Florida Senate - 2009 SB 2166
By Senator Hill
1-00722A-09 20092166__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to spousal and child support; amending
3 s. 61.13, F.S.; providing requirements for child
4 support and income deduction orders relating to
5 termination of child support; amending s. 61.14, F.S.;
6 specifying how payments on alimony or spousal support
7 judgments shall be applied; providing for enforcement
8 of interest payments on child support and alimony or
9 spousal support judgments; providing that interest not
10 accrue on postjudgment interest; amending s. 61.30,
11 F.S.; specifying a definition relating to payment of
12 child support varying from the guideline amount
13 whenever any of the children are required by court
14 order to spend a substantial amount of time with
15 either parent; requiring specified findings in order
16 for a court to impute income beyond minimum wage;
17 prohibiting use of certain factors in imputing income
18 beyond minimum wage unless a court makes specified
19 findings; revising provisions relating to income tax
20 calculations used in determining net income; deleting
21 certain net income amounts from the child support
22 guidelines schedule; providing that certain
23 percentages used for combined monthly net income
24 greater than the amount set out in the guidelines
25 schedule shall not be used to determine child support
26 beyond the amount necessary to satisfy the reasonable
27 needs of the child or children; eliminating a
28 reduction in the child care cost added to the basic
29 support obligation; providing for determination of the
30 total minimum child support need; providing for
31 payment of a parent's share of the minimum total child
32 support need; deleting provisions relating to
33 adjustment of a minimum child support award relating
34 to the Internal Revenue Service dependency exemption;
35 providing for adjustment of a party's minimum child
36 support award when application of the child support
37 guidelines leaves the party with a net income lower
38 than the federal poverty guidelines; allowing a court
39 to order a party to execute a waiver of the Internal
40 Revenue Service dependency exemption for a child for
41 good cause shown; amending s. 409.2563, F.S.; revising
42 provisions relating to a presumption of minimum wage
43 earning capacity for purposes of administrative
44 support orders; amending s. 742.08, F.S.; providing
45 for enforcement of interest payments on support
46 judgments; providing that interest shall not accrue on
47 postjudgment interest; providing an effective date.
48
49 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
50
51 Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section
52 61.13, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
53 61.13 Support of children; parenting and time-sharing;
54 powers of court.—
55 (1)(a) In a proceeding under this chapter, the court may at
56 any time order either or both parents who owe a duty of support
57 to a child to pay support to the other parent or, in the case of
58 both parents, to the person with custody in accordance with the
59 child support guidelines schedule in s. 61.30.
60 1. All child support orders and income deduction orders
61 entered on or after October 1, 2009, shall provide for the
62 following:
63 a. Termination of child support upon a child's 18th
64 birthday, unless the court finds or has previously found that s.
65 743.07(2) applies or unless otherwise agreed to by the parties.
66 b. A schedule, based upon the record existing at the time
67 of the order, stating the amount of the monthly child support
68 obligation for all the minor children at the time of the order
69 and the amount of child support that will be owed for the
70 remaining children for whom child support will continue when any
71 child is no longer entitled to receive child support under this
72 subparagraph.
73 c. The month and year that the reduction or termination of
74 child support becomes effective.
75 2. Notwithstanding subparagraph 1., the court initially
76 entering an order requiring one or both parents to make child
77 support payments has continuing jurisdiction after the entry of
78 the initial order to modify the amount and terms and conditions
79 of the child support payments when the modification is found
80 necessary by the court in the best interests of the child, when
81 the child reaches majority, when there is a substantial change
82 in the circumstances of the parties, when s. 743.07(2) applies,
83 or when a child is emancipated, marries, joins the armed
84 services, or dies. The court initially entering a child support
85 order has continuing jurisdiction to require the obligee to
86 report to the court on terms prescribed by the court regarding
87 the disposition of the child support payments.
88 Section 2. Paragraph (d) of subsection (6) of section
89 61.14, Florida Statutes, is amended, and subsection (12) is
90 added to that section, to read:
91 61.14 Enforcement and modification of support, maintenance,
92 or alimony agreements or orders.—
93 (6)
94 (d) The court shall hear the obligor's motion to contest
95 the impending judgment within 15 days after the date of filing
96 of the motion. Upon the court's denial of the obligor's motion,
97 the amount of the delinquency and all other amounts that become
98 due, together with costs and a service charge of up to $25,
99 become a final judgment by operation of law against the obligor.
