CS for CS for SB 2532 Second Engrossed (ntc)

20082532e2

1

A bill to be entitled

2

An act relating to child custody and support; providing a

3

directive to the Division of Statutory Revision to retitle

4

ch. 61, F.S.; amending s. 61.046, F.S.; defining the terms

5

"parenting plan," "parenting plan recommendation," and

6

"time-sharing schedule"; deleting definitions of the terms

7

"custodial parent" and "noncustodial parent"; amending ss.

8

61.052, 61.09, and 61.10, F.S.; conforming provisions to

9

changes in terminology; repealing s. 61.121, F.S.,

10

relating to rotating custody; amending s. 61.122, F.S.;

11

conforming provisions to changes in terminology; revising

12

provisions relating to a presumption of good faith for

13

psychologists making specified determinations; amending s.

14

61.13, F.S.; revising provisions relating to modification

15

of support; conforming provisions to changes in

16

terminology; revising provisions relating to development

17

of a parenting plan; amending s. 61.13001, F.S.;

18

conforming provisions to changes in terminology; deleting

19

obsolete definitions; amending s. 61.13002, F.S.;

20

providing for orders of temporary support for children

21

whose time-sharing is temporarily modified due to a

22

parent's military service; conforming provisions to

23

changes in terminology; amending ss. 61.14, 61.181, and

24

61.1827, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes in

25

terminology; conforming a cross-reference; amending s.

26

61.20, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes in

27

terminology; revising provisions relating to social

28

investigation and recommendations regarding a parenting

29

plan; amending s. 61.21, F.S.; conforming provisions to

30

changes in terminology; amending s. 61.30, F.S.;

31

conforming provisions to changes in terminology; amending

32

ss. 61.401, 61.45, 409.2554, and 409.2558, F.S.;

33

conforming provisions to changes in terminology; amending

34

s. 409.2563, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes in

35

terminology; revising provisions relating to presumption

36

of a parent's income for the purpose of establishing a

37

support obligation; deleting an obsolete provision

38

concerning a study by the Office of Program Policy

39

Analysis and Government Accountability; amending ss.

40

409.2564, 409.25657, 409.25659, and 409.2577, F.S.;

41

conforming provisions to changes in terminology; amending

42

s. 409.2579, F.S.; conforming a cross-reference; amending

43

ss. 409.811, 414.0252, 414.065, 414.085, 414.095, 414.295,

44

and 445.024, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes in

45

terminology; amending s. 741.0306, F.S.; revising

46

requirements for a family law handbook; conforming

47

provisions to changes in terminology; requiring a review

48

of the handbook and report to the Legislature; amending s.

49

741.30, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes in

50

terminology; amending s. 742.031, F.S.; conforming

51

provisions to changes in terminology; providing for time-

52

sharing and parental responsibility in paternity

53

judgments; amending ss. 753.01 and 827.06, F.S.;

54

conforming provisions to changes in terminology;

55

reenacting s. 61.1825(3)(a), F.S., relating to the State

56

Case Registry, to incorporate the amendments made to s.

57

741.30, F.S., in a reference thereto; providing an

58

effective date.

59

60

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

61

62

     Section 1. The Division of Statutory Revision is directed

63

to redesignate chapter 61, Florida Statutes, as "Dissolution of

64

Marriage; Support; Time-sharing."

65

     Section 2.  Section 61.046, Florida Statutes, is amended to

66

read:

67

     61.046 Definitions.--As used in this chapter, the term:

68

     (1)  "Business day" means any day other than a Saturday,

69

Sunday, or legal holiday.

70

     (2)  "Clerk of Court Child Support Collection System" or

71

"CLERC System" means the automated system established pursuant to

72

s. 61.181(2)(b)1., integrating all clerks of court and

73

depositories and through which payment data and State Case

74

Registry data is transmitted to the department's automated child

75

support enforcement system.

76

     (3) "Custodial parent" or "primary residential parent"

77

means the parent with whom the child maintains his or her primary

78

residence.

79

     (3)(4) "Department" means the Department of Revenue.

80

     (4)(5) "Depository" means the central governmental

81

depository established pursuant to s. 61.181, created by special

82

act of the Legislature or other entity established before June 1,

83

1985, to perform depository functions and to receive, record,

84

report, disburse, monitor, and otherwise handle alimony and child

85

support payments not otherwise required to be processed by the

86

State Disbursement Unit.

87

     (5)(6) "Electronic communication" means contact, other than

88

face-to-face contact, facilitated by tools such as telephones,

89

electronic mail or e-mail, webcams, video-conferencing equipment

90

and software or other wired or wireless technologies, or other

91

means of communication to supplement face-to-face contact between

92

a parent and that parent's minor child.

93

     (6)(7) "Federal Case Registry of Child Support Orders"

94

means the automated registry of support order abstracts and other

95

information established and maintained by the United States

96

Department of Health and Human Services as provided by 42 U.S.C.

97

s. 653(h).

98

     (7)(8) "Income" means any form of payment to an individual,

99

regardless of source, including, but not limited to: wages,

100

salary, commissions and bonuses, compensation as an independent

101

contractor, worker's compensation, disability benefits, annuity

102

and retirement benefits, pensions, dividends, interest,

103

royalties, trusts, and any other payments, made by any person,

104

private entity, federal or state government, or any unit of local

105

government. United States Department of Veterans Affairs

106

disability benefits and unemployment compensation, as defined in

107

chapter 443, are excluded from this definition of income except

108

for purposes of establishing an amount of support.

109

     (8)(9) "IV-D" means services provided pursuant to Title IV-

110

D of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. ss. 651 et seq.

111

     (9)(10) "Local officer" means an elected or appointed

112

constitutional or charter government official including, but not

113

limited to, the state attorney and clerk of the circuit court.

114

     (10)(11) "National medical support notice" means the notice

115

required under 42 U.S.C. s. 666(a)(19).

116

     (12) "Noncustodial parent" means the parent with whom the

117

child does not maintain his or her primary residence.

118

     (11)(13) "Obligee" means the person to whom payments are

119

made pursuant to an order establishing, enforcing, or modifying

120

an obligation for alimony, for child support, or for alimony and

121

child support.

122

     (12)(14) "Obligor" means a person responsible for making

123

payments pursuant to an order establishing, enforcing, or

124

modifying an obligation for alimony, for child support, or for

125

alimony and child support.

126

     (13) "Parenting plan" means a document created to govern

127

the relationship between the parties relating to the decisions

128

that must be made regarding the minor child and shall contain a

129

time-sharing schedule for the parents and child. The issues

130

concerning the minor child may include, but are not limited to,

131

the child's education, health care, and physical, social, and

132

emotional well-being. In creating the plan, all circumstances

133

between the parties, including the parties' historic

134

relationship, domestic violence, and other factors must be taken

135

into consideration. The parenting plan shall be developed and

136

agreed to by the parents and approved by a court or, if the

137

parents cannot agree, established by the court.

138

     (a) Any parenting plan formulated under this chapter must

139

address all jurisdictional issues, including, but not limited to,

140

the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act, part

141

II of this chapter, the International Child Abduction Remedies

142

Act, 42 U.S.C. ss. 11601 et seq., the Parental Kidnapping

143

Prevention Act, and the Convention on the Civil Aspects of

144

International Child Abduction enacted at the Hague on October 25,

145

1980.

146

     (b) For purposes of the application of the Uniform Child

147

Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act, part II of this

148

chapter, a judgment or order incorporating a parenting plan under

149

this part is a child custody determination under part II of this

150

chapter.

151

     (c) For purposes of the International Child Abduction

152

Remedies Act, 42 U.S.C. ss. 11601 et seq., and the Convention on

153

the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, enacted at

154

the Hague on October 25, 1980, rights of custody shall be

155

determined under the parenting plan under this part.

156

     (14) "Parenting plan recommendation" means a nonbinding

157

recommendation made by a psychologist licensed under chapter 490.

158

     (15)  "Payor" means an employer or former employer or any

159

other person or agency providing or administering income to the

160

obligor.

161

     (16)  "Shared parental responsibility" means a court-ordered

162

relationship in which both parents retain full parental rights

163

and responsibilities with respect to their child and in which

164

both parents confer with each other so that major decisions

165

affecting the welfare of the child will be determined jointly.

166

     (17)  "Sole parental responsibility" means a court-ordered

167

relationship in which one parent makes decisions regarding the

168

minor child.

169

     (18)  "State Case Registry" means the automated registry

170

maintained by the Title IV-D agency, containing records of each

171

Title IV-D case and of each support order established or modified

172

in the state on or after October 1, 1998. Such records shall

173

consist of data elements as required by the United States

174

Secretary of Health and Human Services.

175

     (19)  "State Disbursement Unit" means the unit established

176

and operated by the Title IV-D agency to provide one central

177

address for collection and disbursement of child support payments

178

made in cases enforced by the department pursuant to Title IV-D

179

of the Social Security Act and in cases not being enforced by the

180

department in which the support order was initially issued in

181

this state on or after January 1, 1994, and in which the

182

obligor's child support obligation is being paid through income

183

deduction order.

184

     (20)  "Support order" means a judgment, decree, or order,

185

whether temporary or final, issued by a court of competent

186

jurisdiction or administrative agency for the support and

187

maintenance of a child which provides for monetary support,

188

health care, arrearages, or past support. When the child support

189

obligation is being enforced by the Department of Revenue, the

190

term "support order" also means a judgment, decree, or order,

191

whether temporary or final, issued by a court of competent

192

jurisdiction for the support and maintenance of a child and the

193

spouse or former spouse of the obligor with whom the child is

194

living which provides for monetary support, health care,

195

arrearages, or past support.

196

     (21)  "Support," unless otherwise specified, means:

197

     (a)  Child support and, when the child support obligation is

198

being enforced by the Department of Revenue, spousal support or

199

alimony for the spouse or former spouse of the obligor with whom

200

the child is living.

201

     (b)  Child support only in cases not being enforced by the

202

Department of Revenue.

203

     (22) "Time-sharing schedule" means a timetable that must be

204

included in the parenting plan that specifies the time, including

205

overnights and holidays, that a minor child will spend with each

206

parent. If developed and agreed to by the parents of a minor

207

child, it must be approved by the court. If the parents cannot

208

agree, the schedule shall be established by the court.

209

     Section 3.  Subsection (3) of section 61.052, Florida

210

Statutes, is amended to read:

211

     61.052  Dissolution of marriage.--

212

     (3)  During any period of continuance, the court may make

213

appropriate orders for the support and alimony of the parties;

214

the parenting plan primary residence, custody, rotating custody,

215

visitation, support, maintenance, and education of the minor

216

child of the marriage; attorney's fees; and the preservation of

217

the property of the parties.

218

     Section 4.  Section 61.09, Florida Statutes, is amended to

219

read:

220

     61.09  Alimony and child support unconnected with

221

dissolution.--If a person having the ability to contribute to the

222

maintenance of his or her spouse and support of his or her minor

223

child fails to do so, the spouse who is not receiving support or

224

who has custody of the child or with whom the child has primary

225

residence may apply to the court for alimony and for support for

226

the child without seeking dissolution of marriage, and the court

227

shall enter an order as it deems just and proper.

228

     Section 5.  Section 61.10, Florida Statutes, is amended to

229

read:

230

     61.10  Adjudication of obligation to support spouse or minor

231

child unconnected with dissolution; parenting plan child custody,

232

child's primary residence, and visitation.--Except when relief is

233

afforded by some other pending civil action or proceeding, a

234

spouse residing in this state apart from his or her spouse and

235

minor child, whether or not such separation is through his or her

236

fault, may obtain an adjudication of obligation to maintain the

237

spouse and minor child, if any. The court shall adjudicate his or

238

her financial obligations to the spouse and child and, shall

239

establish the parenting plan for child's primary residence, and

240

shall determine the custody and visitation rights of the parties.

241

Such an action does not preclude either party from maintaining

242

any other proceeding under this chapter for other or additional

243

relief at any time.

244

     Section 6. Section 61.121, Florida Statutes, is repealed.

245

     Section 7.  Section 61.122, Florida Statutes, is amended to

246

read:

247

     61.122 Parenting plan recommendation Child custody

248

evaluations; presumption of psychologist's good faith;

249

prerequisite to parent's filing suit; award of fees, costs,

250

reimbursement.--

251

     (1)  A psychologist who has been appointed by the court to

252

develop a parenting plan recommendation conduct a child custody

253

evaluation in a dissolution of marriage, a case of domestic

254

violence, or a paternity matter involving the relationship of a

255

child and a parent, including time-sharing of children, judicial

256

proceeding is presumed to be acting in good faith if the

257

psychologist's recommendation evaluation has been reached under

258

conducted pursuant to standards that a reasonable psychologist

259

would use to develop a parenting plan recommendation have used as

260

recommended by the American Psychological Association's

261

guidelines for child custody evaluation in divorce proceedings.

262

     (2)  An administrative complaint against a court-appointed

263

psychologist which relates to a parenting plan recommendation

264

child custody evaluation conducted by the psychologist may not be

265

filed anonymously. The individual who files such an

266

administrative complaint must include in the complaint his or her

267

name, address, and telephone number.

268

     (3) A parent who desires wishes to file a legal action

269

against a court-appointed psychologist who has acted in good

270

faith in developing conducting a parenting plan recommendation

271

child custody evaluation must petition the judge who presided

272

over the dissolution of marriage, case of domestic violence, or

273

paternity matter involving the relationship of a child and a

274

parent, including time-sharing of children, child custody

275

proceeding to appoint another psychologist. Upon the parent's

276

showing of good cause, the court shall appoint another

277

psychologist. The court shall determine make a determination as

278

to who is responsible for all court costs and attorney's fees

279

associated with making such an appointment.

280

     (4)  If a legal action, whether it be a civil action, a

281

criminal action, or an administrative proceeding, is filed

282

against a court-appointed psychologist in a dissolution of

283

marriage, case of domestic violence, or paternity matter

284

involving the relationship of a child and a parent, including

285

time-sharing of children child custody proceeding, the claimant

286

is responsible for all reasonable costs and reasonable attorney's

287

fees associated with the action for both parties if the

288

psychologist is held not liable. If the psychologist is held

289

liable in civil court, the psychologist must pay all reasonable

290

costs and reasonable attorney's fees for the claimant.

291

     Section 8.  Section 61.13, Florida Statutes, is amended to

292

read:

293

     61.13 Custody and Support of children; parenting and time-

294

sharing visitation rights; powers power of court in making

295

orders.--

296

     (1)(a)  In a proceeding under this chapter, the court may at

297

any time order either or both parents who owe a duty of support

298

to a child to pay support to the other parent or, in the case of

299

both parents, to the person with custody in accordance with the

300

child support guidelines schedule in s. 61.30. The court

301

initially entering an order requiring one or both parents to make

302

child support payments has shall have continuing jurisdiction

303

after the entry of the initial order to modify the amount and

304

terms and conditions of the child support payments when the

305

modification is found necessary by the court in the best

306

interests of the child, when the child reaches majority, or when

307

there is a substantial change in the circumstances of the

308

parties, when s. 743.07(2) applies, or when a child is

309

emancipated, marries, joins the armed services, or dies. The

310

court initially entering a child support order has shall also

311

have continuing jurisdiction to require the obligee to report to

312

the court on terms prescribed by the court regarding the

313

disposition of the child support payments.

314

     (b)  Each order for support shall contain a provision for

315

health care coverage for the minor child when the coverage is

316

reasonably available. Coverage is reasonably available if either

317

the obligor or obligee has access at a reasonable rate to a group

318

health plan. The court may require the obligor either to provide

319

health care coverage or to reimburse the obligee for the cost of

320

health care coverage for the minor child when coverage is

321

provided by the obligee. In either event, the court shall

322

apportion the cost of coverage, and any noncovered medical,

323

dental, and prescription medication expenses of the child, to

324

both parties by adding the cost to the basic obligation

325

determined pursuant to s. 61.30(6). The court may order that

326

payment of uncovered medical, dental, and prescription medication

327

expenses of the minor child be made directly to the obligee on a

328

percentage basis.

329

     1.  In a non-Title IV-D case, a copy of the court order for

330

health care coverage shall be served on the obligor's union or

331

employer by the obligee when the following conditions are met:

332

     a.  The obligor fails to provide written proof to the

333

obligee within 30 days after receiving effective notice of the

334

court order that the health care coverage has been obtained or

335

that application for coverage has been made;

336

     b.  The obligee serves written notice of intent to enforce

337

an order for health care coverage on the obligor by mail at the

338

obligor's last known address; and

339

     c.  The obligor fails within 15 days after the mailing of

340

the notice to provide written proof to the obligee that the

341

health care coverage existed as of the date of mailing.

342

     2.a.  A support order enforced under Title IV-D of the

343

Social Security Act which requires that the obligor provide

344

health care coverage is enforceable by the department through the

345

use of the national medical support notice, and an amendment to

346

the support order is not required. The department shall transfer

347

the national medical support notice to the obligor's union or

348

employer. The department shall notify the obligor in writing that

349

the notice has been sent to the obligor's union or employer, and

350

the written notification must include the obligor's rights and

351

duties under the national medical support notice. The obligor may

352

contest the withholding required by the national medical support

353

notice based on a mistake of fact. To contest the withholding,

354

the obligor must file a written notice of contest with the

355

department within 15 business days after the date the obligor

356

receives written notification of the national medical support

357

notice from the department. Filing with the department is

358

complete when the notice is received by the person designated by

359

the department in the written notification. The notice of contest

360

must be in the form prescribed by the department. Upon the timely

361

filing of a notice of contest, the department shall, within 5

362

business days, schedule an informal conference with the obligor

363

to discuss the obligor's factual dispute. If the informal

364

conference resolves the dispute to the obligor's satisfaction or

365

if the obligor fails to attend the informal conference, the

366

notice of contest is deemed withdrawn. If the informal conference

367

does not resolve the dispute, the obligor may request an

368

administrative hearing under chapter 120 within 5 business days

369

after the termination of the informal conference, in a form and

370

manner prescribed by the department. However, the filing of a

371

notice of contest by the obligor does not delay the withholding

372

of premium payments by the union, employer, or health plan

373

administrator. The union, employer, or health plan administrator

374

must implement the withholding as directed by the national

375

medical support notice unless notified by the department that the

376

national medical support notice is terminated.

377

     b.  In a Title IV-D case, the department shall notify an

378

obligor's union or employer if the obligation to provide health

379

care coverage through that union or employer is terminated.

380

     3.  In a non-Title IV-D case, upon receipt of the order

381

pursuant to subparagraph 1., or upon application of the obligor

382

pursuant to the order, the union or employer shall enroll the

383

minor child as a beneficiary in the group health plan regardless

384

of any restrictions on the enrollment period and withhold any

385

required premium from the obligor's income. If more than one plan

386

is offered by the union or employer, the child shall be enrolled

387

in the group health plan in which the obligor is enrolled.

