SENATE BILL No. 1299

 

 

June 17, 2004, Introduced by Senators HARDIMAN, CROPSEY, BARCIA and PATTERSON and referred to the Committee on Families and Human Services.

 

 

        

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                 A bill to amend 1982 PA 294, entitled                                             

                                                                                

    "Friend of the court act,"                                                  

                                                                                

    by amending sections 1, 2, 2a, 5, 5a, 7, 9, 11, 11b, 13, 17, 19,            

                                                                                

    and 28 (MCL 552.501, 552.502, 552.502a, 552.505, 552.505a,                  

                                                                                

    552.507, 552.509, 552.511, 552.511b, 552.513, 552.517, 552.519,             

                                                                                

    and 552.528), sections 1 and 7 as amended by 1996 PA 144,                   

                                                                                

    sections 2, 2a, 5, 9, 11, 13, and 17 as amended and section 5a as           

                                                                                

    added by 2002 PA 571, section 11b as added and section 19 as                

                                                                                

    amended by 2002 PA 569, and section 28 as added by 1996 PA 365.             

                                                                                

                THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:                      

                                                                                

1       Sec. 1.  (1) This act shall be known and may be cited as the                

                                                                                

2   "friend of the court act".                                                  

                                                                                

3       (2) The purposes of this act are to enumerate and describe                  

                                                                                

4   the powers and duties of the friend of the court and the office             

                                                                                

5   of the friend of the court; to ensure that procedures adopted by            

                                                                                


                                                                                

1   the friend of the court will protect the best interests of                  

                                                                                

2   children in domestic relations matters; to encourage and assist             

                                                                                

3   parties voluntarily to resolve contested domestic relations                 

                                                                                

4   matters by agreement; to compel the enforcement of parenting time           

                                                                                

5   and custody  orders; and to compel the enforcement of support              

                                                                                

6   orders, ensuring that persons legally responsible for the care              

                                                                                

7   and support of children assume their legal obligations and                  

                                                                                

8   reducing the financial cost to this state of providing public               

                                                                                

9   assistance funds for the care of children.  This act shall be               

                                                                                

10  construed to promote the enumerated purposes and to facilitate              

                                                                                

11  the resolution of domestic relations matters.                               

                                                                                

12      Sec. 2.  As used in this act:                                               

                                                                                

13      (a) "Bureau" means the state friend of the court bureau                     

                                                                                

14  created in section 19.                                                      

                                                                                

15      (b) "Centralizing enforcement" means the process authorized                 

                                                                                

16  under section 10 of the office of the child support act, 1971 PA            

                                                                                

17  174, MCL 400.231 to 400.240.                                                

                                                                                

18      (c) "Chief judge" means the following:                                      

                                                                                

19                                                                               (i) The circuit judge in a judicial circuit having only 1                           

                                                                                

20  circuit judge.                                                              

                                                                                

21      (ii) Except in the county of Wayne, the chief judge of the                   

                                                                                

22  circuit court in a judicial circuit having 2 or more circuit                

                                                                                

23  judges.                                                                     

                                                                                

24      (iii) In the county of Wayne, the executive chief judge of                   

                                                                                

25  the circuit court in the third judicial circuit.                            

                                                                                

26      (d) "Citizen advisory committee" means a citizen friend of                  

                                                                                

27  the court advisory committee established as provided in section             


                                                                                

1   4.                                                                          

                                                                                

2       (e) "Consumer reporting agency" means a person that, for                    

                                                                                

3   monetary fees or dues, or on a cooperative nonprofit basis,                 

                                                                                

4   regularly engages in whole or in part in the practice of                    

                                                                                

5   assembling or evaluating consumer credit information or other               

                                                                                

6   information on consumers for the purpose of furnishing consumer             

                                                                                

7   reports to third parties, and that uses any means or facility of            

                                                                                

8   interstate commerce for the purpose of preparing or furnishing              

                                                                                

9   consumer reports.  As used in this subdivision, "consumer report"           

                                                                                

10  means that term as defined in section 603 of the fair credit                

                                                                                

11  reporting act, title VI of the consumer credit protection act,              

                                                                                

12  Public Law 90-321, 15 U.S.C.  15 USC 1681a.                                

                                                                                

13      (f) "County board" means the county board of commissioners in               

                                                                                

14  the county served by the office.  If a judicial circuit includes            

                                                                                

15  more than 1 county, action required to be taken by the county               

                                                                                

16  board means action by the county boards of commissioners for all            

                                                                                

17  counties composing that circuit.                                            

                                                                                

18      (g) "Court" means the circuit court.                                        

                                                                                

19      (h) "Current employment" means employment within 1 year                     

                                                                                

20  before a friend of the court request for information.                       

                                                                                

21      (i) "Custody or parenting time order violation" means an                    

                                                                                

22  individual's act or failure to act that interferes with a                   

                                                                                

23  parent's right to interact with his or her child in the time,               

                                                                                

24  place, and manner established in the order that governs custody             

                                                                                

25  or parenting time between the parent and the child and to which             

                                                                                

26  the individual accused of interfering is subject.                           

                                                                                

27      (i)  (j)  "Department" means the family independence agency.                


                                                                                

1       (j)  (k)  "Domestic relations matter" means a circuit court                 

                                                                                

2   proceeding as to  child custody or  parenting time, or child or             

                                                                                

3   spousal support, that arises out of litigation under a statute of           

                                                                                

4   this state, including, but not limited to, the following:                   

                                                                                

5                                                                                (i) 1846 RS 84, MCL 552.1 to 552.45.                                                

                                                                                

6       (ii) The family support act, 1966 PA 138, MCL 552.451 to                     

                                                                                

7   552.459.                                                                    

                                                                                

8       (iii) Child  custody act of 1970  parenting time act, 1970 PA                

                                                                                

9   91, MCL 722.21 to 722.31.                                                   

                                                                                

10      (iv) 1968 PA 293, MCL 722.1 to 722.6.                                        

                                                                                

11      (v) The paternity act, 1956 PA 205, MCL 722.711 to 722.730.                 