100 The depository shall charge interest at the rate established in
101 s. 55.03 on all judgments for support. Payments on judgments
102 shall be applied first to the current child support due, then to
103 any delinquent principal, and then to interest on the support
104 judgment. Payments on alimony or spousal support judgments shall
105 be applied first to the current alimony or spousal support due,
106 then to any delinquent principal, and then to interest on the
107 alimony or spousal support judgment.
108 (12) Interest on child support and alimony or spousal
109 support judgments shall be enforceable through all of the
110 methods available to enforce the underlying support order,
111 including contempt. Interest shall not accrue on postjudgment
112 interest.
113 Section 3. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1), paragraph (b)
114 of subsection (2), paragraph (a) of subsection (3), and
115 subsections (6), (7), (10), and (11) of section 61.30, Florida
116 Statutes, are amended, and subsection (18) is added to that
117 section, to read:
118 61.30 Child support guidelines; retroactive child support.—
119 (1)(a) The child support guideline amount as determined by
120 this section presumptively establishes the amount the trier of
121 fact shall order as child support in an initial proceeding for
122 such support or in a proceeding for modification of an existing
123 order for such support, whether the proceeding arises under this
124 or another chapter. The trier of fact may order payment of child
125 support which varies, plus or minus 5 percent, from the
126 guideline amount, after considering all relevant factors,
127 including the needs of the child or children, age, station in
128 life, standard of living, and the financial status and ability
129 of each parent. The trier of fact may order payment of child
130 support in an amount which varies more than 5 percent from such
131 guideline amount only upon a written finding explaining why
132 ordering payment of such guideline amount would be unjust or
133 inappropriate. Notwithstanding the variance limitations of this
134 section, the trier of fact shall order payment of child support
135 which varies from the guideline amount as provided in paragraph
136 (11)(b) whenever any of the children are required by court order
137 or mediation agreement to spend a substantial amount of time
138 with either parent as defined by subparagraph (11)(b)8. This
139 requirement applies to any living arrangement, whether temporary
140 or permanent.
141 (2) Income shall be determined on a monthly basis for each
142 parent as follows:
143 (b)1. Income on a monthly basis shall be imputed to an
144 unemployed or underemployed parent when such employment or
145 underemployment is found by the court to be voluntary on that
146 parent's part, absent a finding of fact by the court of physical
147 or mental incapacity or other circumstances over which the
148 parent has no control. In the event of such voluntary
149 unemployment or underemployment, the employment potential and
150 probable earnings level of the parent shall be determined based
151 upon his or her recent work history, occupational
152 qualifications, and prevailing earnings level in the community
153 as provided in this paragraph; however, the court may refuse to
154 impute income to a parent if the court finds it necessary for
155 the parent to stay home with the child who is the subject of a
156 child support calculation.
157 2. In order for the court to impute income beyond minimum
158 wage under subparagraph 1., the court must make specific
159 findings of fact consistent with the requirements of this
160 subparagraph. The party seeking to impute income has the burden
161 to present competent, substantial evidence showing the
162 following:
163 a. That the unemployment or underemployment is voluntary.
164 b. The amount and source of the imputed income, through
165 evidence of income from available employment for which the party
166 is suitably qualified by education, experience, current
167 licensure, or geographic location, with due consideration being
168 given to the parties' time-sharing schedule and their historical
169 exercise of the time-sharing provided in the parenting plan or
170 relevant order.
171 3. There shall be a rebuttable presumption entitling the
172 court to impute Florida minimum wage on a full-time basis to a
173 parent, absent a finding by the court that:
174 a. The parent has a physical or mental incapacity that
175 renders the parent unemployable or underemployed;
176 b. The parent needs to stay home to care for a child who is
177 the subject of the child support calculation, thereby preventing
178 the parent's employment or rendering the parent underemployed;
179 or
180 c. There are other circumstances over which the parent has
181 no control, except for penal incarceration, that prevent the
182 parent from earning an income.