388

     4.a.  Upon receipt of the national medical support notice

389

under subparagraph 2. in a Title IV-D case, the union or employer

390

shall transfer the notice to the appropriate group health plan

391

administrator within 20 business days after the date on the

392

notice. The plan administrator must enroll the child as a

393

beneficiary in the group health plan regardless of any

394

restrictions on the enrollment period, and the union or employer

395

must withhold any required premium from the obligor's income upon

396

notification by the plan administrator that the child is

397

enrolled. The child shall be enrolled in the group health plan in

398

which the obligor is enrolled. If the group health plan in which

399

the obligor is enrolled is not available where the child resides

400

or if the obligor is not enrolled in group coverage, the child

401

shall be enrolled in the lowest cost group health plan that is

402

available where the child resides.

403

     b.  If health care coverage or the obligor's employment is

404

terminated in a Title IV-D case, the union or employer that is

405

withholding premiums for health care coverage under a national

406

medical support notice must notify the department within 20 days

407

after the termination and provide the obligor's last known

408

address and the name and address of the obligor's new employer,

409

if known.

410

     5.a.  The amount withheld by a union or employer in

411

compliance with a support order may not exceed the amount allowed

412

under s. 303(b) of the Consumer Credit Protection Act, 15 U.S.C.

413

s. 1673(b), as amended. The union or employer shall withhold the

414

maximum allowed by the Consumer Credit Protection Act in the

415

following order:

416

     (I)  Current support, as ordered.

417

     (II)  Premium payments for health care coverage, as ordered.

418

     (III)  Past due support, as ordered.

419

     (IV)  Other medical support or coverage, as ordered.

420

     b.  If the combined amount to be withheld for current

421

support plus the premium payment for health care coverage exceed

422

the amount allowed under the Consumer Credit Protection Act, and

423

the health care coverage cannot be obtained unless the full

424

amount of the premium is paid, the union or employer may not

425

withhold the premium payment. However, the union or employer

426

shall withhold the maximum allowed in the following order:

427

     (I)  Current support, as ordered.

428

     (II)  Past due support, as ordered.

429

     (III)  Other medical support or coverage, as ordered.

430

     6.  An employer, union, or plan administrator who does not

431

comply with the requirements in sub-subparagraph 4.a. is subject

432

to a civil penalty not to exceed $250 for the first violation and

433

$500 for subsequent violations, plus attorney's fees and costs.

434

The department may file a petition in circuit court to enforce

435

the requirements of this subparagraph subsection.

436

     7.  The department may adopt rules to administer the child

437

support enforcement provisions of this section that affect Title

438

IV-D cases.

439

     (c)  To the extent necessary to protect an award of child

440

support, the court may order the obligor to purchase or maintain

441

a life insurance policy or a bond, or to otherwise secure the

442

child support award with any other assets which may be suitable

443

for that purpose.

444

     (d)1.  Unless the provisions of subparagraph 3. apply, all

445

child support orders entered on or after January 1, 1985, shall

446

direct that the payments of child support be made as provided in

447

s. 61.181 through the depository in the county where the court is

448

located. All child support orders shall provide the full name and

449

date of birth of each minor child who is the subject of the child

450

support order.

451

     2.  Unless the provisions of subparagraph 3. apply, all

452

child support orders entered before January 1, 1985, shall be

453

modified by the court to direct that payments of child support

454

shall be made through the depository in the county where the

455

court is located upon the subsequent appearance of either or both

456

parents to modify or enforce the order, or in any related

457

proceeding.

458

     3.  If both parties request and the court finds that it is

459

in the best interest of the child, support payments need not be

460

directed through the depository. The order of support shall

461

provide, or shall be deemed to provide, that either party may

462

subsequently apply to the depository to require direction of the

463

payments through the depository. The court shall provide a copy

464

of the order to the depository.

465

     4.  If the parties elect not to require that support

466

payments be made through the depository, any party may

467

subsequently file an affidavit with the depository alleging a

468

default in payment of child support and stating that the party

469

wishes to require that payments be made through the depository.

470

The party shall provide copies of the affidavit to the court and

471

to each other party. Fifteen days after receipt of the affidavit,

472

the depository shall notify both parties that future payments

473

shall be paid through the depository.

474

     5.  In IV-D cases, the IV-D agency shall have the same

475

rights as the obligee in requesting that payments be made through

476

the depository.

477

     (2)(a) The court shall have jurisdiction to approve, grant,

478

or modify a parenting plan determine custody, notwithstanding

479

that the child is not physically present in this state at the

480

time of filing any proceeding under this chapter, if it appears

481

to the court that the child was removed from this state for the

482

primary purpose of removing the child from the jurisdiction of

483

the court in an attempt to avoid the court's approval, creation,

484

or modification of a parenting plan a determination or

485

modification of custody.

486

     (b) Any parenting plan approved by the court must, at

487

minimum, describe in adequate detail how the parents will share

488

and be responsible for the daily tasks associated with the

489

upbringing of the child, the time-sharing schedule arrangements

490

that specify the time that the minor child will spend with each

491

parent, a designation of who will be responsible for any and all

492

forms of health care, school-related matters, other activities,

493

and the methods and technologies that the parents will use to

494

communicate with the child.

495

     (c)(b)1. The court shall determine all matters relating to

496

parenting and time-sharing custody of each minor child of the

497

parties in accordance with the best interests of the child and in

498

accordance with the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and

499

Enforcement Act. It is the public policy of this state to assure

500

that each minor child has frequent and continuing contact with

501

both parents after the parents separate or the marriage of the

502

parties is dissolved and to encourage parents to share the rights

503

and responsibilities, and joys, of childrearing. There is no

504

presumption for or against After considering all relevant facts,

505

the father or mother of the child when creating or modifying the

506

parenting plan shall be given the same consideration as the

507

mother in determining the primary residence of a child

508

irrespective of the age or sex of the child.

509

     2.  The court shall order that the parental responsibility

510

for a minor child be shared by both parents unless the court

511

finds that shared parental responsibility would be detrimental to

512

the child. Evidence that a parent has been convicted of a felony

513

of the third degree or higher involving domestic violence, as

514

defined in s. 741.28 and chapter 775, or meets the criteria of s.

515

39.806(1)(d), creates a rebuttable presumption of detriment to

516

the child. If the presumption is not rebutted, shared parental

517

responsibility, including time-sharing with visitation, residence

518

of the child, and decisions made regarding the child, may not be

519

granted to the convicted parent. However, the convicted parent is

520

not relieved of any obligation to provide financial support. If

521

the court determines that shared parental responsibility would be

522

detrimental to the child, it may order sole parental

523

responsibility and make such arrangements for time-sharing as

524

specified in the parenting plan visitation as will best protect

525

the child or abused spouse from further harm. Whether or not

526

there is a conviction of any offense of domestic violence or

527

child abuse or the existence of an injunction for protection

528

against domestic violence, the court shall consider evidence of

529

domestic violence or child abuse as evidence of detriment to the

530

child.

531

     a.  In ordering shared parental responsibility, the court

532

may consider the expressed desires of the parents and may grant

533

to one party the ultimate responsibility over specific aspects of

534

the child's welfare or may divide those responsibilities between

535

the parties based on the best interests of the child. Areas of

536

responsibility may include primary residence, education, health

537

care medical and dental care, and any other responsibilities that

538

the court finds unique to a particular family.

539

     b. The court shall order "sole parental responsibility for

540

a minor child to one parent, with or without time-sharing with

541

visitation rights, to the other parent" when it is in the best

542

interests of" the minor child.

543

     3.  Access to records and information pertaining to a minor

544

child, including, but not limited to, medical, dental, and school

545

records, may not be denied to either a parent because the parent

546

is not the child's primary residential parent. Full rights under

547

this subparagraph apply to either parent unless a court order

548

specifically revokes these rights, including any restrictions on

549

these rights as provided in a domestic violence injunction. A

550

parent having rights under this subparagraph has the same rights

551

upon request as to form, substance, and manner of access as are

552

available to the other parent of a child, including, without

553

limitation, the right to in-person communication with medical,

554

dental, and education providers.

555

     (d)(c) The circuit court in the county in which either

556

parent and the child reside or the circuit court in which the

557

original order approving or creating the parenting plan award of

558

custody was entered has have jurisdiction to modify the parenting

559

plan an award of child custody. The court may change the venue in

560

accordance with s. 47.122.

561

     (3) For purposes of establishing or modifying parental

562

responsibility and creating, developing, approving, or modifying

563

a parenting plan, including a time-sharing schedule, which

564

governs each parent's relationship with his or her minor child

565

and the relationship between each parent with regard to his or

566

her minor child, the best interest of the child shall be the

567

primary consideration. Determination of the best interests of the

568

child shall be made by evaluating all of the factors affecting

569

the welfare and interests of the minor child, including, but not

570

limited to:

571

     (a) The demonstrated capacity and disposition of each

572

parent to facilitate and encourage a close and continuing parent-

573

child relationship, to honor the time-sharing schedule, and to be

574

reasonable when changes are required.

575

     (b) The anticipated division of parental responsibilities

576

after the litigation, including the extent to which parental

577

responsibilities will be delegated to third parties.

578

     (c) The demonstrated capacity and disposition of each

579

parent to determine, consider, and act upon the needs of the

580

child as opposed to the needs or desires of the parent. shared

581

parental responsibility and primary residence, the best interests

582

of the child shall include an evaluation of all factors affecting

583

the welfare and interests of the child, including, but not

584

limited to:

585

     (a) The parent who is more likely to allow the child

586

frequent and continuing contact with the nonresidential parent.

587

     (b) The love, affection, and other emotional ties existing

588

between the parents and the child.

589

     (c) The capacity and disposition of the parents to provide

590

the child with food, clothing, medical care or other remedial

591

care recognized and permitted under the laws of this state in

592

lieu of medical care, and other material needs.

593

     (d)  The length of time the child has lived in a stable,

594

satisfactory environment and the desirability of maintaining

595

continuity.

596

     (e) The geographic viability of the parenting plan, with

597

special attention paid to the needs of school-age children and

598

the amount of time to be spent traveling to effectuate the

599

parenting plan. This factor does not create a presumption for or

600

against relocation of either parent with a child The permanence,

601

as a family unit, of the existing or proposed custodial home.

602

     (f)  The moral fitness of the parents.

603

     (g)  The mental and physical health of the parents.

604

     (h)  The home, school, and community record of the child.

605

     (i)  The reasonable preference of the child, if the court

606

deems the child to be of sufficient intelligence, understanding,

607

and experience to express a preference.

608

     (j) The demonstrated knowledge, capacity, and disposition

609

of each parent to be informed of the circumstances of the minor

610

child, including, but not limited to, the child's friends,

611

teachers, medical care providers, daily activities, and favorite

612

things.

613

     (k) The demonstrated capacity and disposition of each

614

parent to provide a consistent routine for the child, such as

615

discipline, and daily schedules for homework, meals, and bedtime.

616

     (l)(j) The demonstrated capacity of each parent to

617

communicate with and keep the other parent informed of issues and

618

activities regarding the minor child, and the willingness of each

619

parent to adopt a unified front on all major issues when dealing

620

with the child The willingness and ability of each parent to

621

facilitate and encourage a close and continuing parent-child

622

relationship between the child and the other parent.

623

     (m)(k) Evidence of domestic violence, sexual violence,

624

child abuse, child abandonment, or child neglect, regardless of

625

whether a prior or pending action relating to those issues has

626

been brought that any party has knowingly provided false

627

information to the court regarding a domestic violence proceeding

628

pursuant to s. 741.30.

629

     (n)(l) Evidence that either parent has knowingly provided

630

false information to the court regarding any prior or pending

631

action regarding domestic violence, sexual violence, child abuse,

632

child abandonment, or child neglect of domestic violence or child

633

abuse.

634

     (o)(m) The particular parenting tasks customarily performed

635

by each parent and the division of parental responsibilities

636

before the institution of litigation and during the pending

637

litigation, including the extent to which parenting

638

responsibilities were undertaken by third parties Any other fact

639

considered by the court to be relevant.

640

     (p) The demonstrated capacity and disposition of each

641

parent to participate and be involved in the child's school and

642

extracurricular activities.

643

     (q) The demonstrated capacity and disposition of each

644

parent to maintain an environment for the child which is free

645

from substance abuse.

646

     (r) The capacity and disposition of each parent to protect

647

the child from the ongoing litigation as demonstrated by not

648

discussing the litigation with the child, not sharing documents

649

or electronic media related to the litigation with the child, and

650

refraining from disparaging comments about the other parent to

651

the child.

652

     (s) The developmental stages and needs of the child and the

653

demonstrated capacity and disposition of each parent to meet the

654

child's developmental needs.

655

     (t) Any other factor that is relevant to the determination

656

of a specific parenting plan, including the time-sharing

657

schedule.

658

     (4)(a) When a noncustodial parent who is ordered to pay

659

child support or alimony and who is awarded visitation rights

660

fails to pay child support or alimony, the custodial parent who

661

should have received the child support or alimony may shall not

662

refuse to honor the time-sharing schedule presently in effect

663

between the parents noncustodial parent's visitation rights.

664

     (b) When a custodial parent refuses to honor the other a

665

noncustodial parent's visitation rights under the time-sharing

666

schedule, the noncustodial parent whose time-sharing rights were

667

violated shall continue not fail to pay any ordered child support

668

or alimony.

669

     (c) When a custodial parent refuses to honor the time-

670

sharing schedule in the parenting plan a noncustodial parent's or

671

grandparent's visitation rights without proper cause, the court:

672

     1. Shall, after calculating the amount of time-sharing

673

visitation improperly denied, award the noncustodial parent

674

denied time or grandparent a sufficient amount of extra time-

675

sharing visitation to compensate for the time-sharing missed, and

676

such time-sharing the noncustodial parent or grandparent, which

677

visitation shall be ordered as expeditiously as possible in a

678

manner consistent with the best interests of the child and

679

scheduled in a manner that is convenient for the parent person

680

deprived of time-sharing visitation. In ordering any makeup time-

681

sharing visitation, the court shall schedule such time-sharing

682

visitation in a manner that is consistent with the best interests

683

of the child or children and that is convenient for the

684

nonoffending noncustodial parent and at the expense of the

685

noncompliant parent. or grandparent. In addition, the court:

686

     2.1. May order the custodial parent who did not provide

687

time-sharing or did not properly exercise time-sharing under the

688

time-sharing schedule to pay reasonable court costs and

689

attorney's fees incurred by the nonoffending noncustodial parent

690

or grandparent to enforce the time-sharing schedule. their

691

visitation rights or make up improperly denied visitation;

692

     3.2. May order the custodial parent who did not provide

693

time-sharing or did not properly exercise time-sharing under the

694

time-sharing schedule to attend a the parenting course approved

695

by the judicial circuit.;

696

     4.3. May order the custodial parent who did not provide

697

time-sharing or did not properly exercise time-sharing under the

698

time-sharing schedule to do community service if the order will

699

not interfere with the welfare of the child.;

700

     5.4. May order the custodial parent who did not provide

701

time-sharing or did not properly exercise time-sharing under the

702

time-sharing schedule to have the financial burden of promoting

703

frequent and continuing contact when that the custodial parent

704

and child reside further than 60 miles from the other

705

noncustodial parent.;

706

     6.5. May award custody, rotating custody, or primary

707

residence to the noncustodial parent, upon the request of the

708

noncustodial parent who did not violate the time-sharing

709

schedule, modify the parenting plan if modification the award is

710

in the best interests of the child.; or

711

     7.6. May impose any other reasonable sanction as a result

712

of noncompliance.

713

     (d)  A person who violates this subsection may be punished

714

by contempt of court or other remedies as the court deems

715

appropriate.

716

     (5) The court may make specific orders regarding the

717

parenting plan and time-sharing schedule for the care and custody

718

of the minor child as such orders relate to from the

719

circumstances of the parties and the nature of the case and are

720

is equitable and provide for child support in accordance with the

721

guidelines schedule in s. 61.30. An order for equal time-sharing

722

for award of shared parental responsibility of a minor child does

723

not preclude the court from entering an order for child support

724

of the child.

725

     (6)  In any proceeding under this section, the court may not

726

deny shared parental responsibility and time-sharing, custody, or

727

visitation rights to a parent or grandparent solely because that

728

parent or grandparent is or is believed to be infected with human

729

immunodeficiency virus,; but the court may condition such rights

730

to require that parent in an order approving the parenting plan

731

upon the parent's or grandparent's agreement to observe measures

732

approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the

733

United States Public Health Service or by the Department of

734

Health for preventing the spread of human immunodeficiency virus

735

to the child.

736

     (7) If the court orders that parental responsibility,

737

including visitation, be shared by both parents, the court may

738

not deny the noncustodial parent overnight contact and access to

739

or visitation with the child solely because of the age or sex of

740

the child.

741

     (7)(8)(a) Beginning July 1, 1997, Each party to any

742

paternity or support proceeding is required to file with the

743

tribunal as defined in s. 88.1011(22) and State Case Registry

744

upon entry of an order, and to update as appropriate, information

745

on location and identity of the party, including social security

746

number, residential and mailing addresses, telephone number,

747

driver's license number, and name, address, and telephone number

748

of employer. Beginning October 1, 1998, Each party to any

749

paternity or child support proceeding in a non-Title IV-D case

750

shall meet the above requirements for updating the tribunal and

751

State Case Registry.

752

     (b)  Pursuant to the federal Personal Responsibility and

753

Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, each party is

754

required to provide his or her social security number in

755

accordance with this section. Disclosure of social security

756

numbers obtained through this requirement shall be limited to the

757

purpose of administration of the Title IV-D program for child

758

support enforcement.

759

     (c) Beginning July 1, 1997, In any subsequent Title IV-D

760

child support enforcement action between the parties, upon

761

sufficient showing that diligent effort has been made to

762

ascertain the location of such a party, the court of competent

763

jurisdiction shall deem state due process requirements for notice

764

and service of process to be met with respect to the party, upon

765

delivery of written notice to the most recent residential or

766

employer address filed with the tribunal and State Case Registry

767

pursuant to paragraph (a). Beginning October 1, 1998, In any

768

subsequent non-Title IV-D child support enforcement action

769

between the parties, the same requirements for service shall

770

apply.