                                                                                

12      (vi) Revised uniform reciprocal enforcement of support act,                  

                                                                                

13  1952 PA 8, MCL 780.151 to 780.183.                                          

                                                                                

14      (vii) Uniform interstate family support act, 1996 PA 310, MCL                

                                                                                

15  552.1101 to 552.1901.                                                       

                                                                                

16      (k)  (l)  "Domestic relations mediation" means a process by                 

                                                                                

17  which the parties are assisted by a domestic relations mediator             

                                                                                

18  in voluntarily formulating an agreement to resolve a dispute                

                                                                                

19  concerning  child custody or  parenting time that arises from a             

                                                                                

20  domestic relations matter.                                                  

                                                                                

21                                                                               (l)  (m)  "Friend of the court" means the person serving                             

                                                                                

22  under section 21(1) or appointed under section 23 as the head of            

                                                                                

23  the office of the friend of the court.                                      

                                                                                

24      (m)  (n)  "Friend of the court case" means a domestic                       

                                                                                

25  relations matter that an office establishes as a friend of the              

                                                                                

26  court case as required under section 5a.  The term "friend of the           

                                                                                

27  court case", when used in a provision of this act, is not                   


                                                                                

1   effective until on and after the effective date of section 5a.              

                                                                                

2       (n)  (o)  "Income" means that term as defined in section 2 of               

                                                                                

3   the support and parenting time enforcement act, 1982 PA 295, MCL            

                                                                                

4   552.602.                                                                    

                                                                                

5       Sec. 2a.  As used in this act:                                              

                                                                                

6       (a) "Medical assistance" means medical assistance as                        

                                                                                

7   established under title XIX of the social security act,  chapter            

                                                                                

8   531, 49 Stat. 620, 42 U.S.C.  42 USC 1396 to 1396r-6 and 1396r-8            

                                                                                

9   to 1396v.                                                                   

                                                                                

10      (b) "Office" and "office of the friend of the court" mean an                

                                                                                

11  agency created in section 3.                                                

                                                                                

12      (c) "Parenting time order violation" means an individual's                  

                                                                                

13  act or failure to act that interferes with a parent's right to              

                                                                                

14  interact with his or her child in the time, place, and manner               

                                                                                

15  established in the order that governs parenting time between the            

                                                                                

16  parent and the child and to which the individual accused of                 

                                                                                

17  interfering is subject.                                                     

                                                                                

18      (d)  (c)  "Payer" means a person ordered by the circuit court               

                                                                                

19  to pay support.                                                             

                                                                                

20      (e)  (d)  "Public assistance" means cash assistance provided                

                                                                                

21  under the social welfare act, 1939 PA 280, 400.1 to 400.119b.               

                                                                                

22      (f)  (e)  "Recipient of support" means the following:                       

                                                                                

23                                                                               (i) The spouse, if the support order orders spousal support.                        

                                                                                

24      (ii) The  custodial  parent who has the greater amount of                    

                                                                                

25  parenting time or guardian, if the support order orders support             

                                                                                

26  for a minor child or a child who is 18 years of age or older.               

                                                                                

27      (iii) The family independence agency, if support has been                    


                                                                                

1   assigned to that department.                                                

                                                                                

2       (g)  (f)  "State advisory committee" means the committee                    

                                                                                

3   established by the bureau under section 19.                                 

                                                                                

4       (h)  (g)  "State disbursement unit" or "SDU" means the entity               

                                                                                

5   established in section 6 of the office of child support act, 1971           

                                                                                

6   PA 174, MCL 400.236.                                                        

                                                                                

7       (i)  (h)  "Support" means all of the following:                             

                                                                                

8                                                                                (i) The payment of money for a child or a spouse ordered by                         

                                                                                

9   the circuit court, whether the order is embodied in an interim,             

                                                                                

10  temporary, permanent, or modified order or judgment.  Support may           

                                                                                

11  include payment of the expenses of medical, dental, and other               

                                                                                

12  health care, child care expenses, and educational expenses.                 

                                                                                

13      (ii) The payment of money ordered by the circuit court under                 

                                                                                

14  the paternity act, 1956 PA 205, MCL 722.711 to 722.730, for the             

                                                                                

15  necessary expenses incurred by or for the mother in connection              

                                                                                

16  with her confinement, for other expenses in connection with the             

                                                                                

17  pregnancy of the mother, or for the repayment of genetic testing            

                                                                                

18  expenses.                                                                   

                                                                                

19      (iii) A surcharge accumulated under section 3a of the support                

                                                                                

20  and parenting time enforcement act, MCL 552.603a.                           

                                                                                

21      (j)  (i)  "Support and parenting time enforcement act" means                

                                                                                

22  1982 PA 295, MCL 552.601 to 552.650.                                        

                                                                                

23      (k)  (j)  "Support order" means an order entered by the                     

                                                                                

24  circuit court for the payment of support in a sum certain,                  

                                                                                

25  whether in the form of a lump sum or a periodic payment.                    

                                                                                

26                                                                               (l)  (k)  "Title IV-D" means part D of title IV of the social                        

                                                                                

27  security act,  chapter 531, 49 Stat. 620, 42 U.S.C.  42 USC 651             


                                                                                

1   to 655, 656 to 657, 658a to 660, and 663 to 669b.                           