183
184 If evidence is produced that demonstrates that the parent is a
185 resident of another state, that state's minimum wage law shall
186 apply. In the absence of a state minimum wage, the federal
187 minimum wage as determined by the United States Department of
188 Labor shall apply.
189 4. Unless the court makes the appropriate findings under
190 sub-subparagraph 2.b., income may not be imputed beyond minimum
191 wage requirements in subparagraph 3. based upon:
192 a. Income records that are more than 5 years old at the
193 time of the hearing or trial at which imputation is sought; or
194 b. Income at a level that a party has never earned in the
195 past, unless recently degreed, licensed, certified, relicensed,
196 or recertified and thus qualified for, subject to geographic
197 location, with due consideration of the parties' existing time
198 sharing schedule and their historical exercise of the time
199 sharing provided in the parenting plan or relevant order.
200 (3) Net income is obtained by subtracting allowable
201 deductions from gross income. Allowable deductions shall
202 include:
203 (a) Federal, state, and local income tax, which shall be
204 calculated using gross income deductions, adjusted for actual
205 filing status, personal and dependency exemptions, applicable
206 deductions, earned income credits, child and dependent care
207 credits, and other allowable tax credits and allowable
208 dependents and income tax liabilities.
209 (6) The following guidelines schedule shall be applied to
210 the combined net income to determine the minimum child support
211 need:
212 Combined Monthly
213 Net Income Child or Children
214 One Two Three Four Five Six
215 650.00 74 75 75 76 77 78
216 700.00 119 120 121 123 124 125
217 750.00 164 166 167 169 171 173
218 800.00 190 211 213 216 218 220
219 850.00 202 257 259 262 265 268
220 900.00 213 302 305 309 312 315
221 950.00 224 347 351 355 359 363
222 1000.00 235 365 397 402 406 410
223 1050.00 246 382 443 448 453 458
224 1100.00 258 400 489 495 500 505
225 1150.00 269 417 522 541 547 553
226 1200.00 280 435 544 588 594 600
227 1250.00 290 451 565 634 641 648
228 1300.00 300 467 584 659 688 695
229 1350.00 310 482 603 681 735 743
230 1400.00 320 498 623 702 765 790
231 1450.00 330 513 642 724 789 838
232 1500.00 340 529 662 746 813 869
233 1550.00 350 544 681 768 836 895
234 1600.00 360 560 701 790 860 920
235 1650.00 370 575 720 812 884 945
236 1700.00 380 591 740 833 907 971
237 1750.00 390 606 759 855 931 996
238 1800.00 400 622 779 877 955 1022
239 1850.00 410 638 798 900 979 1048
240 1900.00 421 654 818 923 1004 1074
241 1950.00 431 670 839 946 1029 1101
242 2000.00 442 686 859 968 1054 1128
243 2050.00 452 702 879 991 1079 1154
244 2100.00 463 718 899 1014 1104 1181
245 2150.00 473 734 919 1037 1129 1207
246 2200.00 484 751 940 1060 1154 1234
247 2250.00 494 767 960 1082 1179 1261
248 2300.00 505 783 980 1105 1204 1287
249 2350.00 515 799 1000 1128 1229 1314
250 2400.00 526 815 1020 1151 1254 1340
251 2450.00 536 831 1041 1174 1279 1367
252 2500.00 547 847 1061 1196 1304 1394
253 2550.00 557 864 1081 1219 1329 1420
254 2600.00 568 880 1101 1242 1354 1447
255 2650.00 578 896 1121 1265 1379 1473
256 2700.00 588 912 1141 1287 1403 1500
257 2750.00 597 927 1160 1308 1426 1524
258 2800.00 607 941 1178 1328 1448 1549
259 2850.00 616 956 1197 1349 1471 1573
260 2900.00 626 971 1215 1370 1494 1598