771

     (8)(9) At the time an order for child support is entered,

772

each party is required to provide his or her social security

773

number and date of birth to the court, as well as the name, date

774

of birth, and social security number of each minor child that is

775

the subject of such child support order. Pursuant to the federal

776

Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act

777

of 1996, each party is required to provide his or her social

778

security number in accordance with this section. All social

779

security numbers required by this section shall be provided by

780

the parties and maintained by the depository as a separate

781

attachment in the file. Disclosure of social security numbers

782

obtained through this requirement shall be limited to the purpose

783

of administration of the Title IV-D program for child support

784

enforcement.

785

     Section 9.  Section 61.13001, Florida Statutes, is amended

786

to read:

787

     61.13001  Parental relocation with a child.--

788

     (1) DEFINITIONS.--As used in this section, the term:

789

     (a)  "Change of residence address" means the relocation of a

790

child to a principal residence more than 50 miles away from his

791

or her principal place of residence at the time of the entry of

792

the last order establishing or modifying the parenting plan or

793

the time-sharing schedule or both for designation of the primary

794

residential parent or the custody of the minor child, unless the

795

move places the principal residence of the minor child less than

796

50 miles from either the nonresidential parent.

797

     (b)  "Child" means any person who is under the jurisdiction

798

of a state court pursuant to the Uniform Child Custody

799

Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act or is the subject of any order

800

granting to a parent or other person any right to time-sharing,

801

residential care, kinship, or custody, or visitation as provided

802

under state law.

803

     (c)  "Court" means the circuit court in an original

804

proceeding which has proper venue and jurisdiction in accordance

805

with the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act,

806

the circuit court in the county in which either parent and the

807

child reside, or the circuit court in which the original action

808

was adjudicated.

809

     (d)  "Other person" means an individual who is not the

810

parent and who, by court order, maintains the primary residence

811

of a child or has visitation rights with a child.

812

     (e)  "Parent" means any person so named by court order or

813

express written agreement that is subject to court enforcement or

814

a person reflected as a parent on a birth certificate and in

815

whose home a child maintains a primary or secondary residence.

816

     (f) "Person entitled to be the primary residential parent

817

of a child" means a person so designated by court order or by an

818

express written agreement that is subject to court enforcement or

819

a person seeking such a designation, or, when neither parent has

820

been designated as primary residential parent, the person seeking

821

to relocate with a child.

822

     (g) "Principal residence of a child" means the home of the

823

designated primary residential parent. For purposes of this

824

section only, when rotating custody is in effect, each parent

825

shall be considered to be the primary residential parent.

826

     (f)(h) "Relocation" means a change in the principal

827

residence of a child for a period of 60 consecutive days or more

828

but does not include a temporary absence from the principal

829

residence for purposes of vacation, education, or the provision

830

of health care for the child.

831

     (2)  RELOCATION BY AGREEMENT.--

832

     (a) If the parents primary residential parent and the other

833

parent and every other person entitled to time-sharing visitation

834

with the child agree to the relocation of the child child's

835

principal residence, they may satisfy the requirements of this

836

section by signing a written agreement that:

837

     1.  Reflects the consent to the relocation;

838

     2. Defines a time-sharing schedule the visitation rights

839

for the nonrelocating parent and any other persons who are

840

entitled to time-sharing visitation; and

841

     3.  Describes, if necessary, any transportation arrangements

842

related to the visitation.

843

     (b)  If there is an existing cause of action, judgment, or

844

decree of record pertaining to the child's primary residence or a

845

time-sharing schedule visitation, the parties shall seek

846

ratification of the agreement by court order without the

847

necessity of an evidentiary hearing unless a hearing is

848

requested, in writing, by one or more of the parties to the

849

agreement within 10 days after the date the agreement is filed

850

with the court. If a hearing is not timely requested, it shall be

851

presumed that the relocation is in the best interest of the child

852

and the court may ratify the agreement without an evidentiary

853

hearing.

854

     (3)  NOTICE OF INTENT TO RELOCATE WITH A CHILD.--Unless an

855

agreement has been entered as described in subsection (2), a

856

parent who is entitled to time-sharing with primary residence of

857

the child shall notify the other parent, and every other person

858

entitled to time-sharing visitation with the child, of a proposed

859

relocation of the child's principal residence. The form of notice

860

shall be according to this section:

861

     (a)  The parent seeking to relocate shall prepare a Notice

862

of Intent to Relocate. The following information must be included

863

with the Notice of Intent to Relocate and signed under oath under

864

penalty of perjury:

865

     1.  A description of the location of the intended new

866

residence, including the state, city, and specific physical

867

address, if known.

868

     2.  The mailing address of the intended new residence, if

869

not the same as the physical address, if known.

870

     3.  The home telephone number of the intended new residence,

871

if known.

872

     4.  The date of the intended move or proposed relocation.

873

     5.  A detailed statement of the specific reasons for the

874

proposed relocation of the child. If one of the reasons is based

875

upon a job offer which has been reduced to writing, that written

876

job offer must be attached to the Notice of Intent to Relocate.

877

     6.  A proposal for the revised postrelocation schedule of

878

time-sharing visitation together with a proposal for the

879

postrelocation transportation arrangements necessary to

880

effectuate time-sharing visitation with the child. Absent the

881

existence of a current, valid order abating, terminating, or

882

restricting visitation or other good cause predating the Notice

883

of Intent to Relocate, failure to comply with this provision

884

renders the Notice of Intent to Relocate legally insufficient.

885

     7.  Substantially the following statement, in all capital

886

letters and in the same size type, or larger, as the type in the

887

remainder of the notice:

888

889

AN OBJECTION TO THE PROPOSED RELOCATION MUST BE MADE IN WRITING,

890

FILED WITH THE COURT, AND SERVED ON THE PARENT OR OTHER PERSON

891

SEEKING TO RELOCATE WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER SERVICE OF THIS NOTICE

892

OF INTENT TO RELOCATE. IF YOU FAIL TO TIMELY OBJECT TO THE

893

RELOCATION, THE RELOCATION WILL BE ALLOWED, UNLESS IT IS NOT IN

894

THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CHILD, WITHOUT FURTHER NOTICE AND

895

WITHOUT A HEARING.

896

     8.  The mailing address of the parent or other person

897

seeking to relocate to which the objection filed under subsection

898

(5) to the Notice of Intent to Relocate should be sent.

899

900

The contents of the Notice of Intent to Relocate are not

901

privileged. For purposes of encouraging amicable resolution of

902

the relocation issue, a copy of the Notice of Intent to Relocate

903

shall initially not be filed with the court but instead served

904

upon the nonrelocating parent, other person, and every other

905

person entitled to time-sharing visitation with the child, and

906

the original thereof shall be maintained by the parent or other

907

person seeking to relocate.

908

     (b)  The parent seeking to relocate shall also prepare a

909

Certificate of Serving Filing Notice of Intent to Relocate. The

910

certificate shall certify the date that the Notice of Intent to

911

Relocate was served on the other parent and on every other person

912

entitled to time-sharing visitation with the child.

913

     (c)  The Notice of Intent to Relocate, and the Certificate

914

of Serving Filing Notice of Intent to Relocate, shall be served

915

on the other parent and on every other person entitled to time-

916

sharing visitation with the child. If there is a pending court

917

action regarding the child, service of process may be according

918

to court rule. Otherwise, service of process shall be according

919

to chapters 48 and 49 or via certified mail, restricted delivery,

920

return receipt requested.

921

     (d)  A person giving notice of a proposed relocation or

922

change of residence address under this section has a continuing

923

duty to provide current and updated information required by this

924

section when that information becomes known.

925

     (e)  If the other parent and any other person entitled to

926

time-sharing visitation with the child fails to timely file an

927

objection, it shall be presumed that the relocation is in the

928

best interest of the child, the relocation shall be allowed, and

929

the court shall, absent good cause, enter an order, attaching a

930

copy of the Notice of Intent to Relocate, reflecting that the

931

order is entered as a result of the failure to object to the

932

Notice of Intent to Relocate, and adopting the time-sharing

933

visitation schedule and transportation arrangements contained in

934

the Notice of Intent to Relocate. The order may issue in an

935

expedited manner without the necessity of an evidentiary hearing.

936

If an objection is timely filed, the burden returns to the parent

937

or person seeking to relocate to initiate court proceedings to

938

obtain court permission to relocate before prior to doing so.

939

     (f)  The act of relocating the child after failure to comply

940

with the notice of intent to relocate procedure described in this

941

subsection subjects the party in violation thereof to contempt

942

and other proceedings to compel the return of the child and may

943

be taken into account by the court in any initial or postjudgment

944

action seeking a determination or modification of the parenting

945

plan or the time-sharing schedule, or both, designation of the

946

primary residential parent or of the residence, custody, or

947

visitation with the child as:

948

     1.  A factor in making a determination regarding the

949

relocation of a child.

950

     2. A factor in determining whether the parenting plan or

951

the designation of the primary residential parent or the

952

residence, contact, access, visitation, or time-sharing schedule

953

arrangements should be modified.

954

     3.  A basis for ordering the temporary or permanent return

955

of the child.

956

     4.  Sufficient cause to order the parent or other person

957

seeking to relocate the child to pay reasonable expenses and

958

attorney's fees incurred by the party objecting to the

959

relocation.

960

     5.  Sufficient cause for the award of reasonable attorney's

961

fees and costs, including interim travel expenses incident to

962

time-sharing visitation or securing the return of the child.

963

     (4)  APPLICABILITY OF PUBLIC RECORDS LAW.--If the parent or

964

other person seeking to relocate a child, or the child, is

965

entitled to prevent disclosure of location information under any

966

public records exemption applicable to that person, the court may

967

enter any order necessary to modify the disclosure requirements

968

of this section in compliance with the public records exemption.

969

     (5)  CONTENT OF OBJECTION TO RELOCATION.--An objection

970

seeking to prevent the relocation of a child must shall be

971

verified and served within 30 days after service of the Notice of

972

Intent to Relocate. The objection must shall include the specific

973

factual basis supporting the reasons for seeking a prohibition of

974

the relocation, including a statement of the amount of

975

participation or involvement the objecting party currently has or

976

has had in the life of the child.

977

     (6)  TEMPORARY ORDER.--

978

     (a)  The court may grant a temporary order restraining the

979

relocation of a child or ordering the return of the child, if a

980

relocation has previously taken place, or other appropriate

981

remedial relief, if the court finds:

982

     1.  The required notice of a proposed relocation of a child

983

was not provided in a timely manner;

984

     2.  The child already has been relocated without notice or

985

written agreement of the parties or without court approval; or

986

     3.  From an examination of the evidence presented at the

987

preliminary hearing that there is a likelihood that upon final

988

hearing the court will not approve the relocation of the primary

989

residence of the child.

990

     (b)  The court may grant a temporary order permitting the

991

relocation of the child pending final hearing, if the court:

992

     1.  Finds that the required Notice of Intent to Relocate was

993

provided in a timely manner; and

994

     2.  Finds from an examination of the evidence presented at

995

the preliminary hearing that there is a likelihood that on final

996

hearing the court will approve the relocation of the primary

997

residence of the child, which findings must be supported by the

998

same factual basis as would be necessary to support the

999

permitting of relocation in a final judgment.

1000

     (c)  If the court has issued a temporary order authorizing a

1001

party seeking to relocate or move a child before a final judgment

1002

is rendered, the court may not give any weight to the temporary

1003

relocation as a factor in reaching its final decision.

1004

     (d)  If temporary relocation of a child is permitted, the

1005

court may require the person relocating the child to provide

1006

reasonable security, financial or otherwise, and guarantee that

1007

the court-ordered contact with the child will not be interrupted

1008

or interfered with by the relocating party.

1009

     (7)  NO PRESUMPTION; FACTORS TO DETERMINE CONTESTED

1010

RELOCATION.--A No presumption does not shall arise in favor of or

1011

against a request to relocate with the child when a primary

1012

residential parent seeks to move the child and the move will

1013

materially affect the current schedule of contact, access, and

1014

time-sharing with the nonrelocating parent or other person. In

1015

reaching its decision regarding a proposed temporary or permanent

1016

relocation, the court shall evaluate all of the following

1017

factors:

1018

     (a)  The nature, quality, extent of involvement, and

1019

duration of the child's relationship with the parent proposing to

1020

relocate with the child and with the nonrelocating parent, other

1021

persons, siblings, half-siblings, and other significant persons

1022

in the child's life.

1023

     (b)  The age and developmental stage of the child, the needs

1024

of the child, and the likely impact the relocation will have on

1025

the child's physical, educational, and emotional development,

1026

taking into consideration any special needs of the child.

1027

     (c)  The feasibility of preserving the relationship between

1028

the nonrelocating parent or other person and the child through

1029

substitute arrangements that take into consideration the

1030

logistics of contact, access, visitation, and time-sharing, as

1031

well as the financial circumstances of the parties; whether those

1032

factors are sufficient to foster a continuing meaningful

1033

relationship between the child and the nonrelocating parent or

1034

other person; and the likelihood of compliance with the

1035

substitute arrangements by the relocating parent once he or she

1036

is out of the jurisdiction of the court.

1037

     (d)  The child's preference, taking into consideration the

1038

age and maturity of the child.

1039

     (e)  Whether the relocation will enhance the general quality

1040

of life for both the parent seeking the relocation and the child,

1041

including, but not limited to, financial or emotional benefits or

1042

educational opportunities.

1043

     (f)  The reasons of each parent or other person for seeking

1044

or opposing the relocation.

1045

     (g)  The current employment and economic circumstances of

1046

each parent or other person and whether or not the proposed

1047

relocation is necessary to improve the economic circumstances of

1048

the parent or other person seeking relocation of the child.

1049

     (h)  That the relocation is sought in good faith and the

1050

extent to which the objecting parent has fulfilled his or her

1051

financial obligations to the parent or other person seeking

1052

relocation, including child support, spousal support, and marital

1053

property and marital debt obligations.

1054

     (i)  The career and other opportunities available to the

1055

objecting parent or objecting other person if the relocation

1056

occurs.

1057

     (j)  A history of substance abuse or domestic violence as

1058

defined in s. 741.28 or which meets the criteria of s.

1059

39.806(1)(d) by either parent, including a consideration of the

1060

severity of such conduct and the failure or success of any

1061

attempts at rehabilitation.

1062

     (k)  Any other factor affecting the best interest of the

1063

child or as set forth in s. 61.13.

1064

     (9)  ORDER REGARDING RELOCATION.--If relocation is

1065

permitted:

1066

     (a)  The court may, in its discretion, order contact with

1067

the nonrelocating parent, including access, visitation, time-

1068

sharing, telephone, Internet, webcam, and other arrangements

1069

sufficient to ensure that the child has frequent, continuing, and

1070

meaningful contact, access, visitation, and time-sharing with the

1071

nonrelocating parent or other persons, if contact is financially

1072

affordable and in the best interest of the child.

1073

     (b)  If applicable, the court shall specify how the

1074

transportation costs will be allocated between the parents and

1075

other persons entitled to contact, access, visitation, and time-

1076

sharing and may adjust the child support award, as appropriate,

1077

considering the costs of transportation and the respective net

1078

incomes of the parents in accordance with state child support

1079

guidelines schedule.

1080

     (10)  PRIORITY FOR HEARING OR TRIAL.--An evidentiary hearing

1081

or nonjury trial on a pleading seeking temporary or permanent

1082

relief filed under pursuant to this section shall be accorded

1083

priority on the court's calendar.

1084

     (11)  APPLICABILITY.--

1085

     (a) The provisions of This section applies apply:

1086

     1.  To orders entered before October 1, 2006, if the

1087

existing order defining custody, primary residence, time-sharing,

1088

or visitation of or with the child does not expressly govern the

1089

relocation of the child.

1090

     2.  To an order, whether temporary or permanent, regarding

1091

the parenting plan, custody, primary residence, time-sharing, or

1092

visitation of or with the child entered on or after October 1,

1093

2006.

1094

     3.  To any relocation or proposed relocation, whether

1095

permanent or temporary, of a child during any proceeding pending

1096

on October 1, 2006, wherein the parenting plan, custody, primary

1097

residence, time-sharing, or visitation of or with the child is an

1098

issue.

1099

     (b)  To the extent that a provision of this section

1100

conflicts with an order existing on October 1, 2006, this section

1101

does not apply to the terms of that order which expressly govern

1102

relocation of the child or a change in the principal residence

1103

address of a parent.

1104

     Section 10.  Section 61.13002, Florida Statutes, is amended

1105

to read:

1106

     61.13002 Temporary time-sharing modification child custody

1107

and child support modification due to military service.--

1108

     (1) If a supplemental petition to modify or a motion for

1109

modification of time-sharing change of child custody and parental

1110

responsibility is filed because during the time a parent is

1111

activated, deployed, or temporarily assigned to military service

1112

and the parent's ability to comply with time-sharing continue as

1113

the primary caretaker of a minor child is materially affected as

1114

a result, the court may not issue an order or modify or amend a

1115

previous judgment or order that changes time-sharing custody as

1116

it existed on the date the parent was activated, deployed, or

1117

temporarily assigned to military service, except that a court may

1118

enter a temporary order to modify or amend time-sharing custody

1119

if there is clear and convincing evidence that the temporary

1120

modification or amendment is in the best interests of the child.

1121

When entering a temporary order under this section, the court

1122

shall consider and provide for, if feasible, contact between the

1123

military servicemember and his or her child, including, but not

1124

limited to, electronic communication by webcam, telephone, or

1125

other available means. The court shall also permit liberal time-

1126

sharing during periods of leave from military service, as it is

1127

in the child's best interests to maintain the parent-child bond

1128

during the parent's military service.

1129

     (2)  If a temporary order is issued under this section, the

1130

court shall reinstate the time-sharing custody judgment or order

1131

previously in effect upon the servicemember parent's return from

1132

active military service, deployment, or temporary assignment.

1133

     (3) If a temporary order is entered under this section, the

1134

court may address the issue of support for the child by:

1135

     (a) Entering an order of temporary support from the

1136

servicemember to the other parent under s. 61.30;

1137

     (b) Requiring the servicemember to enroll the child as a

1138

military dependant with DEERs, TriCare, or other similar benefits

1139

available to military dependents as provided by the service

1140

member's branch of service and federal regulations; or

1141

     (c) Suspending, abating, or reducing the child support

1142

obligation of the nonservice member until the custody judgment or

1143

time-share order previously in effect is reinstated.

1144

     (4)(3) This section does not apply to permanent change of

1145

station moves by military personnel, which shall be governed by

1146

s. 61.13001.