                                                                                

2       (m)  (l)  "Title IV-D agency" means that term as defined in                 

                                                                                

3   section 2 of the support and parenting time enforcement act, MCL            

                                                                                

4   552.602.                                                                    

                                                                                

5       Sec. 5.  (1) Each office of the friend of the court has the                 

                                                                                

6   following duties:                                                           

                                                                                

7       (a) To inform each party to the domestic relations matter                   

                                                                                

8   that, unless 1 of the parties is required to participate in the             

                                                                                

9   title IV-D child support program, they may choose not to have the           

                                                                                

10  office of the friend of the court administer and enforce                    

                                                                                

11  obligations that may be imposed in the domestic relations                   

                                                                                

12  matter.                                                                     

                                                                                

13      (b) To inform each party to the domestic relations matter                   

                                                                                

14  that, unless 1 of the parties is required to participate in the             

                                                                                

15  title IV-D child support program, they may direct the office of             

                                                                                

16  the friend of the court to close the friend of the court case               

                                                                                

17  that was opened in their domestic relations matter.                         

                                                                                

18      (c) To provide an informational pamphlet, in accordance with                

                                                                                

19  the model pamphlet developed by the bureau, to each party to a              

                                                                                

20  domestic relations matter.  The informational pamphlet shall                

                                                                                

21  explain the procedures of the court and the office; the duties of           

                                                                                

22  the office; the rights and responsibilities of the parties,                 

                                                                                

23  including notification that each party to the dispute has the               

                                                                                

24  right to meet with the individual investigating the dispute                 

                                                                                

25  before that individual makes a recommendation regarding the                 

                                                                                

26  dispute; the availability of and procedures used in domestic                

                                                                                

27  relations mediation; the availability of human services in the              


                                                                                

1   community; the availability of joint  custody  parenting time as            

                                                                                

2   described in section 6a of the child  custody act of 1970                   

                                                                                

3   parenting time act, 1970 PA 91, MCL 722.26a; and how to file a              

                                                                                

4   grievance regarding the office.  The informational pamphlet shall           

                                                                                

5   be provided as soon as possible after the filing of a complaint             

                                                                                

6   or other initiating pleading.  Upon request, a party shall                  

                                                                                

7   receive an oral explanation of the informational pamphlet from              

                                                                                

8   the office.                                                                 

                                                                                

9       (d) To make available to an individual form motions,                        

                                                                                

10  responses, and orders for requesting the court to modify the                

                                                                                

11  individual's child support  , custody,  or parenting time order,            

                                                                                

12  or for responding to a motion for such a modification, without              

                                                                                

13  assistance of legal counsel.  The office shall make available               

                                                                                

14  instructions on preparing and filing each of those forms and                

                                                                                

15  instructions on service of process and on scheduling a                      

                                                                                

16  modification hearing.                                                       

                                                                                

17      (e) To inform the parties of the availability of domestic                   

                                                                                

18  relations mediation if there is a dispute as to  child custody              

                                                                                

19  or  parenting time.                                                         

                                                                                

20      (f) To inform the parents of the availability of joint                      

                                                                                

21  custody  parenting time as described in section 6a of the child            

                                                                                

22  custody act of 1970  parenting time act, 1970 PA 91, MCL                   

                                                                                

23  722.26a, if there is a dispute between the parents as to  child             

                                                                                

24  custody  parenting time.                                                    

                                                                                

25      (g) To investigate all relevant facts, and to make a written                

                                                                                

26  report and recommendation to the parties and to the court                   

                                                                                

27  regarding  child custody or  parenting time,  or both,  if there            


                                                                                

1   is a dispute as to  child custody or  parenting time,  or both,             

                                                                                

2   and domestic relations mediation is refused by either party or is           

                                                                                

3   unsuccessful, or if ordered to do so by the court.  The                     

                                                                                

4   investigation may include reports and evaluations by outside                

                                                                                

5   persons or agencies if requested by the parties or the court, and           

                                                                                

6   shall include documentation of alleged facts, if practicable.  If           

                                                                                

7   requested by a party, an investigation shall include a meeting              

                                                                                

8   with the party.  A written report and recommendation regarding              

                                                                                

9   child custody or  parenting time,  or both,  shall be based upon           

                                                                                

10  the factors enumerated in the child  custody act of 1970                    

                                                                                

11  parenting time act, 1970 PA 91, MCL 722.21 to 722.31.                       

                                                                                

12      (h) To investigate all relevant facts and to make a written                 

                                                                                

13  report and recommendation to the parties and their attorneys and            

                                                                                

14  to the court regarding child support, if ordered to do so by the            

                                                                                

15  court.  The written report and recommendation shall be placed in            

                                                                                

16  the court file.  The investigation may include reports and                  

                                                                                

17  evaluations by outside persons or agencies if requested by the              

                                                                                

18  parties or the court, and shall include documentation of alleged            

                                                                                

19  facts, if practicable.  If requested by a party, an investigation           

                                                                                

20  shall include a meeting with the party.  The child support                  

                                                                                

21  formula developed by the bureau under section 19 shall be used as           

                                                                                

22  a guideline in recommending child support.  The written report              

                                                                                

23  shall include the support amount determined by application of the           

                                                                                

24  child support formula and all factual assumptions upon which that           

                                                                                

25  support amount is based.  If the office of the friend of the                

                                                                                

26  court determines from the facts of the case that application of             

                                                                                

27  the child support formula would be unjust or inappropriate, the             


                                                                                

1   written report shall also include all of the following:                     

                                                                                

2                                                                                (i) An alternative support recommendation.                                          

                                                                                

3       (ii) All factual assumptions upon which the alternative                      

                                                                                

4   support recommendation is based, if applicable.                             

                                                                                

5       (iii) How the alternative support recommendation deviates                    

                                                                                

6   from the child support formula.                                             

                                                                                

7       (iv) The reasons for the alternative support recommendation.                 