261 2950.00 635 986 1234 1391 1517 1622
262 3000.00 644 1001 1252 1412 1540 1647
263 3050.00 654 1016 1271 1433 1563 1671
264 3100.00 663 1031 1289 1453 1586 1695
265 3150.00 673 1045 1308 1474 1608 1720
266 3200.00 682 1060 1327 1495 1631 1744
267 3250.00 691 1075 1345 1516 1654 1769
268 3300.00 701 1090 1364 1537 1677 1793
269 3350.00 710 1105 1382 1558 1700 1818
270 3400.00 720 1120 1401 1579 1723 1842
271 3450.00 729 1135 1419 1599 1745 1867
272 3500.00 738 1149 1438 1620 1768 1891
273 3550.00 748 1164 1456 1641 1791 1915
274 3600.00 757 1179 1475 1662 1814 1940
275 3650.00 767 1194 1493 1683 1837 1964
276 3700.00 776 1208 1503 1702 1857 1987
277 3750.00 784 1221 1520 1721 1878 2009
278 3800.00 793 1234 1536 1740 1899 2031
279 3850.00 802 1248 1553 1759 1920 2053
280 3900.00 811 1261 1570 1778 1940 2075
281 3950.00 819 1275 1587 1797 1961 2097
282 4000.00 828 1288 1603 1816 1982 2119
283 4050.00 837 1302 1620 1835 2002 2141
284 4100.00 846 1315 1637 1854 2023 2163
285 4150.00 854 1329 1654 1873 2044 2185
286 4200.00 863 1342 1670 1892 2064 2207
287 4250.00 872 1355 1687 1911 2085 2229
288 4300.00 881 1369 1704 1930 2106 2251
289 4350.00 889 1382 1721 1949 2127 2273
290 4400.00 898 1396 1737 1968 2147 2295
291 4450.00 907 1409 1754 1987 2168 2317
292 4500.00 916 1423 1771 2006 2189 2339
293 4550.00 924 1436 1788 2024 2209 2361
294 4600.00 933 1450 1804 2043 2230 2384
295 4650.00 942 1463 1821 2062 2251 2406
296 4700.00 951 1477 1838 2081 2271 2428
297 4750.00 959 1490 1855 2100 2292 2450
298 4800.00 968 1503 1871 2119 2313 2472
299 4850.00 977 1517 1888 2138 2334 2494
300 4900.00 986 1530 1905 2157 2354 2516
301 4950.00 993 1542 1927 2174 2372 2535
302 5000.00 1000 1551 1939 2188 2387 2551
303 5050.00 1006 1561 1952 2202 2402 2567
304 5100.00 1013 1571 1964 2215 2417 2583
305 5150.00 1019 1580 1976 2229 2432 2599
306 5200.00 1025 1590 1988 2243 2447 2615
307 5250.00 1032 1599 2000 2256 2462 2631
308 5300.00 1038 1609 2012 2270 2477 2647
309 5350.00 1045 1619 2024 2283 2492 2663
310 5400.00 1051 1628 2037 2297 2507 2679
311 5450.00 1057 1638 2049 2311 2522 2695
312 5500.00 1064 1647 2061 2324 2537 2711
313 5550.00 1070 1657 2073 2338 2552 2727
314 5600.00 1077 1667 2085 2352 2567 2743
315 5650.00 1083 1676 2097 2365 2582 2759
316 5700.00 1089 1686 2109 2379 2597 2775
317 5750.00 1096 1695 2122 2393 2612 2791
318 5800.00 1102 1705 2134 2406 2627 2807
319 5850.00 1107 1713 2144 2418 2639 2820
320 5900.00 1111 1721 2155 2429 2651 2833
321 5950.00 1116 1729 2165 2440 2663 2847
322 6000.00 1121 1737 2175 2451 2676 2860
323 6050.00 1126 1746 2185 2462 2688 2874
324 6100.00 1131 1754 2196 2473 2700 2887
325 6150.00 1136 1762 2206 2484 2712 2900
326 6200.00 1141 1770 2216 2495 2724 2914
327 6250.00 1145 1778 2227 2506 2737 2927
328 6300.00 1150 1786 2237 2517 2749 2941
329 6350.00 1155 1795 2247 2529 2761 2954
330 6400.00 1160 1803 2258 2540 2773 2967
331 6450.00 1165 1811 2268 2551 2785 2981
332 6500.00 1170 1819 2278 2562 2798 2994
333 6550.00 1175 1827 2288 2573 2810 3008
334 6600.00 1179 1835 2299 2584 2822 3021
335 6650.00 1184 1843 2309 2595 2834 3034
336 6700.00 1189 1850 2317 2604 2845 3045
337 6750.00 1193 1856 2325 2613 2854 3055
338 6800.00 1196 1862 2332 2621 2863 3064
339 6850.00 1200 1868 2340 2630 2872 3074
340 6900.00 1204 1873 2347 2639 2882 3084
341 6950.00 1208 1879 2355 2647 2891 3094
342 7000.00 1212 1885 2362 2656 2900 3103
