (11)(a)  The court may adjust the total minimum child
455support award, or either or both parents' share of the total
456minimum child support award, based upon the following deviation
457factors considerations:
458     1.  Extraordinary medical, psychological, educational, or
459dental expenses.
460     2.  Independent income of the child, not to include moneys
461received by a child from supplemental security income.
462     3.  The payment of support for a parent which regularly has
463been paid and for which there is a demonstrated need.
464     4.  Seasonal variations in one or both parents' incomes or
465expenses.
466     5.  The age of the child, taking into account the greater
467needs of older children.
468     6.  Special needs, such as costs that may be associated
469with the disability of a child, that have traditionally been met
470within the family budget even though the fulfilling of those
471needs will cause the support to exceed the presumptive amount
472established by the proposed guidelines.
473     7.  Total available assets of the obligee, obligor, and the
474child.
475     8.  The impact of the Internal Revenue Service dependency
476exemption and waiver of that exemption and the impact of any
477federal child care tax credit. The court may order the primary
478residential parent to execute a waiver of the Internal Revenue
479Service dependency exemption if the noncustodial parent is
480current in support payments.
481     9.  When application of the child support guidelines
482requires a person to pay another person more than 55 percent of
483his or her gross income for a child support obligation for
484current support resulting from a single support order.
485     10.  The particular parenting shared parental arrangement,
486such as where the child spends a significant amount of time, but
487less than 20 40 percent of the overnights, with the noncustodial
488parent, thereby reducing the financial expenditures incurred by
489the primary residential parent; or the refusal of the
490noncustodial parent to become involved in the activities of the
491child.
492     11.  Any other adjustment which is needed to achieve an
493equitable result which may include, but not be limited to, a
494reasonable and necessary existing expense or debt. Such expense
495or debt may include, but is not limited to, a reasonable and
496necessary expense or debt which the parties jointly incurred
497during the marriage.
498     (b)  Whenever a particular parenting shared parental
499arrangement provides that each child spend a substantial amount
500of time with each parent, the court shall adjust any award of
501child support, as follows:
502     1.  In accordance with subsections (9) and (10), calculate
503the amount of support obligation apportioned to the noncustodial
504parent without including day care and health insurance costs in
505the calculation and multiply the amount by 1.5.
506     2.  In accordance with subsections (9) and (10), calculate
507the amount of support obligation apportioned to the custodial
508parent without including day care and health insurance costs in
509the calculation and multiply the amount by 1.5.
510     3.  Calculate the percentage of overnight stays the child
511spends with each parent.
512     4.  Multiply the noncustodial parent's support obligation
513as calculated in subparagraph 1. by the percentage of the
514custodial parent's overnight stays with the child as calculated
515in subparagraph 3.
516     5.  Multiply the custodial parent's support obligation as
517calculated in subparagraph 2. by the percentage of the
518noncustodial parent's overnight stays with the child as
519calculated in subparagraph 3.
520     6.  The difference between the amounts calculated in
521subparagraphs 4. and 5. shall be the monetary transfer necessary
522between the custodial and noncustodial parents for the care of
523the child, subject to an adjustment for day care and health
524insurance expenses.
525     7.  Pursuant to subsections (7) and (8), calculate the net
526amounts owed by the custodial and noncustodial parents for the
527expenses incurred for day care and health insurance coverage for
528the child. Day care shall be calculated without regard to the
52925-percent reduction applied by subsection (7).
530     8.  Adjust the support obligation owed by the custodial or
531noncustodial parent pursuant to subparagraph 6. by crediting or
532debiting the amount calculated in subparagraph 7. This amount
533represents the child support which must be exchanged between the
534custodial and noncustodial parents. However, if the amount to be
535paid is more than the child support that would be paid had the
536child support been calculated without adjustment for substantial
537parenting time, the court shall order child support to be paid
538without making the otherwise mandatory adjustment required by
539this paragraph.
540     9.  The court may deviate from the child support amount
541calculated pursuant to subparagraph 8. based upon the deviation
542factors considerations set forth in paragraph (a), as well as
543the custodial parent's low income of either parent or the
544inability of either parent and ability to maintain the basic
545necessities of the home for the child, the likelihood that the
546noncustodial parent will actually exercise the visitation
547granted by the court, and whether all of the children are
548exercising the same parenting shared parental arrangement.