                                                                                

8       (2) If a party who requests a meeting during an investigation               

                                                                                

9   fails to attend the scheduled meeting without good cause, the               

                                                                                

10  investigation may be completed without a meeting with that                  

                                                                                

11  party.                                                                      

                                                                                

12      Sec. 5a.  (1) Except as required by this section, an office                 

                                                                                

13  of the friend of the court shall open and maintain a friend of              

                                                                                

14  the court case for a domestic relations matter.  If there is an             

                                                                                

15  open friend of the court case for a domestic relations matter,              

                                                                                

16  the office of the friend of the court shall administer and                  

                                                                                

17  enforce the obligations of the parties to the friend of the court           

                                                                                

18  case as provided in this act.  If there is not an open friend of            

                                                                                

19  the court case for a domestic relations matter, the office of the           

                                                                                

20  friend of the court shall not administer or enforce an obligation           

                                                                                

21  of a party to the domestic relations matter.                                

                                                                                

22      (2) The parties to a domestic relations matter are not                      

                                                                                

23  required to have a friend of the court case opened or maintained            

                                                                                

24  for their domestic relations matter.  With their initial                    

                                                                                

25  pleadings, the parties to a domestic relations matter may file a            

                                                                                

26  motion for the court to order the office of the friend of the               

                                                                                

27  court not to open a friend of the court case for the domestic               


                                                                                

1   relations matter.  If the parties to a domestic relations matter            

                                                                                

2   file a motion under this subsection, the court shall issue that             

                                                                                

3   order unless the court determines 1 or more of the following:               

                                                                                

4       (a) A party to the domestic relations matter is eligible for                

                                                                                

5   title IV-D services because of the party's current or past                  

                                                                                

6   receipt of public assistance.                                               

                                                                                

7       (b) A party to the domestic relations matter applies for                    

                                                                                

8   title IV-D services.                                                        

                                                                                

9       (c) A party to the domestic relations matter requests that                  

                                                                                

10  the office of the friend of the court open and maintain a friend            

                                                                                

11  of the court case for the domestic relations matter, even though            

                                                                                

12  the party may not be eligible for title IV-D services because the           

                                                                                

13  domestic relations matter involves, by way of example and not               

                                                                                

14  limitation, only spousal support  , child custody, parenting                

                                                                                

15  time, or child custody and  or parenting time.                              

                                                                                

16      (d) There exists in the domestic relations matter evidence of               

                                                                                

17  domestic violence or uneven bargaining positions and evidence               

                                                                                

18  that a party to the domestic relations matter has chosen not to             

                                                                                

19  apply for title IV-D services against the best interest of either           

                                                                                

20  the party or the party's child.                                             

                                                                                

21      (e) The parties have not filed with the court a document,                   

                                                                                

22  signed by each party, that includes a list of the friend of the             

                                                                                

23  court services and an acknowledgment that the parties are                   

                                                                                

24  choosing to do without those services.                                      

                                                                                

25      (3) If a friend of the court case is not opened for a                       

                                                                                

26  domestic relations matter, the parties to the domestic relations            

                                                                                

27  matter have full responsibility for administration and                      


                                                                                

1   enforcement of the obligations imposed in the domestic relations            

                                                                                

2   matter.                                                                     

                                                                                

3       (4) The parties to a friend of the court case may file a                    

                                                                                

4   motion for the court to order the office of the friend of the               

                                                                                

5   court to close their friend of the court case.  The court shall             

                                                                                

6   issue an order that the office of the friend of the court shall             

                                                                                

7   close the friend of the court case unless the court determines 1            

                                                                                

8   or more of the following:                                                   

                                                                                

9       (a) A party to the friend of the court case objects.                        

                                                                                

10      (b) A party to the friend of the court case is eligible for                 

                                                                                

11  title IV-D services because the party is receiving public                   

                                                                                

12  assistance.                                                                 

                                                                                

13      (c) A party to the friend of the court case is eligible for                 

                                                                                

14  title IV-D services because the party received public assistance            

                                                                                

15  and an arrearage is owed to the governmental entity that provided           

                                                                                

16  the public assistance.                                                      

                                                                                

17      (d) The friend of the court case record shows that, within                  

                                                                                

18  the previous 12 months, a child support arrearage  or custody  or           

                                                                                

19  parenting time order violation has occurred in the case.                    

                                                                                

20      (e) Within the previous 12 months, a party to the friend of                 

                                                                                

21  the court case has reopened a friend of the court case.                     

                                                                                

22      (f) There exists in the friend of the court case evidence of                

                                                                                

23  domestic violence or uneven bargaining positions and evidence               

                                                                                

24  that a party to the friend of the court case has chosen to close            

                                                                                

25  the case against the best interest of either the party or the               

                                                                                

26  party's child.                                                              

                                                                                

27      (g) The parties have not filed with the court a document,                   


                                                                                

1   signed by each party, that includes a list of the friend of the             

                                                                                

2   court services and an acknowledgment that the parties are                   

                                                                                

3   choosing to do without those services.                                      

                                                                                

4       (5) The closure of a friend of the court case does not                      

                                                                                

5   release a party from the party's obligations imposed in the                 

                                                                                

6   underlying domestic relations matter.  The parties to a closed              

                                                                                

7   friend of the court case assume full responsibility for                     

                                                                                

8   administration and enforcement of obligations imposed in the                

                                                                                

9   underlying domestic relations matter.                                       

                                                                                

10      (6) If a party to the underlying domestic relations matter                  

                                                                                

11  wants to ensure that child support payments made after a friend             

                                                                                

12  of the court case is closed will be taken into account in any               

                                                                                

13  possible future office of the friend of the court enforcement               

                                                                                

14  action, the child support payments must be made through the SDU.            

