2003 House Bill 4654 / 2004 Public Act 564

Authorize delinquent child support amnesty

Introduced in the House

May 7, 2003

Introduced by Rep. Alexander Lipsey (D-60)

To authorize an amnesty program for non-custodial parents who have child support arrearages. For a period of between 30 and 60 days all criminal and civil penalties for failing or refusing to pay past due child support would be waived upon payment of at least 50% of the outstanding past due child support, with the balance due in two later installment payments no later than Jan. 15, 2004. The bill is part of a legislative package comprised of this bill House Bills 4634, 4635, 4636 and 4654.

Referred to the Committee on Families and Childrens Services

Feb. 19, 2004

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the substitute (H-3) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

March 17, 2004

Substitute offered

To replace the previous version of the bill with one containing technical changes, and which eliminates the specific amnesty period dates in the original version.

The substitute passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Alexander Lipsey (D-60)

To tie-bar the bill to House Bills 5259 and 5262, meaning this bill cannot become law unless those ones also become law. Those bills establish nonprosecution for those participating in the amnesty program.

The amendment passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Lauren Hager (R-81)

To require the amnesty program to take place withing four months of the bill becoming law.

The amendment passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Lauren Hager (R-81)

To make the amnesty period 90 days long.

The amendment passed by voice vote

Passed in the House 106 to 0 (details)

To authorize an amnesty program for non-custodial parents who have child support arrearages. For a period of 90 days all criminal and civil penalties for failing or refusing to pay past due child support would be waived upon payment of at least 50 percent of the outstanding past due child support, with the balance due within 90 days.

Received in the Senate

March 18, 2004

Referred to the Committee on Families and Human Services

Dec. 8, 2004

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the substitute (S-1) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

Substitute offered

To replace the previous version of the bill with one that makes more explicit the requirement that a payer must be current by the end of the amnesty program, and requiring a person to have paid at least half the arrearage before he can be considered for amnesty.

The substitute passed by voice vote

Dec. 9, 2004

Passed in the Senate 37 to 0 (details)

To authorize an amnesty program for non-custodial parents who have child support arrearages. For a period of 90 days all criminal and civil penalties for failing or refusing to pay past due child support would be waived upon payment of at least 50 percent of the outstanding past due child support, with the balance due within 90 days.

Received in the House

Dec. 9, 2004

To concur with the Senate-passed version of the bill.

Passed in the House 93 to 0 (details)

Signed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm

Dec. 31, 2004