1147

     Section 11.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section

1148

61.14, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

1149

     61.14  Enforcement and modification of support, maintenance,

1150

or alimony agreements or orders.--

1151

     (1)(a)  When the parties enter into an agreement for

1152

payments for, or instead of, support, maintenance, or alimony,

1153

whether in connection with a proceeding for dissolution or

1154

separate maintenance or with any voluntary property settlement,

1155

or when a party is required by court order to make any payments,

1156

and the circumstances or the financial ability of either party

1157

changes or the child who is a beneficiary of an agreement or

1158

court order as described herein reaches majority after the

1159

execution of the agreement or the rendition of the order, either

1160

party may apply to the circuit court of the circuit in which the

1161

parties, or either of them, resided at the date of the execution

1162

of the agreement or reside at the date of the application, or in

1163

which the agreement was executed or in which the order was

1164

rendered, for an order decreasing or increasing the amount of

1165

support, maintenance, or alimony, and the court has jurisdiction

1166

to make orders as equity requires, with due regard to the changed

1167

circumstances or the financial ability of the parties or the

1168

child, decreasing, increasing, or confirming the amount of

1169

separate support, maintenance, or alimony provided for in the

1170

agreement or order. A finding that medical insurance is

1171

reasonably available or the child support guidelines schedule in

1172

s. 61.30 may constitute changed circumstances. Except as

1173

otherwise provided in s. 61.30(11)(c), the court may modify an

1174

order of support, maintenance, or alimony by increasing or

1175

decreasing the support, maintenance, or alimony retroactively to

1176

the date of the filing of the action or supplemental action for

1177

modification as equity requires, giving due regard to the changed

1178

circumstances or the financial ability of the parties or the

1179

child.

1180

     Section 12.  Paragraph (d) of subsection (3) of section

1181

61.181, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

1182

     61.181  Depository for alimony transactions, support,

1183

maintenance, and support payments; fees.--

1184

     (3)

1185

     (d) When time-sharing custody of a child is relinquished by

1186

a custodial parent who is entitled to receive child support

1187

moneys from the depository to the custody of a licensed or

1188

registered long-term care child agency, that agency may request

1189

from the court an order directing child support payments that

1190

which would otherwise be distributed to the custodial parent be

1191

distributed to the agency for the period of time that custody of

1192

the child is with by the agency. Thereafter, payments shall be

1193

distributed to the agency as if the agency were the custodial

1194

parent until further order of the court.

1195

     Section 13.  Paragraphs (b) and (d) of subsection (1) of

1196

section 61.1827, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

1197

     61.1827  Identifying information concerning applicants for

1198

and recipients of child support services.--

1199

     (1)  Any information that reveals the identity of applicants

1200

for or recipients of child support services, including the name,

1201

address, and telephone number of such persons, held by a non-

1202

Title IV-D county child support enforcement agency is

1203

confidential and exempt from s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a) of Art. I

1204

of the State Constitution. The use or disclosure of such

1205

information by the non-Title IV-D county child support

1206

enforcement agency is limited to the purposes directly connected

1207

with:

1208

     (b)  Mandatory disclosure of identifying and location

1209

information as provided in s. 61.13(7)(8) by the non-Title IV-D

1210

county child support enforcement agency when providing non-Title

1211

IV-D services;

1212

     (d)  Disclosure to an authorized person, as defined in 45

1213

C.F.R. s. 303.15, for purposes of enforcing any state or federal

1214

law with respect to the unlawful taking or restraint of a child

1215

or making or enforcing a parenting plan child custody or

1216

visitation determination. As used in this paragraph, the term

1217

"authorized person" includes a noncustodial parent with whom the

1218

child does not currently reside, unless a court has entered an

1219

order under s. 741.30, s. 741.31, or s. 784.046.

1220

     Section 14.  Section 61.20, Florida Statutes, is amended to

1221

read:

1222

     61.20 Social investigation and recommendations regarding a

1223

parenting plan when child custody is in issue.--

1224

     (1) In any action where the parenting plan custody of a

1225

minor child is at in issue because the parents are unable to

1226

agree, the court may order a social investigation and study

1227

concerning all pertinent details relating to the child and each

1228

parent when such an investigation has not been done and the study

1229

therefrom provided to the court by the parties or when the court

1230

determines that the investigation and study that have been done

1231

are insufficient. The agency, staff, or person conducting the

1232

investigation and study ordered by the court pursuant to this

1233

section shall furnish the court and all parties of record in the

1234

proceeding a written study containing recommendations, including

1235

a written statement of facts found in the social investigation on

1236

which the recommendations are based. The court may consider the

1237

information contained in the study in making a decision on the

1238

parenting plan child's custody and the technical rules of

1239

evidence do not exclude the study from consideration.

1240

     (2)  A social investigation and study, when ordered by the

1241

court, shall be conducted by qualified staff of the court; a

1242

child-placing agency licensed pursuant to s. 409.175; a

1243

psychologist licensed pursuant to chapter 490; or a clinical

1244

social worker, marriage and family therapist, or mental health

1245

counselor licensed pursuant to chapter 491. If a certification of

1246

indigence based on an affidavit filed with the court pursuant to

1247

s. 57.081 is provided by an adult party to the proceeding and the

1248

court does not have qualified staff to perform the investigation

1249

and study, the court may request that the Department of Children

1250

and Family Services conduct the investigation and study.

1251

     (3)  Except as to persons who obtain certification of

1252

indigence as specified in subsection (2), for whom no costs shall

1253

be incurred, the adult parties involved in a child custody

1254

proceeding to determine a parenting plan wherein the court has

1255

ordered the performance of a social investigation and study

1256

performed shall be responsible for the payment of the costs of

1257

such investigation and study. Upon submission of the study to the

1258

court, the agency, staff, or person performing the study shall

1259

include a bill for services, which shall be taxed and ordered

1260

paid as costs in the proceeding.

1261

     Section 15.  Paragraph (c) of subsection (1) and subsection

1262

(6) of section 61.21, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

1263

     61.21  Parenting course authorized; fees; required

1264

attendance authorized; contempt.--

1265

     (1)  LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS; PURPOSE.--It is the finding of

1266

the Legislature that:

1267

     (c)  It has been found to be beneficial to parents who are

1268

separating or divorcing to have available an educational program

1269

that will provide general information regarding:

1270

     1. The issues and legal procedures for resolving time-

1271

sharing custody and child support disputes.

1272

     2.  The emotional experiences and problems of divorcing

1273

adults.

1274

     3.  The family problems and the emotional concerns and needs

1275

of the children.

1276

     4.  The availability of community services and resources.

1277

     (6)  All parties to a modification of a final judgment

1278

involving a parenting plan or a time-sharing schedule shared

1279

parental responsibilities, custody, or visitation may be required

1280

to complete a court-approved parenting course prior to the entry

1281

of an order modifying the final judgment.

1282

     Section 16.  Section 61.30, Florida Statutes, is amended to

1283

read:

1284

     61.30  Child support guidelines; retroactive child

1285

support.--

1286

     (1)(a)  The child support guideline amount as determined by

1287

this section presumptively establishes the amount the trier of

1288

fact shall order as child support in an initial proceeding for

1289

such support or in a proceeding for modification of an existing

1290

order for such support, whether the proceeding arises under this

1291

or another chapter. The trier of fact may order payment of child

1292

support which varies, plus or minus 5 percent, from the guideline

1293

amount, after considering all relevant factors, including the

1294

needs of the child or children, age, station in life, standard of

1295

living, and the financial status and ability of each parent. The

1296

trier of fact may order payment of child support in an amount

1297

which varies more than 5 percent from such guideline amount only

1298

upon a written finding explaining why ordering payment of such

1299

guideline amount would be unjust or inappropriate.

1300

Notwithstanding the variance limitations of this section, the

1301

trier of fact shall order payment of child support which varies

1302

from the guideline amount as provided in paragraph (11)(b)

1303

whenever any of the children are required by court order or

1304

mediation agreement to spend a substantial amount of time with

1305

either parent the primary and secondary residential parents. This

1306

requirement applies to any living arrangement, whether temporary

1307

or permanent.

1308

     (b)  The guidelines may provide the basis for proving a

1309

substantial change in circumstances upon which a modification of

1310

an existing order may be granted. However, the difference between

1311

the existing monthly obligation and the amount provided for under

1312

the guidelines shall be at least 15 percent or $50, whichever

1313

amount is greater, before the court may find that the guidelines

1314

provide a substantial change in circumstances.

1315

     (c)  For each support order reviewed by the department as

1316

required by s. 409.2564(11), if the amount of the child support

1317

award under the order differs by at least 10 percent but not less

1318

than $25 from the amount that would be awarded under s. 61.30,

1319

the department shall seek to have the order modified and any

1320

modification shall be made without a requirement for proof or

1321

showing of a change in circumstances.

1322

     (2) Income shall be determined on a monthly basis for each

1323

parent the obligor and for the obligee as follows:

1324

     (a)  Gross income shall include, but is not limited to, the

1325

following items:

1326

     1.  Salary or wages.

1327

     2.  Bonuses, commissions, allowances, overtime, tips, and

1328

other similar payments.

1329

     3.  Business income from sources such as self-employment,

1330

partnership, close corporations, and independent contracts.

1331

"Business income" means gross receipts minus ordinary and

1332

necessary expenses required to produce income.

1333

     4.  Disability benefits.

1334

     5.  All workers' compensation benefits and settlements.

1335

     6.  Unemployment compensation.

1336

     7.  Pension, retirement, or annuity payments.

1337

     8.  Social security benefits.

1338

     9.  Spousal support received from a previous marriage or

1339

court ordered in the marriage before the court.

1340

     10.  Interest and dividends.

1341

     11.  Rental income, which is gross receipts minus ordinary

1342

and necessary expenses required to produce the income.

1343

     12.  Income from royalties, trusts, or estates.

1344

     13.  Reimbursed expenses or in kind payments to the extent

1345

that they reduce living expenses.

1346

     14.  Gains derived from dealings in property, unless the

1347

gain is nonrecurring.

1348

     (b)  Income on a monthly basis shall be imputed to an

1349

unemployed or underemployed parent when such employment or

1350

underemployment is found by the court to be voluntary on that

1351

parent's part, absent a finding of fact by the court of physical

1352

or mental incapacity or other circumstances over which the parent

1353

has no control. In the event of such voluntary unemployment or

1354

underemployment, the employment potential and probable earnings

1355

level of the parent shall be determined based upon his or her

1356

recent work history, occupational qualifications, and prevailing

1357

earnings level in the community as provided in this paragraph;

1358

however, the court may refuse to impute income to a primary

1359

residential parent if the court finds it necessary for the parent

1360

to stay home with the child who is the subject of a child support

1361

calculation.

1362

     (c)  Public assistance as defined in s. 409.2554 shall be

1363

excluded from gross income.

1364

     (3) Net income is obtained by subtracting allowable

1365

deductions from gross income. Allowable deductions shall include:

1366

     (a)  Federal, state, and local income tax deductions,

1367

adjusted for actual filing status and allowable dependents and

1368

income tax liabilities.

1369

     (b)  Federal insurance contributions or self-employment tax.

1370

     (c)  Mandatory union dues.

1371

     (d)  Mandatory retirement payments.

1372

     (e)  Health insurance payments, excluding payments for

1373

coverage of the minor child.

1374

     (f)  Court-ordered support for other children which is

1375

actually paid.

1376

     (g)  Spousal support paid pursuant to a court order from a

1377

previous marriage or the marriage before the court.

1378

     (4) Net income for each parent the obligor and net income

1379

for the obligee shall be computed by subtracting allowable

1380

deductions from gross income.

1381

     (5) Net income for each parent the obligor and net income

1382

for the obligee shall be added together for a combined net

1383

income.

1384

     (6) The following guidelines schedule schedules shall be

1385

applied to the combined net income to determine the minimum child

1386

support need:

1387

Combined Monthly Net Available Income Child or Children

1388

OneTwoThreeFourFiveSix

1389

650.00747575767778

1390

700.00119120121123124125

1391

750.00164166167169171173

1392

800.00190211213216218220

1393

850.00202257259262265268

1394

900.00213302305309312315

1395

950.00224347351355359363

1396

1000.00235365397402406410

1397

1050.00246382443448453458

1398

1100.00258400489495500505

1399

1150.00269417522541547553

1400

1200.00280435544588594600

1401

1250.00290451565634641648

1402

1300.00300467584659688695

1403

1350.00310482603681735743

1404

1400.00320498623702765790

1405

1450.00330513642724789838

1406

1500.00340529662746813869

1407

1550.00350544681768836895

1408

1600.00360560701790860920

1409

1650.00370575720812884945

1410

1700.00380591740833907971

1411

1750.00390606759855931996

1412

1800.004006227798779551022

1413

1850.004106387989009791048

1414

1900.0042165481892310041074

1415

1950.0043167083994610291101

1416

2000.0044268685996810541128

1417

2050.0045270287999110791154

1418

2100.00463718899101411041181

1419

2150.00473734919103711291207

1420

2200.00484751940106011541234

1421

2250.00494767960108211791261

1422

2300.00505783980110512041287

1423

2350.005157991000112812291314

1424

2400.005268151020115112541340

1425

2450.005368311041117412791367

1426

2500.005478471061119613041394

1427

2550.005578641081121913291420

1428

2600.005688801101124213541447

1429

2650.005788961121126513791473

1430

2700.005889121141128714031500

1431

2750.005979271160130814261524

1432

2800.006079411178132814481549

1433

2850.006169561197134914711573

1434

2900.006269711215137014941598

1435

2950.006359861234139115171622

1436

3000.0064410011252141215401647

1437

3050.0065410161271143315631671

1438

3100.0066310311289145315861695

1439

3150.0067310451308147416081720

1440

3200.0068210601327149516311744

1441

3250.0069110751345151616541769

1442

3300.0070110901364153716771793

1443

3350.0071011051382155817001818

1444

3400.0072011201401157917231842

1445

3450.0072911351419159917451867

1446

3500.0073811491438162017681891

1447

3550.0074811641456164117911915

1448

3600.0075711791475166218141940

1449

3650.0076711941493168318371964

1450

3700.0077612081503170218571987

1451

3750.0078412211520172118782009

1452

3800.0079312341536174018992031

1453

3850.0080212481553175919202053

1454

3900.0081112611570177819402075

1455

3950.0081912751587179719612097

1456

4000.0082812881603181619822119

1457

4050.0083713021620183520022141

1458

4100.0084613151637185420232163

1459

4150.0085413291654187320442185

1460

4200.0086313421670189220642207

1461

4250.0087213551687191120852229

1462

4300.0088113691704193021062251

1463

4350.0088913821721194921272273

1464

4400.0089813961737196821472295

1465

4450.0090714091754198721682317

1466

4500.0091614231771200621892339

1467

4550.0092414361788202422092361

1468

4600.0093314501804204322302384

1469

4650.0094214631821206222512406

1470

4700.0095114771838208122712428

1471

4750.0095914901855210022922450

1472

4800.0096815031871211923132472

1473

4850.0097715171888213823342494

1474

4900.0098615301905215723542516

1475

4950.0099315421927217423722535

1476

5000.00100015511939218823872551

1477

5050.00100615611952220224022567

1478

5100.00101315711964221524172583

1479

5150.00101915801976222924322599

1480

5200.00102515901988224324472615

1481

5250.00103215992000225624622631

1482

5300.00103816092012227024772647

1483

5350.00104516192024228324922663

1484

5400.00105116282037229725072679

1485

5450.00105716382049231125222695

1486

5500.00106416472061232425372711

1487

5550.00107016572073233825522727

1488

5600.00107716672085235225672743

1489

5650.00108316762097236525822759

1490

5700.00108916862109237925972775

1491

5750.00109616952122239326122791

1492

5800.00110217052134240626272807

1493

5850.00110717132144241826392820

1494

5900.00111117212155242926512833

1495

5950.00111617292165244026632847

1496

6000.00112117372175245126762860

1497

6050.00112617462185246226882874

1498

6100.00113117542196247327002887

1499

6150.00113617622206248427122900

1500

6200.00114117702216249527242914

1501

6250.00114517782227250627372927

1502

6300.00115017862237251727492941

1503

6350.00115517952247252927612954

1504

6400.00116018032258254027732967

1505

6450.00116518112268255127852981

1506

6500.00117018192278256227982994

1507

6550.00117518272288257328103008

1508

6600.00117918352299258428223021

1509

6650.00118418432309259528343034

1510

6700.00118918502317260428453045

1511

6750.00119318562325261328543055

1512

6800.00119618622332262128633064

1513

6850.00120018682340263028723074

1514

6900.00120418732347263928823084

1515

6950.00120818792355264728913094

1516

7000.00121218852362265629003103

1517

7050.00121618912370266429093113

1518

7100.00122018972378267329193123

1519

7150.00122419032385268129283133

1520

7200.00122819092393269029373142

1521

7250.00123219152400269829463152

1522

7300.00123519212408270729563162

1523

7350.00123919272415271629653172

1524

7400.00124319332423272429743181

1525

7450.00124719392430273329833191

1526

7500.00125119452438274129933201

1527

7550.00125519512446275030023211

1528

7600.00125919572453275830113220

1529

7650.00126319632461276730203230

1530

7700.00126719692468277530303240

1531

7750.00127119752476278430393250

1532

7800.00127419812483279230483259

1533

7850.00127819872491280130573269

1534

7900.00128219922498281030673279

1535

7950.00128619982506281830763289

1536

8000.00129020042513282730853298

1537

8050.00129420102521283530943308

1538

8100.00129820162529284431043318

1539

8150.00130220222536285231133328

1540

8200.00130620282544286131223337

1541

8250.00131020342551286931313347

1542

8300.00131320402559287831413357

1543

8350.00131720462566288731503367

1544

8400.00132120522574289531593376

1545

8450.00132520582581290431683386

1546

8500.00132920642589291231783396

1547

8550.00133320702597292131873406

1548

8600.00133720762604292931963415

1549

8650.00134120822612293832053425

1550

8700.00134520882619294632153435

1551

8750.00134920942627295532243445

1552

8800.00135221002634296332333454

1553

8850.00135621062642297232423464

1554

8900.00136021112649298132523474

1555

8950.00136421172657298932613484

1556

9000.00136821232664299832703493

1557

9050.00137221292672300632793503

1558

9100.00137621352680301532893513

1559

9150.00138021412687302332983523

1560

9200.00138421472695303233073532

1561

9250.00138821532702304033163542

1562

9300.00139121592710304933263552

1563

9350.00139521652717305833353562

1564

9400.00139921712725306633443571

1565

9450.00140321772732307533533581

1566

9500.00140721832740308333633591

1567

9550.00141121892748309233723601

1568

9600.00141521952755310033813610

1569

9650.00141922012763310933903620

1570

9700.00142222062767311533963628

1571

9750.00142522102772312134023634

1572

9800.00142722132776312634083641

1573

9850.00143022172781313234143647

1574

9900.00143222212786313734203653

1575

9950.00143522252791314334263659

1576

10000.00143722282795314834323666

1577

1578

For combined monthly net available income less than the amount

1579

set out on the above guidelines schedule schedules, the parent

1580

should be ordered to pay a child support amount, determined on a

1581

case-by-case basis, to establish the principle of payment and lay

1582

the basis for increased orders should the parent's income

1583

increase in the future. For combined monthly net available income

1584

greater than the amount set out in the above guidelines schedule

1585

schedules, the obligation shall be the minimum amount of support

1586

provided by the guidelines schedule plus the following

1587

percentages multiplied by the amount of income over $10,000:

1588

Child or Children

1589

OneTwoThreeFourFiveSix

1590

5.0%7.5%9.5%11.0%12.0%12.5%

1591

1592

     (7)  Child care costs incurred on behalf of the children due

1593

to employment, job search, or education calculated to result in

1594

employment or to enhance income of current employment of either

1595

parent shall be reduced by 25 percent and then shall be added to

1596

the basic obligation. After the adjusted child care costs are

1597

added to the basic obligation, any moneys prepaid by a the

1598

noncustodial parent for child care costs for the child or

1599

children of this action shall be deducted from that noncustodial

1600

parent's child support obligation for that child or those

1601

children. Child care costs shall not exceed the level required to

1602

provide quality care from a licensed source for the children.