343 7050.00 1216 1891 2370 2664 2909 3113
344 7100.00 1220 1897 2378 2673 2919 3123
345 7150.00 1224 1903 2385 2681 2928 3133
346 7200.00 1228 1909 2393 2690 2937 3142
347 7250.00 1232 1915 2400 2698 2946 3152
348 7300.00 1235 1921 2408 2707 2956 3162
349 7350.00 1239 1927 2415 2716 2965 3172
350 7400.00 1243 1933 2423 2724 2974 3181
351 7450.00 1247 1939 2430 2733 2983 3191
352 7500.00 1251 1945 2438 2741 2993 3201
353 7550.00 1255 1951 2446 2750 3002 3211
354 7600.00 1259 1957 2453 2758 3011 3220
355 7650.00 1263 1963 2461 2767 3020 3230
356 7700.00 1267 1969 2468 2775 3030 3240
357 7750.00 1271 1975 2476 2784 3039 3250
358 7800.00 1274 1981 2483 2792 3048 3259
359 7850.00 1278 1987 2491 2801 3057 3269
360 7900.00 1282 1992 2498 2810 3067 3279
361 7950.00 1286 1998 2506 2818 3076 3289
362 8000.00 1290 2004 2513 2827 3085 3298
363 8050.00 1294 2010 2521 2835 3094 3308
364 8100.00 1298 2016 2529 2844 3104 3318
365 8150.00 1302 2022 2536 2852 3113 3328
366 8200.00 1306 2028 2544 2861 3122 3337
367 8250.00 1310 2034 2551 2869 3131 3347
368 8300.00 1313 2040 2559 2878 3141 3357
369 8350.00 1317 2046 2566 2887 3150 3367
370 8400.00 1321 2052 2574 2895 3159 3376
371 8450.00 1325 2058 2581 2904 3168 3386
372 8500.00 1329 2064 2589 2912 3178 3396
373 8550.00 1333 2070 2597 2921 3187 3406
374 8600.00 1337 2076 2604 2929 3196 3415
375 8650.00 1341 2082 2612 2938 3205 3425
376 8700.00 1345 2088 2619 2946 3215 3435
377 8750.00 1349 2094 2627 2955 3224 3445
378 8800.00 1352 2100 2634 2963 3233 3454
379 8850.00 1356 2106 2642 2972 3242 3464
380 8900.00 1360 2111 2649 2981 3252 3474
381 8950.00 1364 2117 2657 2989 3261 3484
382 9000.00 1368 2123 2664 2998 3270 3493
383 9050.00 1372 2129 2672 3006 3279 3503
384 9100.00 1376 2135 2680 3015 3289 3513
385 9150.00 1380 2141 2687 3023 3298 3523
386 9200.00 1384 2147 2695 3032 3307 3532
387 9250.00 1388 2153 2702 3040 3316 3542
388 9300.00 1391 2159 2710 3049 3326 3552
389 9350.00 1395 2165 2717 3058 3335 3562
390 9400.00 1399 2171 2725 3066 3344 3571
391 9450.00 1403 2177 2732 3075 3353 3581
392 9500.00 1407 2183 2740 3083 3363 3591
393 9550.00 1411 2189 2748 3092 3372 3601
394 9600.00 1415 2195 2755 3100 3381 3610
395 9650.00 1419 2201 2763 3109 3390 3620
396 9700.00 1422 2206 2767 3115 3396 3628
397 9750.00 1425 2210 2772 3121 3402 3634
398 9800.00 1427 2213 2776 3126 3408 3641
399 9850.00 1430 2217 2781 3132 3414 3647
400 9900.00 1432 2221 2786 3137 3420 3653
401 9950.00 1435 2225 2791 3143 3426 3659
402 10000.00 1437 2228 2795 3148 3432 3666
403
404 For combined monthly net income less than the amount set out on
405 the above guidelines schedule, the parent should be ordered to
406 pay a child support amount, determined on a case-by-case basis,
407 to establish the principle of payment and lay the basis for
408 increased orders should the parent's income increase in the
409 future. For combined monthly net income greater than the amount
410 set out in the above guidelines schedule, the obligation shall
411 be the minimum amount of support provided by the guidelines
412 schedule plus the following percentages multiplied by the amount
413 of income over $10,000:
414 Child or Children
415 One Two Three Four Five Six
416 5.0% 7.5% 9.5% 11.0% 12.0% 12.5%
417
418 These percentages shall not be used to determine child support
419 beyond the amount necessary to satisfy the reasonable needs of
420 the child or children.