                                                                                

15  If the parties choose to continue to have child support payments            

                                                                                

16  made through the SDU, the office of the friend of the court shall           

                                                                                

17  not close its friend of the court case until each party provides            

                                                                                

18  the SDU with the information necessary to process the child                 

                                                                                

19  support payments required in the underlying domestic relations              

                                                                                

20  matter.                                                                     

                                                                                

21      (7) If a party to a domestic relations matter for which there               

                                                                                

22  is not an open friend of the court case applies for services from           

                                                                                

23  the office of the friend of the court or applies for public                 

                                                                                

24  assistance, the office of the friend of the court shall open or             

                                                                                

25  reopen a friend of the court case.  If the office of the friend             

                                                                                

26  of the court opens or reopens a friend of the court case as                 

                                                                                

27  required by this subsection, the court shall issue an order in              


                                                                                

1   that domestic relations matter that contains the provisions                 

                                                                                

2   required by this act and by the support and parenting time                  

                                                                                

3   enforcement act for a friend of the court case.                             

                                                                                

4       (8) If the parties to a domestic relations matter file a                    

                                                                                

5   motion under subsection (2) or (4), the friend of the court shall           

                                                                                

6   advise the parties in writing as to the services that the office            

                                                                                

7   of the friend of the court is not required to provide.  The state           

                                                                                

8   court administrative office shall develop and make available a              

                                                                                

9   form for use by an office of the friend of the court under this             

                                                                                

10  subsection and a document for use by parties to a domestic                  

                                                                                

11  relations matter under subsection (2) or (4).                               

                                                                                

12      Sec. 7.  (1) The chief judge may designate as referee the                   

                                                                                

13  friend of the court; an employee of the office who is a member of           

                                                                                

14  the state bar of Michigan; or, under section 22, a member of the            

                                                                                

15  state bar of Michigan.                                                      

                                                                                

16      (2) A referee may do all of the following:                                  

                                                                                

17      (a) Hear all motions in a domestic relations matter, except                 

                                                                                

18  motions pertaining to an increase or decrease in spouse support,            

                                                                                

19  referred to the referee by the court.                                       

                                                                                

20      (b) Administer oaths, compel the attendance of witnesses and                

                                                                                

21  the production of documents, and examine witnesses and parties.             

                                                                                

22      (c) Make a written, signed report to the court containing a                 

                                                                                

23  summary of testimony given, a statement of findings, and a                  

                                                                                

24  recommended order; or make a statement of findings on the record            

                                                                                

25  and submit a recommended order.                                             

                                                                                

26      (d) Hold hearings as provided in the support and parenting                  

                                                                                

27  time enforcement act,  Act No. 295 of the Public Acts of 1982,              


                                                                                

1   being sections 552.601 to 552.650 of the Michigan Compiled Laws             

                                                                                

2   1982 PA 295, MCL 552.601 to 552.650.  The referee shall make a              

                                                                                

3   record of each hearing held.                                                

                                                                                

4       (e) Accept a voluntary acknowledgment of support liability,                 

                                                                                

5   and review and make a recommendation to the court concerning a              

                                                                                

6   stipulated agreement to pay support.                                        

                                                                                

7       (f) Recommend a default order establishing, modifying, or                   

                                                                                

8   enforcing a support obligation in a domestic relations matter.              

                                                                                

9       (3) If ordered by the court, or if stipulated by the parties,               

                                                                                

10  a referee shall make a transcript, verified by oath, of each                

                                                                                

11  hearing held.  The cost of preparing a transcript shall be                  

                                                                                

12  apportioned equally between the parties, unless otherwise ordered           

                                                                                

13  by the court.                                                               

                                                                                

14      (4) A copy of each report, recommendation, transcript, and                  

                                                                                

15  any supporting documents or a summary of supporting documents               

                                                                                

16  prepared or used by the friend of the court or an employee of the           

                                                                                

17  office shall be made available to the attorney for each party and           

                                                                                

18  to each of the parties before the court takes any action on a               

                                                                                

19  recommendation made under this section or section 5.  In a  child           

                                                                                

20  custody  parenting time dispute, the parties shall be informed of           

                                                                                

21  whether a  custody  parenting time preference expressed by the              

                                                                                

22  child was considered, evaluated, and determined by the court, but           

                                                                                

23  the parties shall not be informed of the preference expressed by            

                                                                                

24  the child under section 3 of the child  custody act of 1970, Act            

                                                                                

25  No. 91 of the Public Acts of 1970, being section 722.23 of the              

                                                                                

26  Michigan Compiled Laws  parenting time act, 1970 PA 91, MCL                 

                                                                                

27  722.23.  If a guardian is appointed for a child, the guardian               


                                                                                

1   shall be informed whether a  custody  parenting time preference             

                                                                                

2   expressed by the child was considered, evaluated, and determined            

                                                                                

3   by the court, and, if so, the preference expressed.  The manner             

                                                                                

4   and time within which this material is made available shall be              

                                                                                

5   determined by supreme court rule.                                           

                                                                                

6       (5) The court shall hold a de novo hearing on any matter that               

                                                                                

7   has been the subject of a referee hearing, upon the written                 

                                                                                

8   request of either party or upon motion of the court.  The request           

                                                                                

9   of a party shall be made within 21 days after the recommendation            

                                                                                

10  of the referee is made available to that party under subsection             

                                                                                

11  (4), except that a request for a de novo hearing concerning an              

                                                                                

12  order of income withholding shall be made within 14 days after              

                                                                                

13  the recommendation of the referee is made available to the party            

                                                                                

14  under subsection (4).                                                       

                                                                                

15      Sec. 9.  (1) Except as otherwise provided in subsections (2)                

                                                                                