1603

     (8)  Health insurance costs resulting from coverage ordered

1604

pursuant to s. 61.13(1)(b), and any noncovered medical, dental,

1605

and prescription medication expenses of the child, shall be added

1606

to the basic obligation unless these expenses have been ordered

1607

to be separately paid on a percentage basis. After the health

1608

insurance costs are added to the basic obligation, any moneys

1609

prepaid by a the noncustodial parent for health-related costs for

1610

the child or children of this action shall be deducted from that

1611

noncustodial parent's child support obligation for that child or

1612

those children.

1613

     (9)  Each parent's percentage share of the child support

1614

need shall be determined by dividing each parent's net monthly

1615

income by the combined net monthly income.

1616

     (10) Each parent's actual dollar share of the total minimum

1617

child support need shall be determined by multiplying the minimum

1618

child support need by each parent's percentage share of the

1619

combined monthly net income.

1620

     (11)(a) The court may adjust the total minimum child

1621

support award, or either or both parents' share of the total

1622

minimum child support award, based upon the following deviation

1623

factors considerations:

1624

     1.  Extraordinary medical, psychological, educational, or

1625

dental expenses.

1626

     2.  Independent income of the child, not to include moneys

1627

received by a child from supplemental security income.

1628

     3.  The payment of support for a parent which regularly has

1629

been paid and for which there is a demonstrated need.

1630

     4.  Seasonal variations in one or both parents' incomes or

1631

expenses.

1632

     5.  The age of the child, taking into account the greater

1633

needs of older children.

1634

     6.  Special needs, such as costs that may be associated with

1635

the disability of a child, that have traditionally been met

1636

within the family budget even though the fulfilling of those

1637

needs will cause the support to exceed the presumptive amount

1638

established by the proposed guidelines.

1639

     7.  Total available assets of the obligee, obligor, and the

1640

child.

1641

     8.  The impact of the Internal Revenue Service dependency

1642

exemption and waiver of that exemption. The court may order a the

1643

primary residential parent to execute a waiver of the Internal

1644

Revenue Service dependency exemption if the paying noncustodial

1645

parent is current in support payments.

1646

     9.  When application of the child support guidelines

1647

schedule requires a person to pay another person more than 55

1648

percent of his or her gross income for a child support obligation

1649

for current support resulting from a single support order.

1650

     10. The particular parenting plan shared parental

1651

arrangement, such as where the child spends a significant amount

1652

of time, but less than 40 percent of the overnights, with one the

1653

noncustodial parent, thereby reducing the financial expenditures

1654

incurred by the other primary residential parent; or the refusal

1655

of a the noncustodial parent to become involved in the activities

1656

of the child.

1657

     11.  Any other adjustment which is needed to achieve an

1658

equitable result which may include, but not be limited to, a

1659

reasonable and necessary existing expense or debt. Such expense

1660

or debt may include, but is not limited to, a reasonable and

1661

necessary expense or debt which the parties jointly incurred

1662

during the marriage.

1663

     (b) Whenever a particular parenting plan shared parental

1664

arrangement provides that each child spend a substantial amount

1665

of time with each parent, the court shall adjust any award of

1666

child support, as follows:

1667

     1.  In accordance with subsections (9) and (10), calculate

1668

the amount of support obligation apportioned to each the

1669

noncustodial parent without including day care and health

1670

insurance costs in the calculation and multiply the amount by

1671

1.5.

1672

     2. In accordance with subsections (9) and (10), calculate

1673

the amount of support obligation apportioned to the custodial

1674

parent without including day care and health insurance costs in

1675

the calculation and multiply the amount by 1.5.

1676

     2.3. Calculate the percentage of overnight stays the child

1677

spends with each parent.

1678

     3.4. Multiply each the noncustodial parent's support

1679

obligation as calculated in subparagraph 1. by the percentage of

1680

the other custodial parent's overnight stays with the child as

1681

calculated in subparagraph 2. 3.

1682

     5. Multiply the custodial parent's support obligation as

1683

calculated in subparagraph 2. by the percentage of the

1684

noncustodial parent's overnight stays with the child as

1685

calculated in subparagraph 3.

1686

     4.6. The difference between the amounts calculated in

1687

subparagraph 3. subparagraphs 4. and 5. shall be the monetary

1688

transfer necessary between the custodial and noncustodial parents

1689

for the care of the child, subject to an adjustment for day care

1690

and health insurance expenses.

1691

     5.7. Pursuant to subsections (7) and (8), calculate the net

1692

amounts owed by each parent the custodial and noncustodial

1693

parents for the expenses incurred for day care and health

1694

insurance coverage for the child. Day care shall be calculated

1695

without regard to the 25-percent reduction applied by subsection

1696

(7).

1697

     6.8. Adjust the support obligation owed by each the

1698

custodial or noncustodial parent pursuant to subparagraph 4. 6.

1699

by crediting or debiting the amount calculated in subparagraph 5.

1700

7. This amount represents the child support which must be

1701

exchanged between the custodial and noncustodial parents.

1702

     7.9. The court may deviate from the child support amount

1703

calculated pursuant to subparagraph 6. 8. based upon the

1704

deviation factors considerations set forth in paragraph (a), as

1705

well as the obligee custodial parent's low income and ability to

1706

maintain the basic necessities of the home for the child, the

1707

likelihood that either the noncustodial parent will actually

1708

exercise the time-sharing schedule set forth in the parenting

1709

plan visitation granted by the court, and whether all of the

1710

children are exercising the same time-sharing schedule shared

1711

parental arrangement.

1712

     8.10. For purposes of adjusting any award of child support

1713

under this paragraph, "substantial amount of time" means that a

1714

the noncustodial parent exercises visitation at least 40 percent

1715

of the overnights of the year.

1716

     (c) A noncustodial parent's failure to regularly exercise

1717

court-ordered or agreed time-sharing schedule visitation not

1718

caused by the other custodial parent which resulted in the

1719

adjustment of the amount of child support pursuant to

1720

subparagraph (a)10. or paragraph (b) shall be deemed a

1721

substantial change of circumstances for purposes of modifying the

1722

child support award. A modification pursuant to this paragraph

1723

shall be retroactive to the date the noncustodial parent first

1724

failed to regularly exercise court-ordered or agreed time-sharing

1725

schedule visitation.

1726

     (12)(a)  A parent with a support obligation may have other

1727

children living with him or her who were born or adopted after

1728

the support obligation arose. If such subsequent children exist,

1729

the court, when considering an upward modification of an existing

1730

award, may disregard the income from secondary employment

1731

obtained in addition to the parent's primary employment if the

1732

court determines that the employment was obtained primarily to

1733

support the subsequent children.

1734

     (b)  Except as provided in paragraph (a), the existence of

1735

such subsequent children should not as a general rule be

1736

considered by the court as a basis for disregarding the amount

1737

provided in the guidelines schedule. The parent with a support

1738

obligation for subsequent children may raise the existence of

1739

such subsequent children as a justification for deviation from

1740

the guidelines schedule. However, if the existence of such

1741

subsequent children is raised, the income of the other parent of

1742

the subsequent children shall be considered by the court in

1743

determining whether or not there is a basis for deviation from

1744

the guideline amount.

1745

     (c)  The issue of subsequent children under paragraph (a) or

1746

paragraph (b) may only be raised in a proceeding for an upward

1747

modification of an existing award and may not be applied to

1748

justify a decrease in an existing award.

1749

     (13)  If the recurring income is not sufficient to meet the

1750

needs of the child, the court may order child support to be paid

1751

from nonrecurring income or assets.

1752

     (14)  Every petition for child support or for modification

1753

of child support shall be accompanied by an affidavit which shows

1754

the party's income, allowable deductions, and net income computed

1755

in accordance with this section. The affidavit shall be served at

1756

the same time that the petition is served. The respondent,

1757

whether or not a stipulation is entered, shall make an affidavit

1758

which shows the party's income, allowable deductions, and net

1759

income computed in accordance with this section. The respondent

1760

shall include his or her affidavit with the answer to the

1761

petition or as soon thereafter as is practicable, but in any case

1762

at least 72 hours prior to any hearing on the finances of either

1763

party.

1764

     (15)  For purposes of establishing an obligation for support

1765

in accordance with this section, if a person who is receiving

1766

public assistance is found to be noncooperative as defined in s.

1767

409.2572, the IV-D agency is authorized to submit to the court an

1768

affidavit attesting to the income of that the custodial parent

1769

based upon information available to the IV-D agency.

1770

     (16) The Legislature shall review the guidelines schedule

1771

established in this section at least every 4 years beginning in

1772

1997.

1773

     (17)  In an initial determination of child support, whether

1774

in a paternity action, dissolution of marriage action, or

1775

petition for support during the marriage, the court has

1776

discretion to award child support retroactive to the date when

1777

the parents did not reside together in the same household with

1778

the child, not to exceed a period of 24 months preceding the

1779

filing of the petition, regardless of whether that date precedes

1780

the filing of the petition. In determining the retroactive award

1781

in such cases, the court shall consider the following:

1782

     (a) The court shall apply the guidelines schedule in effect

1783

at the time of the hearing subject to the obligor's demonstration

1784

of his or her actual income, as defined by subsection (2), during

1785

the retroactive period. Failure of the obligor to so demonstrate

1786

shall result in the court using the obligor's income at the time

1787

of the hearing in computing child support for the retroactive

1788

period.

1789

     (b) All actual payments made by a the noncustodial parent

1790

to the other custodial parent or the child or third parties for

1791

the benefit of the child throughout the proposed retroactive

1792

period.

1793

     (c)  The court should consider an installment payment plan

1794

for the payment of retroactive child support.

1795

     Section 17.  Section 61.401, Florida Statutes, is amended to

1796

read:

1797

     61.401  Appointment of guardian ad litem.-- In an action for

1798

dissolution of marriage or for the creation, approval, or,

1799

modification of a parenting plan, parental responsibility,

1800

custody, or visitation, if the court finds it is in the best

1801

interest of the child, the court may appoint a guardian ad litem

1802

to act as next friend of the child, investigator or evaluator,

1803

not as attorney or advocate. The court in its discretion may also

1804

appoint legal counsel for a child to act as attorney or advocate;

1805

however, the guardian and the legal counsel shall not be the same

1806

person. In such actions which involve an allegation of child

1807

abuse, abandonment, or neglect as defined in s. 39.01, which

1808

allegation is verified and determined by the court to be well-

1809

founded, the court shall appoint a guardian ad litem for the

1810

child. The guardian ad litem shall be a party to any judicial

1811

proceeding from the date of the appointment until the date of

1812

discharge.

1813

     Section 18.  Section 61.45, Florida Statutes, is amended to

1814

read:

1815

     61.45 Court-ordered parenting plan Court order of

1816

visitation or custody; risk of violation; bond.--

1817

     (1) In any a proceeding in which the court enters a

1818

parenting plan, including a time-sharing schedule an order of

1819

child custody or visitation, including in a modification

1820

proceeding, upon the presentation of competent substantial

1821

evidence that there is a risk that one party may violate the

1822

court's parenting plan order of visitation or custody by removing

1823

a child from this state or country or by concealing the

1824

whereabouts of a child, or upon stipulation of the parties, the

1825

court may:

1826

     (a)  Order that a parent may not remove the child from this

1827

state without the notarized written permission of both parents or

1828

further court order;

1829

     (b)  Order that a parent may not remove the child from this

1830

country without the notarized written permission of both parents

1831

or further court order;

1832

     (c)  Order that a parent may not take the child to a country

1833

that has not ratified or acceded to the Hague Convention on the

1834

Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction unless the other

1835

parent agrees in writing that the child may be taken to the

1836

country;

1837

     (d)  Require a parent to surrender the passport of the

1838

child; or

1839

     (e)  Require that party to post bond or other security.

1840

     (2) If the court enters a parenting plan, including a time-

1841

sharing schedule an order of child custody or visitation,

1842

including in a modification proceeding, that includes a provision

1843

entered under paragraph (1)(b) or paragraph (1)(c), a certified

1844

copy of the order should be sent by the parent who requested the

1845

restriction to the Passport Services Office of the United States

1846

Department of State requesting that they not issue a passport to

1847

the child without their signature or further court order.

1848

     (3)  In assessing the need for a bond or other security, the

1849

court may consider any reasonable factor bearing upon the risk

1850

that a party may violate a parenting plan visitation or custody

1851

order by removing a child from this state or country or by

1852

concealing the whereabouts of a child, including but not limited

1853

to whether:

1854

     (a)  A court has previously found that a party previously

1855

removed a child from Florida or another state in violation of a

1856

parenting plan custody or visitation order, or whether a court

1857

had found that a party has threatened to take a child out of

1858

Florida or another state in violation of a parenting plan custody

1859

or visitation order;

1860

     (b)  The party has strong family and community ties to

1861

Florida or to other states or countries, including whether the

1862

party or child is a citizen of another country;

1863

     (c)  The party has strong financial reasons to remain in

1864

Florida or to relocate to another state or country;

1865

     (d)  The party has engaged in activities that suggest plans

1866

to leave Florida, such as quitting employment; sale of a

1867

residence or termination of a lease on a residence, without

1868

efforts to acquire an alternative residence in the state; closing

1869

bank accounts or otherwise liquidating assets; or applying for a

1870

passport;

1871

     (e)  Either party has had a history of domestic violence as

1872

either a victim or perpetrator, child abuse or child neglect

1873

evidenced by criminal history, including but not limited to,

1874

arrest, an injunction for protection against domestic violence

1875

issued after notice and hearing under s. 741.30, medical records,

1876

affidavits, or any other relevant information; or

1877

     (f)  The party has a criminal record.

1878

     (4)  The court must consider the party's financial resources

1879

prior to setting the bond amount under this section. Under no

1880

circumstances may the court set a bond that is unreasonable.

1881

     (5)  Any deficiency of bond or security shall not absolve

1882

the violating party of responsibility to pay the full amount of

1883

damages determined by the court.

1884

     (6)(a) Upon a material violation of any parenting plan

1885

custody or visitation order by removing a child from this state

1886

or this country or by concealing the whereabouts of a child, the

1887

court may order the bond or other security forfeited in whole or

1888

in part.

1889

     (b)  This section, including the requirement to post a bond

1890

or other security, does not apply to a parent who, in a

1891

proceeding to order or modify a parenting plan or time-sharing

1892

schedule, is determined by the court to be child custody or

1893

visitation, the court determines is a victim of an act of

1894

domestic violence or provides the court with has reasonable cause

1895

to believe that he or she is about to become the victim of an act

1896

of domestic violence, as defined in s. 741.28. An injunction for

1897

protection against domestic violence issued pursuant to s. 741.30

1898

for a parent as the petitioner which is in effect at the time of

1899

the court proceeding shall be one means of demonstrating

1900

sufficient evidence that the parent is a victim of domestic

1901

violence or is about to become the victim of an act of domestic

1902

violence, as defined in s. 741.28, and shall exempt the parent

1903

from this section, including the requirement to post a bond or

1904

other security. A parent who is determined by the court to be

1905

exempt from the requirements of this section must meet the

1906

requirements of s. 787.03(6) if an offense of interference with

1907

the parenting plan or time-sharing schedule custody is committed.

1908

     (7)(a)  Upon an order of forfeiture, the proceeds of any

1909

bond or other security posted pursuant to this subsection may

1910

only be used to:

1911

     1.  Reimburse the nonviolating party for actual costs or

1912

damages incurred in upholding the court's parenting plan order of

1913

custody or visitation.

1914

     2.  Locate and return the child to the residence as set

1915

forth in the parenting plan visitation or custody order.

1916

     3.  Reimburse reasonable fees and costs as determined by the

1917

court.

1918

     (b)  Any remaining proceeds shall be held as further

1919

security if deemed necessary by the court, and if further

1920

security is not found to be necessary; applied to any child

1921

support arrears owed by the parent against whom the bond was

1922

required, and if no arrears exists; all remaining proceeds will

1923

be allocated by the court in the best interest of the child.

1924

     (8)  At any time after the forfeiture of the bond or other

1925

security, the party who posted the bond or other security, or the

1926

court on its own motion may request that the party provide

1927

documentation substantiating that the proceeds received as a

1928

result of the forfeiture have been used solely in accordance with

1929

this subsection. Any party using such proceeds for purposes not

1930

in accordance with this section may be found in contempt of

1931

court.

1932

     Section 19.  Subsection (14) of section 409.2554, Florida

1933

Statutes, is amended to read:

1934

     409.2554  Definitions; ss. 409.2551-409.2598.--As used in

1935

ss. 409.2551-409.2598, the term:

1936

     (14)  "Unidentifiable collection" means a payment received

1937

by the department for which a the noncustodial parent, custodial

1938

parent, depository or circuit civil numbers, or source of the

1939

payment cannot be identified.