549     10.  For purposes of adjusting any award of child support
550under this paragraph, "substantial amount of time" means that
551the noncustodial parent exercises visitation at least 20 40
552percent of the overnights of the year.
553     (c)  A noncustodial parent's failure to regularly exercise
554court-ordered or agreed visitation not caused by the custodial
555parent which resulted in the adjustment of the amount of child
556support pursuant to subparagraph (a)10. or paragraph (b) shall
557be deemed a substantial change of circumstances for purposes of
558modifying the child support award. A modification pursuant to
559this paragraph shall be retroactive to the date the noncustodial
560parent first failed to regularly exercise court-ordered or
561agreed visitation.
562     (d)  A split parenting arrangement exists when there is
563more than one child in common and each parent has the majority
564of the overnight timesharing for one or more of the children. In
565cases involving split parenting arrangements, the court shall
566calculate and order child support as follows:
567     1.  The court shall make two separate child support
568calculations, one for each child or group of children residing
569for a majority of the overnights with each parent.
570     2.  The obligations arising from each initial child support
571calculation shall be offset. The lower support obligation shall
572be subtracted from the higher support obligation to determine
573the split parenting child support obligation.
574     3.  The parent owing the greater amount of child support in
575subparagraph 1. shall pay the split parenting child support
576obligation to the other parent.
577     (12)(a)  A parent with a support obligation may have other
578children living with him or her who were born or adopted after
579the support obligation arose. If such subsequent children exist,
580the court, when considering an upward modification of an
581existing award, may disregard the income from secondary
582employment obtained in addition to the parent's primary
583employment if the court determines that the employment was
584obtained primarily to support the subsequent children.
585     (b)  Except as provided in paragraph (a), the existence of
586such subsequent children should not as a general rule be
587considered by the court as a basis for disregarding the amount
588provided in the guidelines schedule. The parent with a support
589obligation for subsequent children may raise the existence of
590such subsequent children as a justification for deviation from
591the guidelines schedule. However, if the existence of such
592subsequent children is raised, the income of the other parent of
593the subsequent children shall be considered by the court in
594determining whether or not there is a basis for deviation from
595the guideline amount.
596     (c)  The issue of subsequent children under paragraph (a)
597or paragraph (b) may only be raised in a proceeding for an
598upward modification of an existing award and may not be applied
599to justify a decrease in an existing award.
600     (13)  If the recurring income is not sufficient to meet the
601needs of the child, the court may order child support to be paid
602from nonrecurring income or assets.
603     (14)  Every petition for child support or for modification
604of child support shall be accompanied by an affidavit which
605shows the party's income, allowable deductions, and net income
606computed in accordance with this section. The affidavit shall be
607served at the same time that the petition is served. The
608respondent, whether or not a stipulation is entered, shall make
609an affidavit which shows the party's income, allowable
610deductions, and net income computed in accordance with this
611section. The respondent shall include his or her affidavit with
612the answer to the petition or as soon thereafter as is
613practicable, but in any case at least 72 hours prior to any
614hearing on the finances of either party.
615     (15)  For purposes of establishing an obligation for
616support in accordance with this section, if a person who is
617receiving public assistance is found to be noncooperative as
618defined in s. 409.2572, the IV-D agency is authorized to submit
619to the court an affidavit attesting to the income of the
620custodial parent based upon information available to the IV-D
621agency.
622     (16)  The Legislature shall review the guidelines
623established in this section at least every 4 years beginning in
6241997.
625     (17)  In an initial determination of child support, whether
626in a paternity action, dissolution of marriage action, or
627petition for support during the marriage, the court has
628discretion to award child support retroactive to the date when
629the parents did not reside together in the same household with
630the child, not to exceed a period of 24 months preceding the
631filing of the petition, regardless of whether that date precedes
632the filing of the petition. In determining the retroactive award
633in such cases, the court shall consider the following:
634     (a)  The court shall apply the guidelines schedule in
635effect at the time of the hearing subject to the obligor's
636demonstration of his or her actual income, as defined by
637subsection (2), during the retroactive period. Failure of the
638obligor to so demonstrate shall result in the court using the
639obligor's income at the time of the hearing in computing child
640support for the retroactive period.
641     (b)  All actual payments made by the noncustodial parent to
642the custodial parent or the child or third parties for the
643benefit of the child throughout the proposed retroactive period.