421 (7) Child care costs incurred on behalf of the children due
422 to employment, job search, or education calculated to result in
423 employment or to enhance income of current employment of either
424 parent shall be reduced by 25 percent and then shall be added to
425 the basic obligation. After the adjusted child care costs are
426 added to the basic obligation, any moneys prepaid by a parent
427 for child care costs for the child or children of this action
428 shall be deducted from that parent's child support obligation
429 for that child or those children. Child care costs shall not
430 exceed the level required to provide quality care from a
431 licensed source for the children.
432 (10) The total minimum child support need shall be
433 determined by adding child care costs and health insurance costs
434 to the minimum child support need. Each parent's actual dollar
435 share of the total minimum child support need shall be
436 determined by multiplying the minimum child support need by each
437 parent's percentage share of the combined monthly net income.
438 The resulting amount shall be paid by the parent having less
439 than 40 percent of the overnight time-sharing to the parent
440 having more than 60 percent of the overnight time-sharing.
441 (11)(a) The court may adjust the total minimum child
442 support award, or either or both parents' share of the total
443 minimum child support award, based upon the following deviation
444 factors:
445 1. Extraordinary medical, psychological, educational, or
446 dental expenses.
447 2. Independent income of the child, not to include moneys
448 received by a child from supplemental security income.
449 3. The payment of support for a parent which regularly has
450 been paid and for which there is a demonstrated need.
451 4. Seasonal variations in one or both parents' incomes or
452 expenses.
453 5. The age of the child, taking into account the greater
454 needs of older children.
455 6. Special needs, such as costs that may be associated with
456 the disability of a child, that have traditionally been met
457 within the family budget even though the fulfilling of those
458 needs will cause the support to exceed the presumptive amount
459 established by the guidelines.
460 7. Total available assets of the obligee, obligor, and the
461 child.
462 8. The impact of the Internal Revenue Service dependency
463 exemption and waiver of that exemption. The court may order a
464 parent to execute a waiver of the Internal Revenue Service
465 dependency exemption if the paying parent is current in support
466 payments.
467 8.9. When application of the child support guidelines
468 schedule requires a person to pay another person more than 55
469 percent of his or her gross income for a child support
470 obligation for current support resulting from a single support
471 order or when the application of the child support guidelines
472 leaves a party with a net income that is lower than the current
473 federal poverty guidelines.
474 9.10. The particular parenting plan, such as where the
475 child spends a significant amount of time, but less than 40
476 percent of the overnights, with one parent, thereby reducing the
477 financial expenditures incurred by the other parent; or the
478 refusal of a parent to become involved in the activities of the
479 child.
480 10.11. Any other adjustment which is needed to achieve an
481 equitable result which may include, but not be limited to, a
482 reasonable and necessary existing expense or debt. Such expense
483 or debt may include, but is not limited to, a reasonable and
484 necessary expense or debt which the parties jointly incurred
485 during the marriage.
486 (b) Whenever a particular parenting plan provides that each
487 child spend a substantial amount of time with each parent, the
488 court shall adjust any award of child support, as follows:
489 1. In accordance with subsections (9) and (10), calculate
490 the amount of support obligation apportioned to each parent
491 without including day care and health insurance costs in the
492 calculation and multiply the amount by 1.5.
493 2. Calculate the percentage of overnight stays the child
494 spends with each parent.
495 3. Multiply each parent's support obligation as calculated
496 in subparagraph 1. by the percentage of the other parent's
497 overnight stays with the child as calculated in subparagraph 2.
498 4. The difference between the amounts calculated in
499 subparagraph 3. shall be the monetary transfer necessary between
500 the parents for the care of the child, subject to an adjustment
501 for day care and health insurance expenses.
502 5. Pursuant to subsections (7) and (8), calculate the net
503 amounts owed by each parent for the expenses incurred for day
504 care and health insurance coverage for the child. Day care shall
505 be calculated without regard to the 25-percent reduction applied
506 by subsection (7).