1940

     Section 20.  Paragraphs (b) and (c) of subsection (2) and

1941

subsection (4) of section 409.2558, Florida Statutes, are amended

1942

to read:

1943

     409.2558  Support distribution and disbursement.--

1944

     (2)  UNDISTRIBUTABLE COLLECTIONS.--

1945

     (b)  Collections that are determined to be undistributable

1946

shall be processed in the following order of priority:

1947

     1.  Apply the payment to any assigned arrears on the

1948

obligee's custodial parent's case; then

1949

     2.  Apply the payment to any administrative costs ordered by

1950

the court pursuant to s. 409.2567 associated with the obligee's

1951

custodial parent's case; then

1952

     3. When the obligor noncustodial parent is subject to a

1953

valid order to support another child in a case with a different

1954

obligee custodial parent and the obligation is being enforced by

1955

the department, the department shall send by certified mail,

1956

restricted delivery, return receipt requested, to the obligor

1957

noncustodial parent at the most recent address provided by the

1958

obligor noncustodial parent to the tribunal that issued the

1959

order, a notice stating the department's intention to apply the

1960

payment pursuant to this subparagraph, and advising the obligor

1961

noncustodial parent of the right to contest the department's

1962

proposed action in the circuit court by filing and serving a

1963

petition on the department within 30 days after the mailing of

1964

the notice. If the obligor noncustodial parent does not file and

1965

serve a petition within the 30 days after mailing of the notice,

1966

or upon a disposition of the judicial action favorable to the

1967

department, the department shall apply the payment toward his or

1968

her other support obligation. If there is more than one such

1969

other case, the department shall allocate the remaining

1970

undistributable amount as specified by s. 61.1301(4)(c); then

1971

     4. Return the payment to the obligor noncustodial parent;

1972

then

1973

     5. If the obligor noncustodial parent cannot be located

1974

after diligent efforts by the department, the federal share of

1975

the payment shall be credited to the Federal Government and the

1976

state share shall be transferred to the General Revenue Fund.

1977

     (c) Refunds to obligors noncustodial parents that are

1978

determined to be undistributable shall be processed in the

1979

following manner:

1980

     1.  The federal share of the refund shall be sent to the

1981

Federal Government.

1982

     2.  The state share shall be credited to the General Revenue

1983

Fund.

1984

     (4)  RECLAIMING COLLECTIONS DECLARED TO BE UNDISTRIBUTABLE

1985

OR UNIDENTIFIABLE.--At such time as an undistributable or

1986

unidentifiable collection that has been transferred to the

1987

Federal Government and to the General Revenue Fund in the

1988

relevant method above becomes distributable or identified,

1989

meaning either the obligor noncustodial parent or the obligee

1990

custodial parent is identified or located, the department shall

1991

retrieve the transferred moneys in the following manner:

1992

     (a)  Offset the next credit to the Federal Government in an

1993

amount equal to the share of the collection which had been

1994

transferred; and

1995

     (b)  Offset the next transfer to the General Revenue Fund in

1996

an amount equal to the state share of the collection which had

1997

been transferred to the General Revenue Fund.

1998

1999

The collection shall then be processed, as appropriate.

2000

     Section 21.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (1), paragraphs

2001

(b), (c), (d), and (f) of subsection (2), subsection (4),

2002

paragraphs (a) and (c) of subsection (5), subsection (6),

2003

paragraphs (b), (c), (d), and (e) of subsection (7), paragraphs

2004

(a) and (b) of subsection (10), and subsections (13) and (17) of

2005

section 409.2563, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

2006

     409.2563  Administrative establishment of child support

2007

obligations.--

2008

     (1)  DEFINITIONS.--As used in this section, the term:

2009

     (a)  "Administrative support order" means a final order

2010

rendered by or on behalf of the department pursuant to this

2011

section establishing or modifying the obligation of a

2012

noncustodial parent to contribute to the support and maintenance

2013

of his or her child or children, which may include provisions for

2014

monetary support, retroactive support, health care, and other

2015

elements of support pursuant to chapter 61.

2016

     (2)  PURPOSE AND SCOPE.--

2017

     (b)  The administrative procedure set forth in this section

2018

concerns only the establishment of child support obligations.

2019

This section does not grant jurisdiction to the department or the

2020

Division of Administrative Hearings to hear or determine issues

2021

of dissolution of marriage, separation, alimony or spousal

2022

support, termination of parental rights, dependency, disputed

2023

paternity, except for a determination of paternity as provided in

2024

s. 409.256, award of or change of time-sharing custody, or

2025

visitation. This paragraph notwithstanding, the department and

2026

the Division of Administrative Hearings may make findings of fact

2027

that are necessary for a proper determination of a noncustodial

2028

parent's support obligation as authorized by this section.

2029

     (c)  If there is no support order for a child in a Title IV-

2030

D case whose paternity has been established or is presumed by

2031

law, or whose paternity is the subject of a proceeding under s.

2032

409.256, the department may establish a the noncustodial parent's

2033

child support obligation pursuant to this section, s. 61.30, and

2034

other relevant provisions of state law. The noncustodial parent's

2035

obligation determined by the department may include any

2036

obligation to pay retroactive support and any obligation to

2037

provide for health care for a child, whether through insurance

2038

coverage, reimbursement of expenses, or both. The department may

2039

proceed on behalf of:

2040

     1.  An applicant or recipient of public assistance, as

2041

provided by ss. 409.2561 and 409.2567;

2042

     2.  A former recipient of public assistance, as provided by

2043

s. 409.2569;

2044

     3.  An individual who has applied for services as provided

2045

by s. 409.2567;

2046

     4.  Itself or the child, as provided by s. 409.2561; or

2047

     5.  A state or local government of another state, as

2048

provided by chapter 88.

2049

     (d)  Either parent, or a caretaker relative if applicable,

2050

may at any time file a civil action in a circuit court having

2051

jurisdiction and proper venue to determine parental support

2052

obligations the noncustodial parent's child support obligations,

2053

if any. A support order issued by a circuit court prospectively

2054

supersedes an administrative support order rendered by the

2055

department.

2056

     (f)  The department shall terminate the administrative

2057

proceeding and file an action in circuit court to determine

2058

support if within 20 days after receipt of the initial notice the

2059

noncustodial parent from whom support is being sought requests in

2060

writing that the department proceed in circuit court or states in

2061

writing his or her the noncustodial parent's intention to address

2062

issues concerning time-sharing custody or rights to parental

2063

contact in court and if within 10 days after receipt of the

2064

department's petition and waiver of service the noncustodial

2065

parent from whom support is being sought signs and returns the

2066

waiver of service form to the department.

2067

     (4)  NOTICE OF PROCEEDING TO ESTABLISH ADMINISTRATIVE

2068

SUPPORT ORDER.--To commence a proceeding under this section, the

2069

department shall provide to the custodial parent from whom

2070

support is not being sought and serve the noncustodial parent

2071

from whom support is being sought with a notice of proceeding to

2072

establish administrative support order and a blank financial

2073

affidavit form. The notice must state:

2074

     (a)  The names of both parents, the name of the caretaker

2075

relative, if any, and the name and date of birth of the child or

2076

children;

2077

     (b)  That the department intends to establish an

2078

administrative support order as defined in this section;

2079

     (c)  That both parents must submit a completed financial

2080

affidavit to the department within 20 days after receiving the

2081

notice, as provided by paragraph (13)(a);

2082

     (d)  That both parents, or parent and caretaker relative if

2083

applicable, are required to furnish to the department information

2084

regarding their identities and locations, as provided by

2085

paragraph (13)(b);

2086

     (e)  That both parents, or parent and caretaker relative if

2087

applicable, are required to promptly notify the department of any

2088

change in their mailing addresses to ensure receipt of all

2089

subsequent pleadings, notices, and orders, as provided by

2090

paragraph (13)(c);

2091

     (f)  That the department will calculate support obligations

2092

based on the child support guidelines schedule in s. 61.30 and

2093

using all available information, as provided by paragraph (5)(a),

2094

and will incorporate such obligations into a proposed

2095

administrative support order;

2096

     (g)  That the department will send by regular mail to both

2097

parents, or parent and caretaker relative if applicable, a copy

2098

of the proposed administrative support order, the department's

2099

child support worksheet, and any financial affidavits submitted

2100

by a parent or prepared by the department;

2101

     (h) That the noncustodial parent from whom support is being

2102

sought may file a request for a hearing in writing within 20 days

2103

after the date of mailing or other service of the proposed

2104

administrative support order or will be deemed to have waived the

2105

right to request a hearing;

2106

     (i) That if the noncustodial parent from whom support is

2107

being sought does not file a timely request for hearing after

2108

service of the proposed administrative support order, the

2109

department will issue an administrative support order that

2110

incorporates the findings of the proposed administrative support

2111

order, and will send by regular mail a copy of the administrative

2112

support order to both parents, or parent and caretaker relative

2113

if applicable;

2114

     (j)  That after an administrative support order is rendered,

2115

the department will file a copy of the order with the clerk of

2116

the circuit court;

2117

     (k)  That after an administrative support order is rendered,

2118

the department may enforce the administrative support order by

2119

any lawful means;

2120

     (l)  That either parent, or caretaker relative if

2121

applicable, may file at any time a civil action in a circuit

2122

court having jurisdiction and proper venue to determine parental

2123

support obligations the noncustodial parent's child support

2124

obligations, if any, and that a support order issued by a circuit

2125

court supersedes an administrative support order rendered by the

2126

department;

2127

     (m)  That, neither the department nor the Division of

2128

Administrative Hearings has jurisdiction to award or change child

2129

custody or rights of parental contact or time-sharing and these

2130

issues may only be addressed in circuit court.

2131

     1. The parent from whom support is being sought

2132

noncustodial parent may request in writing that the department

2133

proceed in circuit court to determine his or her support

2134

obligations.

2135

     2. The parent from whom support is being sought

2136

noncustodial parent may state in writing to the department his or

2137

her intention to address issues concerning custody or rights to

2138

parental contact in circuit court.

2139

     3. If the parent from whom support is being sought

2140

noncustodial parent submits the request authorized in

2141

subparagraph 1., or the statement authorized in subparagraph 2.

2142

to the department within 20 days after the receipt of the initial

2143

notice, the department shall file a petition in circuit court for

2144

the determination of the noncustodial parent's child support

2145

obligations, and shall send to the parent from whom support is

2146

being sought noncustodial parent a copy of its petition, a notice

2147

of commencement of action, and a request for waiver of service of

2148

process as provided in the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure.

2149

     4.  If, within 10 days after receipt of the department's

2150

petition and waiver of service, the parent from whom support is

2151

being sought noncustodial parent signs and returns the waiver of

2152

service form to the department, the department shall terminate

2153

the administrative proceeding without prejudice and proceed in

2154

circuit court.

2155

     5.  In any circuit court action filed by the department

2156

pursuant to this paragraph or filed by a parent from whom support

2157

is being sought noncustodial parent or other person pursuant to

2158

paragraph (l) or paragraph (n), the department shall be a party

2159

only with respect to those issues of support allowed and

2160

reimbursable under Title IV-D of the Social Security Act. It is

2161

the responsibility of the parent from whom support is being

2162

sought noncustodial parent or other person to take the necessary

2163

steps to present other issues for the court to consider.

2164

     (n) That if the parent from whom support is being sought

2165

noncustodial parent files an action in circuit court and serves

2166

the department with a copy of the petition within 20 days after

2167

being served notice under this subsection, the administrative

2168

process ends without prejudice and the action must proceed in

2169

circuit court;

2170

     (o)  Information provided by the Office of State Courts

2171

Administrator concerning the availability and location of self-

2172

help programs for those who wish to file an action in circuit

2173

court but who cannot afford an attorney.

2174

2175

The department may serve the notice of proceeding to establish

2176

administrative support order by certified mail, restricted

2177

delivery, return receipt requested. Alternatively, the department

2178

may serve the notice by any means permitted for service of

2179

process in a civil action. For purposes of this section, an

2180

authorized employee of the department may serve the notice and

2181

execute an affidavit of service. Service by certified mail is

2182

completed when the certified mail is received or refused by the

2183

addressee or by an authorized agent as designated by the

2184

addressee in writing. If a person other than the addressee signs

2185

the return receipt, the department shall attempt to reach the

2186

addressee by telephone to confirm whether the notice was

2187

received, and the department shall document any telephonic

2188

communications. If someone other than the addressee signs the

2189

return receipt, the addressee does not respond to the notice, and

2190

the department is unable to confirm that the addressee has

2191

received the notice, service is not completed and the department

2192

shall attempt to have the addressee served personally. The

2193

department shall provide the custodial parent from whom support

2194

is not being sought or caretaker relative with a copy of the

2195

notice by regular mail to the last known address of the custodial

2196

parent from whom support is not being sought or caretaker.

2197

     (5)  PROPOSED ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT ORDER.--

2198

     (a) After serving notice upon a the noncustodial parent in

2199

accordance with subsection (4), the department shall calculate

2200

that the noncustodial parent's child support obligation under the

2201

child support guidelines schedule as provided by s. 61.30, based

2202

on any timely financial affidavits received and other information

2203

available to the department. If either parent fails to comply

2204

with the requirement to furnish a financial affidavit, the

2205

department may proceed on the basis of information available from

2206

any source, if such information is sufficiently reliable and

2207

detailed to allow calculation of guideline schedule amounts under

2208

s. 61.30. If a the custodial parent receives public assistance

2209

and fails to submit a financial affidavit, the department may

2210

submit a financial affidavit for that the custodial parent

2211

pursuant to s. 61.30(15). If there is a lack of sufficient

2212

reliable information concerning a parent's actual earnings for a

2213

current or past period, it shall be presumed for the purpose of

2214

establishing a support obligation that the parent had an earning

2215

capacity equal to the federal minimum wage during the applicable

2216

period.

2217

     (c)  The department shall provide a notice of rights with

2218

the proposed administrative support order, which notice must

2219

inform the noncustodial parent from whom support is being sought

2220

that:

2221

     1. The noncustodial parent from whom support is being

2222

sought may, within 20 days after the date of mailing or other

2223

service of the proposed administrative support order, request a

2224

hearing by filing a written request for hearing in a form and

2225

manner specified by the department;

2226

     2. If the noncustodial parent from whom support is being

2227

sought files a timely request for a hearing, the case shall be

2228

transferred to the Division of Administrative Hearings, which

2229

shall conduct further proceedings and may enter an administrative

2230

support order;

2231

     3. A noncustodial parent from whom support is being sought

2232

who fails to file a timely request for a hearing shall be deemed

2233

to have waived the right to a hearing, and the department may

2234

render an administrative support order pursuant to paragraph

2235

(7)(b);

2236

     4. The noncustodial parent from whom support is being

2237

sought may consent in writing to entry of an administrative

2238

support order without a hearing;

2239

     5. The noncustodial parent from whom support is being

2240

sought may, within 10 days after the date of mailing or other

2241

service of the proposed administrative support order, contact a

2242

department representative, at the address or telephone number

2243

specified in the notice, to informally discuss the proposed

2244

administrative support order and, if informal discussions are

2245

requested timely, the time for requesting a hearing will be

2246

extended until 10 days after the department notifies the

2247

noncustodial parent that the informal discussions have been

2248

concluded; and

2249

     6.  If an administrative support order that establishes a

2250

noncustodial parent's support obligation is rendered, whether

2251

after a hearing or without a hearing, the department may enforce

2252

the administrative support order by any lawful means.

2253

     (6) HEARING.--If the noncustodial parent from whom support

2254

is being sought files a timely request for hearing, the

2255

department shall refer the hearing request to the Division of

2256

Administrative Hearings. Unless otherwise provided by this

2257

section, chapter 120 and the Uniform Rules of Procedure shall

2258

govern the conduct of the proceedings. The administrative law

2259

judge shall consider all available and admissible information and

2260

any presumptions that apply as provided by paragraph (5)(a).

2261

     (7)  ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT ORDER.--

2262

     (b) If the noncustodial parent from whom support is being

2263

sought does not file a timely request for a hearing, the

2264

noncustodial parent will be deemed to have waived the right to

2265

request a hearing.

2266

     (c) If the noncustodial parent from whom support is being

2267

sought waives the right to a hearing, or consents in writing to

2268

the entry of an order without a hearing, the department may

2269

render an administrative support order.

2270

     (d)  The department shall send by regular mail a copy of the

2271

administrative support order, or the final order denying an

2272

administrative support order, to both parents, or a parent and

2273

caretaker relative if applicable. The noncustodial parent from

2274

whom support is being sought shall be notified of the right to

2275

seek judicial review of the administrative support order in

2276

accordance with s. 120.68.

2277

     (e)  An administrative support order must comply with s.

2278

61.30. The department shall develop a standard form or forms for

2279

administrative support orders. An administrative support order

2280

must provide and state findings, if applicable, concerning:

2281

     1.  The full name and date of birth of the child or

2282

children;

2283

     2. The name of the noncustodial parent from whom support is

2284

being sought and the other custodial parent or caretaker

2285

relative;

2286

     3. The noncustodial parent's duty and ability to provide

2287

support;

2288

     4. The amount of the noncustodial parent's monthly support

2289

obligation;

2290

     5.  Any obligation to pay retroactive support;

2291

     6. The noncustodial parent's obligation to provide for the

2292

health care needs of each child, whether through insurance

2293

coverage, contribution towards the cost of insurance coverage,

2294

payment or reimbursement of health care expenses for the child,

2295

or any combination thereof;

2296

     7.  The beginning date of any required monthly payments and

2297

health care coverage;

2298

     8.  That all support payments ordered must be paid to the

2299

Florida State Disbursement Unit as provided by s. 61.1824;

2300

     9.  That the parents, or caretaker relative if applicable,

2301

must file with the department when the administrative support

2302

order is rendered, if they have not already done so, and update

2303

as appropriate the information required pursuant to paragraph

2304

(13)(b);

2305

     10.  That both parents, or parent and caretaker relative if

2306

applicable, are required to promptly notify the department of any

2307

change in their mailing addresses pursuant to paragraph (13)(c);

2308

and

2309

     11. That if the noncustodial parent ordered to pay support

2310

receives unemployment compensation benefits, the payor shall

2311

withhold, and transmit to the department, 40 percent of the

2312

benefits for payment of support, not to exceed the amount owed.

2313

2314

An income deduction order as provided by s. 61.1301 must be

2315

incorporated into the administrative support order or, if not

2316

incorporated into the administrative support order, the

2317

department or the Division of Administrative Hearings shall

2318

render a separate income deduction order.

2319

     (10)  JUDICIAL REVIEW, ENFORCEMENT, OR COURT ORDER

2320

SUPERSEDING ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT ORDER.--

2321

     (a) The obligor A noncustodial parent has the right to seek

2322

judicial review of an administrative support order or a final

2323

order denying an administrative support order in accordance with

2324

s. 120.68. The department has the right to seek judicial review,

2325

in accordance with s. 120.68, of an administrative support order

2326

or a final order denying an administrative support order entered

2327

by an administrative law judge of the Division of Administrative

2328

Hearings.

2329

     (b)  An administrative support order rendered under this

2330

section has the same force and effect as a court order and may be

2331

enforced by any circuit court in the same manner as a support

2332

order issued by the court, except for contempt. If the circuit

2333

court issues its own order enforcing the administrative support

2334

order, the circuit court may enforce its own order by contempt.