16  and (3) or in the order or judgment, after a support order is               

                                                                                

17  entered in a friend of the court case, the office shall receive             

                                                                                

18  each payment and service fee under the support order; shall, not            

                                                                                

19  less than once each month, record each support payment due, paid,           

                                                                                

20  and past due; and shall disburse each support payment to the                

                                                                                

21  recipient of support within 14 days after the office receives               

                                                                                

22  each payment or within the federally mandated time frame,                   

                                                                                

23  whichever is shorter.                                                       

                                                                                

24      (2) An office shall receive support order and service fee                   

                                                                                

25  payments, and shall disburse support, as required by subsection             

                                                                                

26  (1) until the state disbursement unit implements support and fee            

                                                                                

27  receipt and disbursement for the cases administered by that                 


                                                                                

1   office.  At the family independence agency's direction and in               

                                                                                

2   cooperation with the SDU, an office shall continue support and              

                                                                                

3   fee receipt and support disbursement to facilitate the transition           

                                                                                

4   of that responsibility to the SDU as directed in, and in                    

                                                                                

5   accordance with the transition schedule developed as required by,           

                                                                                

6   the office of child support act, 1971 PA 174, MCL 400.231 to                

                                                                                

7   400.240.                                                                    

                                                                                

8       (3) After SDU support and fee receipt and disbursement is                   

                                                                                

9   implemented in a circuit court circuit, the office for that court           

                                                                                

10  may accept a support payment made in cash or by cashier's check             

                                                                                

11  or money order.  If the office accepts such a payment, the office           

                                                                                

12  shall transmit the payment to the SDU and shall inform the payer            

                                                                                

13  of the SDU's location and the requirement to make payments                  

                                                                                

14  through the SDU.                                                            

                                                                                

15      (4) Promptly after November 3, 1999, each office shall                      

                                                                                

16  establish and maintain the support order and account records                

                                                                                

17  necessary to enforce support orders and necessary to record                 

                                                                                

18  obligations, support and fee receipt and disbursement, and                  

                                                                                

19  related payments.  Each office shall provide the SDU with access            

                                                                                

20  to those records and shall assist the SDU to resolve support and            

                                                                                

21  fee receipt and disbursement problems related to inadequate                 

                                                                                

22  identifying information.                                                    

                                                                                

23      (5) The office shall provide annually to each party, without                

                                                                                

24  charge, 1 statement of account upon request.  Additional                    

                                                                                

25  statements of account shall be provided at a reasonable fee                 

                                                                                

26  sufficient to pay for the cost of reproduction.  Statements                 

                                                                                

27  provided under this subsection are in addition to statements                


                                                                                

1   provided for administrative and judicial hearings.                          

                                                                                

2       (6) The office shall initiate and carry out proceedings to                  

                                                                                

3   enforce an order in a friend of the court case regarding                    

                                                                                

4   custody,  parenting time, health care coverage, or support in              

                                                                                

5   accordance with this act, the support and parenting time                    

                                                                                

6   enforcement act, and supreme court rules.                                   

                                                                                

7       (7) Upon request of a child support agency of another state,                

                                                                                

8   the office shall initiate and carry out certain proceedings to              

                                                                                

9   enforce support orders entered in the other state without the               

                                                                                

10  need to register the order as a friend of the court case in this            

                                                                                

11  state.  The order shall be enforced using automated                         

                                                                                

12  administrative enforcement actions authorized under the support             

                                                                                

13  and parenting time enforcement act.                                         

                                                                                

14      Sec. 11.  (1) Each office shall initiate 1 or more support                  

                                                                                

15  enforcement measures under the support and parenting time                   

                                                                                

16  enforcement act when 1 of the following applies:                            

                                                                                

17      (a) Except as otherwise provided in this subdivision, the                   

                                                                                

18  arrearage under the support order is equal to or greater than the           

                                                                                

19  monthly amount of support payable under the order.  If the                  

                                                                                

20  support order was entered ex parte, an office shall not initiate            

                                                                                

21  enforcement under this subdivision until the office receives a              

                                                                                

22  copy of proof of service for the order and at least 1 month has             

                                                                                

23  elapsed since the date of service.  An office is not required to            

                                                                                

24  initiate enforcement under this subdivision if 1 or more of the             

                                                                                

25  following circumstances exist:                                              

                                                                                

26                                                                               (i) Despite the existence of the arrearage, an order of                             

                                                                                

27  income withholding is effective and payment is being made under             


                                                                                

1   the order of income withholding in the amount required under the            

                                                                                

2   order.                                                                      

                                                                                

3       (ii) Despite the existence of the arrearage and even though                  

                                                                                

4   an order of income withholding is not effective, payment is being           

                                                                                

5   made in the amount required under the order.                                

                                                                                

6       (iii) One or more support enforcement measures have been                     

                                                                                

7   initiated and an objection to 1 or more of those measures has not           

                                                                                

8   been resolved.                                                              

                                                                                

9       (b) A parent fails to obtain or maintain health care coverage               

                                                                                

10  for the parent's child as ordered by the court.  The office shall           

                                                                                

11  initiate enforcement under this subdivision at the following                

                                                                                

12  times:                                                                      

                                                                                

13                                                                               (i) Within 60 days after the entry of a support order                               

                                                                                

14  containing health care coverage provisions.                                 

                                                                                

15      (ii) When a review is conducted as provided in section 17.                   

                                                                                

16      (iii) Concurrent with enforcement initiated by the office                    

                                                                                

17  under subdivision (a).                                                      

                                                                                

18      (iv) Upon receipt of a written complaint from a party.                       

                                                                                

19      (v) Upon receipt of a written complaint from the department                 

                                                                                

20  if the child for whose benefit health care coverage is ordered is           

                                                                                

21  a recipient of public assistance or medical assistance.                     