507 6. Adjust the support obligation owed by each parent
508 pursuant to subparagraph 4. by crediting or debiting the amount
509 calculated in subparagraph 5. This amount represents the child
510 support which must be exchanged between the parents.
511 7. The court may deviate from the child support amount
512 calculated pursuant to subparagraph 6. based upon the deviation
513 factors in paragraph (a), as well as the obligee parent's low
514 income and ability to maintain the basic necessities of the home
515 for the child, the likelihood that either parent will actually
516 exercise the time-sharing schedule set forth in the parenting
517 plan granted by the court, and whether all of the children are
518 exercising the same time-sharing schedule.
519 8. For purposes of adjusting any award of child support
520 under this paragraph, “substantial amount of time” means that a
521 parent exercises time-sharing visitation at least 40 percent of
522 the overnights of the year.
523 (c) A parent's failure to regularly exercise the court
524 ordered or agreed time-sharing schedule not caused by the other
525 parent which resulted in the adjustment of the amount of child
526 support pursuant to subparagraph (a)9.10. or paragraph (b) shall
527 be deemed a substantial change of circumstances for purposes of
528 modifying the child support award. A modification pursuant to
529 this paragraph shall be retroactive to the date the noncustodial
530 parent first failed to regularly exercise the court-ordered or
531 agreed time-sharing schedule.
532 (18) The court may, for good cause shown, order the parent
533 otherwise entitled to the Internal Revenue Service dependency
534 exemption for a child to execute a waiver of the dependency
535 exemption.
536 Section 4. Paragraph (a) of subsection (5) of section
537 409.2563, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
538 409.2563 Administrative establishment of child support
539 obligations.—
540 (5) PROPOSED ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT ORDER.—
541 (a) After serving notice upon a parent in accordance with
542 subsection (4), the department shall calculate that parent's
543 child support obligation under the child support guidelines
544 schedule as provided by s. 61.30, based on any timely financial
545 affidavits received and other information available to the
546 department. If either parent fails to comply with the
547 requirement to furnish a financial affidavit, the department may
548 proceed on the basis of information available from any source,
549 if such information is sufficiently reliable and detailed to
550 allow calculation of guideline schedule amounts under s. 61.30.
551 If a parent receives public assistance and fails to submit a
552 financial affidavit, the department may submit a financial
553 affidavit for that parent pursuant to s. 61.30(15). If there is
554 a lack of sufficient reliable information concerning a parent's
555 actual earnings for a current or past period, there shall be a
556 rebuttable presumption it shall be presumed for the purpose of
557 establishing a support obligation that the parent had an earning
558 capacity equal to the Florida federal minimum wage on a full
559 time basis during the applicable period, unless evidence is
560 presented that the parent is a resident of another state, in
561 which case that state's minimum wage shall apply. In the absence
562 of a state minimum wage, the federal minimum wage as determined
563 by the United States Department of Labor shall apply.
564 Section 5. Section 742.08, Florida Statutes, is amended to
565 read:
566 742.08 Default of support payments.—Upon default in payment
567 of any moneys ordered by the court to be paid, the court may
568 enter a judgment for the amount in default, plus interest,
569 administrative costs, filing fees, and other expenses incurred
570 by the clerk of the circuit court which shall be a lien upon all
571 property of the defendant both real and personal. Interest on
572 support judgments shall be enforceable through all of the
573 methods available to enforce the underlying support order,
574 including contempt. Interest shall not accrue on postjudgment
575 interest. Costs and fees shall be assessed only after the court
576 makes a determination of the nonprevailing party's ability to
577 pay such costs and fees. In Title IV-D cases, any costs,
578 including filing fees, recording fees, mediation costs, service
579 of process fees, and other expenses incurred by the clerk of the
580 circuit court, shall be assessed only against the nonprevailing
581 obligor after the court makes a determination of the
582 nonprevailing obligor's ability to pay such costs and fees. The
583 Department of Revenue shall not be considered a party for
584 purposes of this section; however, fees may be assessed against
585 the department pursuant to s. 57.105(1). Willful failure to
586 comply with an order of the court shall be deemed a contempt of
587 the court entering the order and shall be punished as such. The
588 court may require bond of the defendant for the faithful
589 performance of his or her obligation under the order of the
590 court in such amount and upon such conditions as the court shall
591 direct.
592 Section 6. This act shall take effect July 1, 2009.