2335

The presumption of ability to pay and purge contempt established

2336

in s. 61.14(5)(a) applies to an administrative support order that

2337

includes a finding of present ability to pay. Enforcement by the

2338

court, without any change by the court in the support obligations

2339

established in the administrative support order, does not

2340

supersede the administrative support order or affect the

2341

department's authority to modify the administrative support order

2342

as provided by subsection (12). An order by the court that

2343

requires a the noncustodial parent to make periodic payments on

2344

arrearages does not constitute a change in the support

2345

obligations established in the administrative support order and

2346

does not supersede the administrative order.

2347

     (13)  REQUIRED DISCLOSURES; PRESUMPTIONS; NOTICE SENT TO

2348

ADDRESS OF RECORD.--In all proceedings pursuant to this section:

2349

     (a) Each The noncustodial parent and custodial parent must

2350

execute and furnish to the department, no later than 20 days

2351

after receipt of the notice of proceeding to establish

2352

administrative support order, a financial affidavit in the form

2353

prescribed by the department. An updated financial affidavit must

2354

be executed and furnished to the department at the inception of

2355

each proceeding to modify an administrative support order.

2356

Caretaker relatives are not required to furnish financial

2357

affidavits.

2358

     (b) Each The noncustodial parent, custodial parent, and

2359

caretaker relative if applicable, shall disclose to the

2360

department, no later than 20 days after receipt of the notice of

2361

proceeding to establish administrative support order, and update

2362

as appropriate, information regarding his or her their identity

2363

and location, including names he or she is they are known by;

2364

social security number numbers; residential and mailing

2365

addresses; telephone numbers; driver's license numbers; and

2366

names, addresses, and telephone numbers of employers. Pursuant to

2367

the federal Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity

2368

Reconciliation Act of 1996, each person must provide his or her

2369

social security number in accordance with this section.

2370

Disclosure of social security numbers obtained through this

2371

requirement shall be limited to the purpose of administration of

2372

the Title IV-D program for child support enforcement.

2373

     (c) Each The noncustodial parent, custodial parent, and

2374

caretaker relative, if applicable, have a continuing obligation

2375

to promptly inform the department in writing of any change in his

2376

or her their mailing address addresses to ensure receipt of all

2377

subsequent pleadings, notices, payments, statements, and orders,

2378

and receipt is presumed if sent by regular mail to the most

2379

recent address furnished by the person.

2380

     (17) EVALUATION.--The Office of Program Policy Analysis and

2381

Government Accountability shall conduct an evaluation of the

2382

statewide implementation of the administrative process for

2383

establishing child support provided for in this section. This

2384

evaluation shall examine whether these processes have been

2385

effectively implemented and administered statewide and are

2386

operating to the benefit of the children, including, but not

2387

limited to the ability of Title IV-D parents to easily access the

2388

court system for necessary court action. The Office of Program

2389

Policy Analysis and Government Accountability shall submit an

2390

evaluation report on the statewide implementation of the

2391

administrative processes for establishing child support by June

2392

30, 2006.

2393

     Section 22.  Subsections (1), (4), and (11) of section

2394

409.2564, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

2395

     409.2564  Actions for support.--

2396

     (1)  In each case in which regular support payments are not

2397

being made as provided herein, the department shall institute,

2398

within 30 days after determination of the obligor's reasonable

2399

ability to pay, action as is necessary to secure the obligor's

2400

payment of current support and any arrearage which may have

2401

accrued under an existing order of support. The department shall

2402

notify the program attorney in the judicial circuit in which the

2403

recipient resides setting forth the facts in the case, including

2404

the obligor's address, if known, and the public assistance case

2405

number. Whenever applicable, the procedures established under the

2406

provisions of chapter 88, Uniform Interstate Family Support Act,

2407

chapter 61, Dissolution of Marriage; Support; Time-sharing

2408

Custody, chapter 39, Proceedings Relating to Children, chapter

2409

984, Children and Families in Need of Services, and chapter 985,

2410

Delinquency; Interstate Compact on Juveniles, may govern actions

2411

instituted under the provisions of this act, except that actions

2412

for support under chapter 39, chapter 984, or chapter 985 brought

2413

pursuant to this act shall not require any additional

2414

investigation or supervision by the department.

2415

     (4)  Whenever the Department of Revenue has undertaken an

2416

action for enforcement of support, the Department of Revenue may

2417

enter into an agreement with the obligor for the entry of a

2418

judgment determining paternity, if applicable, and for periodic

2419

child support payments based on the child support guidelines

2420

schedule in s. 61.30. Prior to entering into this agreement, the

2421

obligor shall be informed that a judgment will be entered based

2422

on the agreement. The clerk of the court shall file the agreement

2423

without the payment of any fees or charges, and the court, upon

2424

entry of the judgment, shall forward a copy of the judgment to

2425

the parties to the action. To encourage out-of-court settlement

2426

and promote support order compliance, if the obligor and the

2427

Department of Revenue agree on entry of a support order and its

2428

terms, the guideline amount owed for retroactive support that is

2429

permanently assigned to the state shall be reduced by 25 percent.

2430

     (11)  The Title IV-D agency shall review child support

2431

orders in IV-D cases at least every 3 years upon request by

2432

either party, or the agency in cases where there is an assignment

2433

of support to the state under s. 414.095(7), and may seek

2434

adjustment of the order if appropriate under the guidelines

2435

schedule established in s. 61.30. Not less than once every 3

2436

years the IV-D agency shall provide notice to the parties subject

2437

to the order informing them of their right to request a review

2438

and, if appropriate, an adjustment of the child support order.

2439

Said notice requirement may be met by including appropriate

2440

language in the initial support order or any subsequent orders.

2441

     Section 23.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section

2442

409.25657, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

2443

     409.25657  Requirements for financial institutions.--

2444

     (2)  The department shall develop procedures to enter into

2445

agreements with financial institutions doing business in the

2446

state, in coordination with such financial institutions and with

2447

the Federal Parent Locator Service in the case of financial

2448

institutions doing business in two or more states, to develop and

2449

operate a data match system, using automated data exchanges to

2450

the maximum extent feasible, in which each financial institution

2451

is required to provide for each calendar quarter the name, record

2452

address, social security number or other taxpayer identification

2453

number, average daily account balance, and other identifying

2454

information for:

2455

     (a) Each noncustodial parent who maintains an account at

2456

such institution and who owes past due support, as identified by

2457

the department by name and social security number or other

2458

taxpayer identification number; or

2459

     Section 24.  Subsections (2) and (5) of section 409.25659,

2460

Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

2461

     409.25659  Insurance claim data exchange.--

2462

     (2)  The department shall develop and operate a data match

2463

system after consultation with one or more insurers, using

2464

automated data exchanges to the maximum extent feasible, in which

2465

an insurer may voluntarily provide the department monthly with

2466

the name, address, and, if known, date of birth and social

2467

security number or other taxpayer identification number for each

2468

noncustodial parent who has a claim with the insurer and who owes

2469

past due support, and the claim number maintained by the insurer

2470

for each claim. An insurer may provide such data by:

2471

     (a)  Authorizing an insurance claim data collection

2472

organization, to which the insurer subscribes and to which the

2473

insurer submits the required claim data on at least a monthly

2474

basis, to:

2475

     1.  Receive or access a data file from the department and

2476

conduct a data match of all noncustodial parents who have a claim

2477

with the insurer and who owe past due support and submit the

2478

required data for each such noncustodial parent to the

2479

department; or

2480

     2.  Submit a data file to the department which contains the

2481

required data for each claim being maintained by the insurer for

2482

the department to conduct a data match;

2483

     (b)  Providing the required data for each claim being

2484

maintained by the insurer directly to the department in an

2485

electronic medium; or

2486

     (c)  Receiving or accessing a data file from the department

2487

and conducting a data match of all noncustodial parents who have

2488

a claim with the insurer and who owe past due support and

2489

submitting the required data for each such noncustodial parent to

2490

the department.

2491

     (5)  The department and insurers may only use the data

2492

obtained pursuant to subsection (2) for the purpose of

2493

identifying noncustodial parents who owe past due support. If the

2494

department does not match such data with a noncustodial parent

2495

who owes past due support, such data shall be destroyed

2496

immediately and shall not be maintained by the department.

2497

     Section 25.  Section 409.2577, Florida Statutes, is amended

2498

to read:

2499

     409.2577  Parent locator service.--The department shall

2500

establish a parent locator service to assist in locating parents

2501

who have deserted their children and other persons liable for

2502

support of dependent children. The department shall use all

2503

sources of information available, including the Federal Parent

2504

Locator Service, and may request and shall receive information

2505

from the records of any person or the state or any of its

2506

political subdivisions or any officer thereof. Any agency as

2507

defined in s. 120.52, any political subdivision, and any other

2508

person shall, upon request, provide the department any

2509

information relating to location, salary, insurance, social

2510

security, income tax, and employment history necessary to locate

2511

parents who owe or potentially owe a duty of support pursuant to

2512

Title IV-D of the Social Security Act. This provision shall

2513

expressly take precedence over any other statutory nondisclosure

2514

provision which limits the ability of an agency to disclose such

2515

information, except that law enforcement information as provided

2516

in s. 119.071(4)(d) is not required to be disclosed, and except

2517

that confidential taxpayer information possessed by the

2518

Department of Revenue shall be disclosed only to the extent

2519

authorized in s. 213.053(16). Nothing in this section requires

2520

the disclosure of information if such disclosure is prohibited by

2521

federal law. Information gathered or used by the parent locator

2522

service is confidential and exempt from the provisions of s.

2523

119.07(1). Additionally, the department is authorized to collect

2524

any additional information directly bearing on the identity and

2525

whereabouts of a person owing or asserted to be owing an

2526

obligation of support for a dependent child. The department

2527

shall, upon request, make information available only to public

2528

officials and agencies of this state; political subdivisions of

2529

this state, including any agency thereof providing child support

2530

enforcement services to non-Title IV-D clients; the custodial

2531

parent owed support, legal guardian, attorney, or agent of the

2532

child; and other states seeking to locate parents who have

2533

deserted their children and other persons liable for support of

2534

dependents, for the sole purpose of establishing, modifying, or

2535

enforcing their liability for support, and shall make such

2536

information available to the Department of Children and Family

2537

Services for the purpose of diligent search activities pursuant

2538

to chapter 39. If the department has reasonable evidence of

2539

domestic violence or child abuse and the disclosure of

2540

information could be harmful to the custodial parent owed support

2541

or the child of such parent, the child support program director

2542

or designee shall notify the Department of Children and Family

2543

Services and the Secretary of the United States Department of

2544

Health and Human Services of this evidence. Such evidence is

2545

sufficient grounds for the department to disapprove an

2546

application for location services.

2547

     Section 26.  Paragraph (e) of subsection (1) of section

2548

409.2579, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

2549

     409.2579  Safeguarding Title IV-D case file information.--

2550

     (1)  Information concerning applicants for or recipients of

2551

Title IV-D child support services is confidential and exempt from

2552

the provisions of s. 119.07(1). The use or disclosure of such

2553

information by the IV-D program is limited to purposes directly

2554

connected with:

2555

     (e)  Mandatory disclosure of identifying and location

2556

information as provided in s. 61.13(7)(8) by the IV-D program

2557

when providing Title IV-D services.

2558

     Section 27.  Subsection (11) of section 409.811, Florida

2559

Statutes, is amended to read:

2560

     409.811  Definitions relating to Florida Kidcare Act.--As

2561

used in ss. 409.810-409.820, the term:

2562

     (11)  "Family" means the group or the individuals whose

2563

income is considered in determining eligibility for the Florida

2564

Kidcare program. The family includes a child with a custodial

2565

parent or caretaker relative who resides in the same house or

2566

living unit or, in the case of a child whose disability of nonage

2567

has been removed under chapter 743, the child. The family may

2568

also include other individuals whose income and resources are

2569

considered in whole or in part in determining eligibility of the

2570

child.

2571

     Section 28.  Subsection (5) of section 414.0252, Florida

2572

Statutes, is amended to read:

2573

     414.0252  Definitions.--As used in ss. 414.025-414.55, the

2574

term:

2575

     (5)  "Family" means the assistance group or the individuals

2576

whose needs, resources, and income are considered when

2577

determining eligibility for temporary assistance. The family for

2578

purposes of temporary assistance includes the minor child, a

2579

custodial parent, or caretaker relative who resides in the same

2580

house or living unit. The family may also include individuals

2581

whose income and resources are considered in whole or in part in

2582

determining eligibility for temporary assistance but whose needs,

2583

due to federal or state restrictions, are not considered. These

2584

individuals include, but are not limited to, ineligible

2585

noncitizens or sanctioned individuals.

2586

     Section 29.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (4) and subsection

2587

(5) of section 414.065, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

2588

     414.065  Noncompliance with work requirements.--

2589

     (4)  EXCEPTIONS TO NONCOMPLIANCE PENALTIES.--Unless

2590

otherwise provided, the situations listed in this subsection

2591

shall constitute exceptions to the penalties for noncompliance

2592

with participation requirements, except that these situations do

2593

not constitute exceptions to the applicable time limit for

2594

receipt of temporary cash assistance:

2595

     (a)  Noncompliance related to child care.--Temporary cash

2596

assistance may not be terminated for refusal to participate in

2597

work activities if the individual is a single custodial parent

2598

caring for a child who has not attained 6 years of age, and the

2599

adult proves to the regional workforce board an inability to

2600

obtain needed child care for one or more of the following

2601

reasons, as defined in the Child Care and Development Fund State

2602

Plan required by 45 C.F.R. part 98:

2603

     1.  Unavailability of appropriate child care within a

2604

reasonable distance from the individual's home or worksite.

2605

     2.  Unavailability or unsuitability of informal child care

2606

by a relative or under other arrangements.

2607

     3.  Unavailability of appropriate and affordable formal

2608

child care arrangements.

2609

     (5) WORK ACTIVITY REQUIREMENTS FOR NONCUSTODIAL PARENTS.--

2610

     (a) The court may order a noncustodial parent who is

2611

delinquent in support payments, pursuant to the terms of a

2612

support order, to participate in work activities under this

2613

chapter, or as provided in s. 61.14(5)(b), so that the parent may

2614

obtain employment and fulfill the obligation to provide support

2615

payments. A noncustodial parent who fails to satisfactorily

2616

engage in court-ordered work activities may be held in contempt.

2617

     (b) The court may order a noncustodial parent to

2618

participate in work activities under this chapter if the child of

2619

the noncustodial parent has been placed with a relative, in an

2620

emergency shelter, in foster care, or in other substitute care,

2621

and:

2622

     1. The case plan requires the noncustodial parent to

2623

participate in work activities; or

2624

     2. The noncustodial parent would be eligible to participate

2625

in work activities and subject to work activity requirements if

2626

the child were living with the parent.

2627

2628

If a noncustodial parent fails to comply with the case plan, the

2629

noncustodial parent may be removed from program participation.

2630

     Section 30.  Paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of section

2631

414.085, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

2632

     414.085  Income eligibility standards.--

2633

     (1)  For purposes of program simplification and effective

2634

program management, certain income definitions, as outlined in

2635

the food stamp regulations at 7 C.F.R. s. 273.9, shall be applied

2636

to the temporary cash assistance program as determined by the

2637

department to be consistent with federal law regarding temporary

2638

cash assistance and Medicaid for needy families, except as to the

2639

following:

2640

     (c) The first $50 of child support paid to a custodial

2641

parent receiving temporary cash assistance may not be disregarded

2642

in calculating the amount of temporary cash assistance for the

2643

family, unless such exclusion is required by federal law.

2644

     Section 31.  Subsection (2) and paragraph (a) of subsection

2645

(6) of section 414.095, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

2646

     414.095  Determining eligibility for temporary cash

2647

assistance.--

2648

     (2)  ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.--

2649

     (a)  To be eligible for services or temporary cash

2650

assistance and Medicaid:

2651

     1.  An applicant must be a United States citizen, or a

2652

qualified noncitizen, as defined in this section.

2653

     2.  An applicant must be a legal resident of the state.

2654

     3.  Each member of a family must provide to the department

2655

the member's social security number or shall provide proof of

2656

application for a social security number. An individual who fails

2657

to provide a social security number, or proof of application for

2658

a social security number, is not eligible to participate in the

2659

program.

2660

     4. A minor child must reside with a custodial parent or

2661

parents, with a relative caretaker who is within the specified

2662

degree of blood relationship as defined by 45 C.F.R. part 233,

2663

or, if the minor is a teen parent with a child, in a setting

2664

approved by the department as provided in subsection (14).

2665

     5.  Each family must have a minor child and meet the income

2666

and resource requirements of the program. All minor children who

2667

live in the family, as well as the parents of the minor children,

2668

shall be included in the eligibility determination unless

2669

specifically excluded.

2670

     (b)  The following members of a family are eligible to

2671

participate in the program if all eligibility requirements are

2672

met:

2673

     1. A minor child who resides with a custodial parent or

2674

other adult caretaker relative.

2675

     2.  The parent of a minor child with whom the child resides.

2676

     3.  The caretaker relative with whom the minor child resides

2677

who chooses to have her or his needs and income included in the

2678

family.

2679

     4.  Unwed minor children and their children if the unwed

2680

minor child lives at home or in an adult-supervised setting and

2681

if temporary cash assistance is paid to an alternative payee.

2682

     5.  A pregnant woman.

2683

     (6)  CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT.--As a condition of

2684

eligibility for public assistance, the family must cooperate with

2685

the state agency responsible for administering the child support

2686

enforcement program in establishing the paternity of the child,

2687

if the child is born out of wedlock, and in obtaining support for

2688

the child or for the parent or caretaker relative and the child.

2689

Cooperation is defined as:

2690

     (a) Assisting in identifying and locating a noncustodial

2691

parent who does not live in the same home as the child and

2692

providing complete and accurate information on that parent;

2693

2694

This subsection does not apply if the state agency that

2695

administers the child support enforcement program determines that

2696

the parent or caretaker relative has good cause for failing to

2697

cooperate.

2698

     Section 32.  Subsection (1) of section 414.295, Florida

2699

Statutes, is amended to read:

2700

     414.295  Temporary cash assistance programs; public records

2701

exemption.--

2702

     (1)  Personal identifying information of a temporary cash

2703

assistance program participant, a participant's family, or a

2704

participant's family or household member, except for information

2705

identifying a noncustodial parent who does not live in the same

2706

home as the child, held by the department, the Agency for

2707

Workforce Innovation, Workforce Florida, Inc., the Department of

2708

Health, the Department of Revenue, the Department of Education,

2709

or a regional workforce board or local committee created pursuant

2710

to s. 445.007 is confidential and exempt from s. 119.07(1) and s.