                                                                                

22      (c) A person legally responsible for the actual care of a                   

                                                                                

23  child incurs an uninsured health care expense and submits to the            

                                                                                

24  office a written complaint that meets the requirements of section           

                                                                                

25  11a.                                                                        

                                                                                

26      (2) An arrearage amount that arises at the moment a court                   

                                                                                

27  issues an order imposing or modifying support, because the order            


                                                                                

1   relates back to a petition or motion filing date, shall not be              

                                                                                

2   considered as an arrearage for the purpose of initiating support            

                                                                                

3   enforcement measures, centralizing enforcement, or other action             

                                                                                

4   required or authorized in response to a support arrearage under             

                                                                                

5   this act or the support and parenting time enforcement act,                 

                                                                                

6   unless the payer fails to become current with the court ordered             

                                                                                

7   support payments within 2 months after entry of the order                   

                                                                                

8   imposing or modifying support.                                              

                                                                                

9       Sec. 11b.  (1) An office shall initiate enforcement under                   

                                                                                

10  the support and parenting time enforcement act if the office                

                                                                                

11  receives a written complaint that states specific facts                     

                                                                                

12  constituting a  custody or  parenting time order violation.  Upon           

                                                                                

13  request of a parent who has the right to interact with his or her           

                                                                                

14  child under a  custody or  parenting time order, an office shall            

                                                                                

15  assist the parent in preparing a complaint under this                       

                                                                                

16  subsection.                                                                 

                                                                                

17      (2) Within 14 days after an office receives a complaint under               

                                                                                

18  subsection (1), the office shall send a copy of the complaint to            

                                                                                

19  the individual accused of interfering and to each other party to            

                                                                                

20  the  custody or  parenting time order.                                      

                                                                                

21      (3) If, in the opinion of the office, the facts as stated in                

                                                                                

22  the complaint allege a  custody or  parenting time order                    

                                                                                

23  violation that can be addressed by taking an action authorized              

                                                                                

24  under section 41 of the support and parenting time enforcement              

                                                                                

25  act, MCL 552.641, the office shall proceed under section 41 of              

                                                                                

26  the support and parenting time enforcement act, MCL 552.641.                

                                                                                

27      Sec. 13.  (1) The office shall provide, either directly or                  


                                                                                

1   by contract, domestic relations mediation to assist the parties             

                                                                                

2   in settling voluntarily a dispute concerning  child custody or              

                                                                                

3   parenting time that arises in a friend of the court case.                   

                                                                                

4   Parties shall not be required to meet with a domestic relations             

                                                                                

5   mediator.  The service may be provided directly by the office               

                                                                                

6   only if such a service is in place on July 1, 1983, if the                  

                                                                                

7   service is not available from a private source, or if the court             

                                                                                

8   can demonstrate that providing the service within the friend of             

                                                                                

9   the court office is cost beneficial.  Any expansion of existing             

                                                                                

10  services provided by the court on July 1, 1983 shall be provided            

                                                                                

11  by an individual meeting the domestic relations mediator minimum            

                                                                                

12  qualifications listed under subsection (4).                                 

                                                                                

13      (2) If an agreement is reached by the parties through                       

                                                                                

14  domestic relations mediation, a consent order incorporating the             

                                                                                

15  agreement shall be prepared by an employee of the office who is a           

                                                                                

16  member of the state bar of Michigan; under section 22, by a                 

                                                                                

17  member of the state bar of Michigan; or by the attorney for 1 of            

                                                                                

18  the parties.  The consent order shall be provided to, and shall             

                                                                                

19  be entered by, the court.                                                   

                                                                                

20      (3) Except as provided in subsection (2), a communication                   

                                                                                

21  between a domestic relations mediator and a party to a domestic             

                                                                                

22  relations mediation is confidential.  The secrecy of the                    

                                                                                

23  communication shall be preserved inviolate as a privileged                  

                                                                                

24  communication.  The communication shall not be admitted in                  

                                                                                

25  evidence in any proceedings.  The same protection shall be given            

                                                                                

26  to communications between the parties in the presence of the                

                                                                                

27  mediator.                                                                   


                                                                                

1       (4) A domestic relations mediator who performs mediation                    

                                                                                

2   under this act shall have all of the following minimum                      

                                                                                

3   qualifications:                                                             

                                                                                

4       (a) One or more of the following:                                           

                                                                                

5                                                                                (i) A license or a limited license to engage in the practice                        

                                                                                

6   of psychology under parts 161 and 182 of the public health code,            

                                                                                

7   1978 PA 368, MCL 333.16101 to 333.16349 and 333.18201 to                    

                                                                                

8   333.18237, or a master's degree in counseling, social work, or              

                                                                                

9   marriage and family counseling; and successful completion of the            

                                                                                

10  training program provided by the bureau under section 19(3)(b).             

                                                                                

11      (ii) Not less than 5 years of experience in family                           

                                                                                

12  counseling, preferably in a setting related to the areas of                 

                                                                                

13  responsibility of the friend of the court and preferably to                 

                                                                                

14  reflect the ethnic population to be served, and successful                  

                                                                                

15  completion of the training program provided by the bureau under             

                                                                                

16  section 19(3)(b).                                                           

                                                                                

17      (iii) A graduate degree in a behavioral science and                          

                                                                                

18  successful completion of a domestic relations mediation training            

                                                                                

19  program certified by the bureau with not less than 40 hours of              

                                                                                

20  classroom instruction and 250 hours of practical experience                 

                                                                                

21  working under the direction of a person who has successfully                

                                                                                

22  completed a program certified by the bureau.                                