644     (c)  The court should consider an installment payment plan
645for the payment of retroactive child support.
646     Section 3.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (5) of section
647409.2563, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
648     409.2563  Administrative establishment of child support
649obligations.--
650     (5)  PROPOSED ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT ORDER.--
651     (a)  After serving notice upon the noncustodial parent in
652accordance with subsection (4), the department shall calculate
653the noncustodial parent's child support obligation under the
654child support guidelines as provided by s. 61.30, based on any
655timely financial affidavits received and other information
656available to the department. If either parent fails to comply
657with the requirement to furnish a financial affidavit, the
658department may proceed on the basis of information available
659from any source, if such information is sufficiently reliable
660and detailed to allow calculation of guideline amounts under s.
66161.30. If the custodial parent receives public assistance and
662fails to submit a financial affidavit, the department may submit
663a financial affidavit for the custodial parent pursuant to s.
66461.30(15). If there is a lack of sufficient reliable information
665concerning a parent's actual earnings for a current or past
666period, it shall be presumed for the purpose of establishing a
667support obligation that the parent had an earning capacity equal
668to the Florida federal minimum wage on a full-time basis during
669the applicable period, unless the parent shows that he or she is
670a resident of another state, in which case the state minimum
671wage applicable to the parent's state of residence shall apply
672if it is greater than the Florida minimum wage. In the absence
673of a state minimum wage or if the other state's minimum wage is
674lower than the Florida minimum wage, the federal minimum wage
675shall apply.
676     Section 4.  Subsection (10) of section 409.2564, Florida
677Statutes, is amended to read:
678     409.2564  Actions for support.--
679     (10)  For the purposes of denial, revocation, or limitation
680of an individual's United States passport, consistent with 42
681U.S.C. s. 652(k)(1), the Title IV-D agency shall have procedures
682to certify to the Secretary of the United States Department of
683Health and Human Services, in the format and accompanied by such
684supporting documentation as the secretary may require, a
685determination that an individual owes arrearages of support in
686an amount exceeding $2,500 $5,000. Said procedures shall provide
687that the individual be given notice of the determination and of
688the consequence thereof and that the individual shall be given
689an opportunity to contest the accuracy of the determination.
690     Section 5.  Section 409.25641, Florida Statutes, is amended
691to read:
692     409.25641  Procedures for processing automated
693administrative enforcement requests.--
694     (1)  The department Title IV-D agency shall use automated
695administrative enforcement, as defined in Title IV-D of the
696Social Security Act, in response to a request from another state
697to enforce a support order and shall promptly report the results
698of enforcement action to the requesting state.
699     (2)  This request:
700     (a)  May be transmitted from the other state by electronic
701or other means.;
702     (b)  Shall contain sufficient identifying information to
703allow comparison with the databases within the state which are
704available to the department. Title IV-D agency; and
705     (c)  Shall constitute a certification by the requesting
706state:
707     1.  Of the amount of arrearage accrued under the order; and
708     2.  That the requesting state has complied with all
709procedural due process requirements applicable to the case.
710     (3)  If assistance is provided by the department Title IV-D
711agency to another state as prescribed above, the department may
712not neither state shall consider the case to be transferred from
713the caseload of the other state to the caseload of the
714department, but the department may establish a corresponding
715case based on the other state's request for assistance Title IV-
716D agency.
717     (4)  The department Title IV-D agency shall maintain a
718record of:
719     (a)  The number of requests received;
720     (b)  The number of cases for which the department Title IV-
721D agency collected support in response to such a request; and
722     (c)  The amount of such collected support.
723     (5)  The department shall have authority to adopt rules to
724implement this section.
725     Section 6.  The Office of Program Policy Analysis and
726Government Accountability shall evaluate the effectiveness of
727the system currently used for complying with the federal
728requirement that states review their child support guidelines at
729least once every 4 years. The evaluation shall include a
730comparison of all available methodologies being utilized by
731other states in conducting their reviews of their child support
732guidelines and include recommendations for either maintaining
733the current review process with the Legislature or transferring
734the responsibility to another entity. A report shall be
735submitted to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the
736Speaker of the House of Representatives by January 31, 2007.
737     Section 7.  This act shall take effect October 1, 2006.


CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.