2711

24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution. Such confidential and

2712

exempt information may be released for purposes directly

2713

connected with:

2714

     (a)  The administration of the temporary assistance for

2715

needy families plan under Title IV-A of the Social Security Act,

2716

as amended, by the department, the Agency for Workforce

2717

Innovation, Workforce Florida, Inc., the Department of Military

2718

Affairs, the Department of Health, the Department of Revenue, the

2719

Department of Education, a regional workforce board or local

2720

committee created pursuant to s. 445.007, or a school district.

2721

     (b)  The administration of the state's plan or program

2722

approved under Title IV-B, Title IV-D, or Title IV-E of the

2723

Social Security Act, as amended, or under Title I, Title X, Title

2724

XIV, Title XVI, Title XIX, Title XX, or Title XXI of the Social

2725

Security Act, as amended.

2726

     (c)  Any investigation, prosecution, or any criminal, civil,

2727

or administrative proceeding conducted in connection with the

2728

administration of any of the plans or programs specified in

2729

paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) by a federal, state, or local

2730

governmental entity, upon request by that entity, when such

2731

request is made pursuant to the proper exercise of that entity's

2732

duties and responsibilities.

2733

     (d)  The administration of any other state, federal, or

2734

federally assisted program that provides assistance or services

2735

on the basis of need, in cash or in kind, directly to a

2736

participant.

2737

     (e)  Any audit or similar activity, such as a review of

2738

expenditure reports or financial review, conducted in connection

2739

with the administration of any of the plans or programs specified

2740

in paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) by a governmental entity

2741

authorized by law to conduct such audit or activity.

2742

     (f)  The administration of the unemployment compensation

2743

program.

2744

     (g)  The reporting to the appropriate agency or official of

2745

information about known or suspected instances of physical or

2746

mental injury, sexual abuse or exploitation, or negligent

2747

treatment or maltreatment of a child or elderly person receiving

2748

assistance, if circumstances indicate that the health or welfare

2749

of the child or elderly person is threatened.

2750

     (h)  The administration of services to elderly persons under

2751

ss. 430.601-430.606.

2752

     Section 33.  Paragraph (c) of subsection (3) of section

2753

445.024, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

2754

     445.024  Work requirements.--

2755

     (3)  EXEMPTION FROM WORK ACTIVITY REQUIREMENTS.--The

2756

following individuals are exempt from work activity requirements:

2757

     (c) A single custodial parent of a child under 3 months of

2758

age, except that the parent may be required to attend parenting

2759

classes or other activities to better prepare for the

2760

responsibilities of raising a child.

2761

     Section 34.  Paragraphs (b), (c), and (d) of subsection (3)

2762

of section 741.0306, Florida Statutes, are amended, and

2763

subsection (5) is added to that section, to read:

2764

     741.0306  Creation of a family law handbook.--

2765

     (3)  The information contained in the handbook or other

2766

electronic media presentation may be reviewed and updated

2767

annually, and may include, but need not be limited to:

2768

     (b) Shared parental responsibility for children and; the

2769

determination of a parenting plan, including a time-sharing

2770

schedule primary residence or custody and secondary residence or

2771

routine visitation, holiday, summer, and vacation visitation

2772

arrangements, telephone access, and the process for notice for

2773

changes.

2774

     (c) Permanent relocation restrictions on parents with

2775

primary residential responsibility.

2776

     (d)  Child support for minor children; both parents are

2777

obligated for support in accordance with applicable child support

2778

guidelines schedule.

2779

     (5) The existing family law handbook shall be reviewed and

2780

a report provided to the Legislature by October 1, 2008, or as

2781

soon thereafter as practicable, with recommendations for updating

2782

the handbook.

2783

     Section 35.  Subsection (3), paragraph (a) of subsection

2784

(5), and paragraph (a) of subsection (6) of section 741.30,

2785

Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

2786

     741.30  Domestic violence; injunction; powers and duties of

2787

court and clerk; petition; notice and hearing; temporary

2788

injunction; issuance of injunction; statewide verification

2789

system; enforcement.--

2790

     (3)(a)  The sworn petition shall allege the existence of

2791

such domestic violence and shall include the specific facts and

2792

circumstances upon the basis of which relief is sought.

2793

2794

     (b)  The sworn petition shall be in substantially the

2795

following form:

2796

2797

PETITION FOR

2798

INJUNCTION FOR PROTECTION

2799

AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

2800

2801

Before me, the undersigned authority, personally appeared

2802

Petitioner   (Name)  , who has been sworn and says that the

2803

following statements are true:

2804

     (a)  Petitioner resides at:   (address)  

2805

     (Petitioner may furnish address to the court in a separate

2806

confidential filing if, for safety reasons, the petitioner

2807

requires the location of the current residence to be

2808

confidential.)

2809

     (b)  Respondent resides at:   (last known address)  

2810

     (c)  Respondent's last known place of employment:   (name of

2811

business and address)  

2812

     (d)  Physical description of respondent: _____

2813

     Race_____

2814

     Sex_____

2815

     Date of birth_____

2816

     Height_____

2817

     Weight_____

2818

     Eye color_____

2819

     Hair color_____

2820

     Distinguishing marks or scars_____

2821

     (e)  Aliases of respondent: _____

2822

     (f)  Respondent is the spouse or former spouse of the

2823

petitioner or is any other person related by blood or marriage to

2824

the petitioner or is any other person who is or was residing

2825

within a single dwelling unit with the petitioner, as if a

2826

family, or is a person with whom the petitioner has a child in

2827

common, regardless of whether the petitioner and respondent are

2828

or were married or residing together, as if a family.

2829

     (g)  The following describes any other cause of action

2830

currently pending between the petitioner and respondent:

2831

2832

     The petitioner should also describe any previous or pending

2833

attempts by the petitioner to obtain an injunction for protection

2834

against domestic violence in this or any other circuit, and the

2835

results of that attempt

2836

2837

Case numbers should be included if available.

2838

     (h)  Petitioner is either a victim of domestic violence or

2839

has reasonable cause to believe he or she is in imminent danger

2840

of becoming a victim of domestic violence because respondent has

2841

_____(mark all sections that apply and describe in the spaces

2842

below the incidents of violence or threats of violence,

2843

specifying when and where they occurred, including, but not

2844

limited to, locations such as a home, school, place of

2845

employment, or visitation exchange)_____:

2846

     _____committed or threatened to commit domestic violence

2847

defined in s. 741.28, Florida Statutes, as any assault,

2848

aggravated assault, battery, aggravated battery, sexual assault,

2849

sexual battery, stalking, aggravated stalking, kidnapping, false

2850

imprisonment, or any criminal offense resulting in physical

2851

injury or death of one family or household member by another.

2852

With the exception of persons who are parents of a child in

2853

common, the family or household members must be currently

2854

residing or have in the past resided together in the same single

2855

dwelling unit.

2856

     _____previously threatened, harassed, stalked, or physically

2857

abused the petitioner.

2858

     _____attempted to harm the petitioner or family members or

2859

individuals closely associated with the petitioner.

2860

     _____threatened to conceal, kidnap, or harm the petitioner's

2861

child or children.

2862

     _____intentionally injured or killed a family pet.

2863

     _____used, or has threatened to use, against the petitioner

2864

any weapons such as guns or knives.

2865

     _____physically restrained the petitioner from leaving the

2866

home or calling law enforcement.

2867

     _____a criminal history involving violence or the threat of

2868

violence (if known).

2869

     _____another order of protection issued against him or her

2870

previously or from another jurisdiction (if known).

2871

     _____destroyed personal property, including, but not limited

2872

to, telephones or other communication equipment, clothing, or

2873

other items belonging to the petitioner.

2874

     _____engaged in any other behavior or conduct that leads the

2875

petitioner to have reasonable cause to believe he or she is in

2876

imminent danger of becoming a victim of domestic violence.

2877

     (i)  Petitioner alleges the following additional specific

2878

facts: (mark appropriate sections)

2879

     _____A minor child or minor children reside with the

2880

petitioner is the custodian of a minor child or children whose

2881

names and ages are as follows:

2882

2883

     _____Petitioner needs the exclusive use and possession of

2884

the dwelling that the parties share.

2885

     _____Petitioner is unable to obtain safe alternative housing

2886

because:

2887

     _____Petitioner genuinely fears that respondent imminently

2888

will abuse, remove, or hide the minor child or children from

2889

petitioner because:

2890

2891

     (j)  Petitioner genuinely fears imminent domestic violence

2892

by respondent.

2893

     (k)  Petitioner seeks an injunction: (mark appropriate

2894

section or sections)

2895

     _____Immediately restraining the respondent from committing

2896

any acts of domestic violence.

2897

     _____Restraining the respondent from committing any acts of

2898

domestic violence.

2899

     _____Awarding to the petitioner the temporary exclusive use

2900

and possession of the dwelling that the parties share or

2901

excluding the respondent from the residence of the petitioner.

2902

     _____Providing a temporary parenting plan, including a

2903

temporary time-sharing schedule Awarding temporary custody of, or

2904

temporary visitation rights with regard to, the minor child or

2905

children of the parties which might involve, or prohibiting or

2906

limiting time-sharing or requiring that it be visitation to that

2907

which is supervised by a third party.

2908

     _____Establishing temporary support for the minor child or

2909

children or the petitioner.

2910

     _____Directing the respondent to participate in a batterers'

2911

intervention program or other treatment pursuant to s. 39.901,

2912

Florida Statutes.

2913

     _____Providing any terms the court deems necessary for the

2914

protection of a victim of domestic violence, or any minor

2915

children of the victim, including any injunctions or directives

2916

to law enforcement agencies.

2917

     (c)  Every petition for an injunction against domestic

2918

violence shall contain, directly above the signature line, a

2919

statement in all capital letters and bold type not smaller than

2920

the surrounding text, as follows:

2921

2922

2923

I HAVE READ EVERY STATEMENT MADE IN THIS PETITION AND EACH

2924

STATEMENT IS TRUE AND CORRECT. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE STATEMENTS

2925

MADE IN THIS PETITION ARE BEING MADE UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY,

2926

PUNISHABLE AS PROVIDED IN SECTION 837.02, FLORIDA STATUTES.

2927

  (initials)

2928

2929

     (d) If the sworn petition seeks to determine a parenting

2930

plan and time-sharing schedule issues of custody or visitation

2931

with regard to the minor child or children of the parties, the

2932

sworn petition shall be accompanied by or shall incorporate the

2933

allegations required by s. 61.522 of the Uniform Child Custody

2934

Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act.

2935

     (5)(a)  When it appears to the court that an immediate and

2936

present danger of domestic violence exists, the court may grant a

2937

temporary injunction ex parte, pending a full hearing, and may

2938

grant such relief as the court deems proper, including an

2939

injunction:

2940

     1.  Restraining the respondent from committing any acts of

2941

domestic violence.

2942

     2.  Awarding to the petitioner the temporary exclusive use

2943

and possession of the dwelling that the parties share or

2944

excluding the respondent from the residence of the petitioner.

2945

     3. On the same basis as provided in s. 61.13, providing the

2946

petitioner with 100 percent of the time-sharing that shall remain

2947

granting to the petitioner temporary custody of a minor child. An

2948

order of temporary custody remains in effect until the order

2949

expires or an order is entered by a court of competent

2950

jurisdiction in a pending or subsequent civil action or

2951

proceeding affecting the placement of, access to, parental time

2952

with, adoption of, or parental rights and responsibilities for

2953

the minor child.

2954

     (6)(a)  Upon notice and hearing, when it appears to the

2955

court that the petitioner is either the victim of domestic

2956

violence as defined by s. 741.28 or has reasonable cause to

2957

believe he or she is in imminent danger of becoming a victim of

2958

domestic violence, the court may grant such relief as the court

2959

deems proper, including an injunction:

2960

     1.  Restraining the respondent from committing any acts of

2961

domestic violence.

2962

     2.  Awarding to the petitioner the exclusive use and

2963

possession of the dwelling that the parties share or excluding

2964

the respondent from the residence of the petitioner.

2965

     3. On the same basis as provided in chapter 61, providing

2966

the petitioner with 100 percent of the time-sharing in a

2967

temporary parenting plan that shall remain awarding temporary

2968

custody of, or temporary visitation rights with regard to, a

2969

minor child or children of the parties. An order of temporary

2970

custody or visitation remains in effect until the order expires

2971

or an order is entered by a court of competent jurisdiction in a

2972

pending or subsequent civil action or proceeding affecting the

2973

placement of, access to, parental time with, adoption of, or

2974

parental rights and responsibilities for the minor child.

2975

     4.  On the same basis as provided in chapter 61,

2976

establishing temporary support for a minor child or children or

2977

the petitioner. An order of temporary support remains in effect

2978

until the order expires or an order is entered by a court of

2979

competent jurisdiction in a pending or subsequent civil action or

2980

proceeding affecting child support.

2981

     5.  Ordering the respondent to participate in treatment,

2982

intervention, or counseling services to be paid for by the

2983

respondent. When the court orders the respondent to participate

2984

in a batterers' intervention program, the court, or any entity

2985

designated by the court, must provide the respondent with a list

2986

of all certified batterers' intervention programs and all

2987

programs which have submitted an application to the Department of

2988

Children and Family Services to become certified under s. 741.32,

2989

from which the respondent must choose a program in which to

2990

participate. If there are no certified batterers' intervention

2991

programs in the circuit, the court shall provide a list of

2992

acceptable programs from which the respondent must choose a

2993

program in which to participate.

2994

     6.  Referring a petitioner to a certified domestic violence

2995

center. The court must provide the petitioner with a list of

2996

certified domestic violence centers in the circuit which the

2997

petitioner may contact.

2998

     7.  Ordering such other relief as the court deems necessary

2999

for the protection of a victim of domestic violence, including

3000

injunctions or directives to law enforcement agencies, as

3001

provided in this section.

3002

     Section 36.  Subsections (1) and (2) of section 742.031,

3003

Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

3004

     742.031  Hearings; court orders for support, hospital

3005

expenses, and attorney's fee.--

3006

     (1)  Hearings for the purpose of establishing or refuting

3007

the allegations of the complaint and answer shall be held in the

3008

chambers and may be restricted to persons, in addition to the

3009

parties involved and their counsel, as the judge in his or her

3010

discretion may direct. The court shall determine the issues of

3011

paternity of the child and the ability of the parents to support

3012

the child. Each party's social security number shall be recorded

3013

in the file containing the adjudication of paternity. If the

3014

court finds that the alleged father is the father of the child,

3015

it shall so order. If appropriate, the court shall order the

3016

father to pay the complainant, her guardian, or any other person

3017

assuming responsibility for the child moneys sufficient to pay

3018

reasonable attorney's fees, hospital or medical expenses, cost of

3019

confinement, and any other expenses incident to the birth of the

3020

child and to pay all costs of the proceeding. Bills for

3021

pregnancy, childbirth, and scientific testing are admissible as

3022

evidence without requiring third-party foundation testimony, and

3023

shall constitute prima facie evidence of amounts incurred for

3024

such services or for testing on behalf of the child. The court

3025

shall order either or both parents owing a duty of support to the

3026

child to pay support pursuant to s. 61.30. The court shall issue,

3027

upon motion by a party, a temporary order requiring the provision

3028

of child support pursuant to s. 61.30 pending an administrative

3029

or judicial determination of parentage, if there is clear and

3030

convincing evidence of paternity on the basis of genetic tests or

3031

other evidence. The court may also make a determination of an

3032

appropriate parenting plan, including a time-sharing schedule, as

3033

to the parental responsibility and residential care and custody

3034

of the minor children in accordance with chapter 61.

3035

     (2) If a judgment of paternity contains only a child

3036

support award with no parenting plan or time-sharing schedule,

3037

the obligee parent shall receive all of the time-sharing and sole

3038

parental responsibility no explicit award of custody, the

3039

establishment of a support obligation or of visitation rights in

3040

one parent shall be considered a judgment granting primary

3041

residential care and custody to the other parent without

3042

prejudice to the obligor parent. If a paternity judgment contains

3043

no such provisions, custody shall be presumed to be with the

3044

mother shall be presumed to have all of the time-sharing and sole

3045

parental responsibility.

3046

     Section 37.  Subsection (3) of section 753.01, Florida

3047

Statutes, is amended to read:

3048

     753.01  Definitions.--As used in this chapter, the term:

3049

     (3)  "Exchange monitoring" means supervision of movement of

3050

a child from one parent the custodial to the other noncustodial

3051

parent at the start of the visit and back to the first custodial

3052

parent at the end of the visit.

3053

     Section 38.  Subsection (1) of section 827.06, Florida

3054

Statutes, is amended to read:

3055

     827.06  Nonsupport of dependents.--

3056

     (1) The Legislature finds that most noncustodial parents

3057

want to support their children and remain connected to their

3058

families. The Legislature also finds that while many noncustodial

3059

parents lack the financial resources and other skills necessary

3060

to provide that support, some parents willfully fail to provide

3061

support to their children even when they are aware of the

3062

obligation and have the ability to do so. The Legislature further

3063

finds that existing statutory provisions for civil enforcement of

3064

support have not proven sufficiently effective or efficient in

3065

gaining adequate support for all children. Recognizing that it is

3066

the public policy of this state that children shall be maintained

3067

primarily from the resources of their parents, thereby relieving,

3068

at least in part, the burden presently borne by the general

3069

citizenry through public assistance programs, it is the intent of

3070

the Legislature that the criminal penalties provided for in this

3071

section are to be pursued in all appropriate cases where civil

3072

enforcement has not resulted in payment.

3073

     Section 39.  For the purpose of incorporating the amendment

3074

made by this act to section 741.30, Florida Statutes, in a

3075

reference thereto, paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of section

3076

61.1825, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:

3077

     61.1825  State Case Registry.--

3078

     (3)(a)  For the purpose of this section, a family violence

3079

indicator must be placed on a record when:

3080

     1.  A party executes a sworn statement requesting that a

3081

family violence indicator be placed on that party's record which

3082

states that the party has reason to believe that release of

3083

information to the Federal Case Registry may result in physical

3084

or emotional harm to the party or the child; or

3085

     2.  A temporary or final injunction for protection against

3086

domestic violence has been granted pursuant to s. 741.30(6), an

3087

injunction for protection against domestic violence has been

3088

issued by a court of a foreign state pursuant to s. 741.315, or a

3089

temporary or final injunction for protection against repeat

3090

violence has been granted pursuant to s. 784.046; or

3091

     3.  The department has received information on a Title IV-D

3092

case from the Domestic Violence and Repeat Violence Injunction

3093

Statewide Verification System, established pursuant to s.

3094

784.046(8)(b), that a court has granted a party a domestic

3095

violence or repeat violence injunction.

3096

     Section 40.  This act shall take effect October 1, 2008.

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