                                                                                

23      (iv) Membership in the state bar of Michigan and successful                  

                                                                                

24  completion of the training program provided by the bureau under             

                                                                                

25  section 19(3)(b).                                                           

                                                                                

26      (b) Knowledge of the court system of this state and the                     

                                                                                

27  procedures used in domestic relations matters.                              


                                                                                

1       (c) Knowledge of other resources in the community to which                  

                                                                                

2   the parties to a domestic relations matter can be referred for              

                                                                                

3   assistance.                                                                 

                                                                                

4       (d) Knowledge of child development, clinical issues relating                

                                                                                

5   to children, the effects of divorce on children, and  child                 

                                                                                

6   custody  parenting time research.                                           

                                                                                

7       Sec. 17.  (1) After a final judgment containing a child                     

                                                                                

8   support order has been entered in a friend of the court case, the           

                                                                                

9   office shall periodically review the order, as follows:                     

                                                                                

10      (a) If a child is being supported in whole or in part by                    

                                                                                

11  public assistance, not less than once each 24 months unless both            

                                                                                

12  of the following apply:                                                     

                                                                                

13                                                                               (i) The office receives notice from the department that good                        

                                                                                

14  cause exists not to proceed with support action.                            

                                                                                

15      (ii) Neither party has requested a review.                                   

                                                                                

16      (b) At the initiative of the office, if there are reasonable                

                                                                                

17  grounds to believe that the amount of child support awarded in              

                                                                                

18  the judgment should be modified or that dependent health care               

                                                                                

19  coverage is available and the support order should be modified to           

                                                                                

20  include an order for health care coverage.  Reasonable grounds to           

                                                                                

21  review an order under this subdivision include temporary or                 

                                                                                

22  permanent changes in the  physical custody  parenting time of a             

                                                                                

23  child that the court has not ordered, increased or decreased need           

                                                                                

24  of the child, probable access by an employed parent to dependent            

                                                                                

25  health care coverage, or changed financial conditions of a                  

                                                                                

26  recipient or a payer of child support including, but not limited            

                                                                                

27  to, application for or receipt of public assistance, unemployment           


                                                                                

1   compensation, or worker's compensation.                                     

                                                                                

2       (c) Upon receipt of a written request from either party.                    

                                                                                

3   Within 15 days after receipt of the review request, the office              

                                                                                

4   shall determine whether the order is due for review.  The office            

                                                                                

5   is not required to investigate more than 1 request received from            

                                                                                

6   a party each 24 months.                                                     

                                                                                

7       (d) If a child is receiving medical assistance, not less than               

                                                                                

8   once each 24 months unless either of the following applies:                 

                                                                                

9                                                                                (i) The order requires provision of health care coverage for                        

                                                                                

10  the child and neither party has requested a review.                         

                                                                                

11      (ii) The office receives notice from the department that good                

                                                                                

12  cause exists not to proceed with support action and neither party           

                                                                                

13  has requested a review.                                                     

                                                                                

14      (e) If requested by the initiating state for a recipient of                 

                                                                                

15  services in that state under title IV-D, not less than once each            

                                                                                

16  24 months.  Within 15 days after receipt of a review request, the           

                                                                                

17  office shall determine whether an order is due for review.                  

                                                                                

18      (2) Within 180 days after determining that a review is                      

                                                                                

19  required under subsection (1), the office shall send notices as             

                                                                                

20  provided in section 17b(2) and (3), conduct a review, and obtain            

                                                                                

21  a modification of the order if appropriate.                                 

                                                                                

22      (3) The office shall use the child support formula developed                

                                                                                

23  by the bureau under section 19 in calculating the child support             

                                                                                

24  award.  If the office determines from the facts of the case that            

                                                                                

25  application of the child support formula would be unjust or                 

                                                                                

26  inappropriate, or that income should not be based on actual                 

                                                                                

27  income earned by the parties, the office shall prepare a written            


                                                                                

1   report that includes all of the following:                                  

                                                                                

2       (a) The support amount, based on actual income earned by the                

                                                                                

3   parties, determined by application of the child support formula             

                                                                                

4   and all factual assumptions upon which that support amount is               

                                                                                

5   based.                                                                      

                                                                                

6       (b) An alternative support recommendation and all factual                   

                                                                                

7   assumptions upon which the alternative support recommendation is            

                                                                                

8   based.                                                                      

                                                                                

9       (c) How the alternative support recommendation deviates from                

                                                                                

10  the child support formula.                                                  

                                                                                

11      (d) The reasons for the alternative support recommendation.                 

                                                                                

12      (e) All evidence known to the friend of the court that the                  

                                                                                

13  individual is or is not able to earn the income imputed to him or           

                                                                                

14  her.                                                                        

                                                                                

15      (4) The office shall petition the court if modification is                  

                                                                                

16  determined to be necessary under subsection (3) unless either of            

                                                                                

17  the following applies:                                                      

                                                                                

18      (a) The difference between the existing and projected child                 

                                                                                

19  support award is within the minimum threshold for modification of           

                                                                                

20  a child support amount as established by the formula.                       

                                                                                

21      (b) The court previously determined that application of the                 

                                                                                

22  formula was unjust or inappropriate and the office determines               

                                                                                

23  under subsection (3) that the facts of the case and the reasons             

                                                                                

24  and amount of the prior deviation remain unchanged.                         

                                                                                

25      (5) A petition for modification may be made at the same time                

                                                                                

26  the parties are provided with notice under section 17b(3).  A               

                                                                                

27  hearing held on a proposed modification shall be scheduled no               


                                                                                

1   earlier than 30 days after the date of the notice provided for in           

                                                                                

2   section 17b(3).                                                             

                                                                                

3       (6) If the office determines there should be no change in the               

                                                                                

4   order and a party objects to the determination in writing to the            

                                                                                

5   office within 30 days after the date of the notice provided for             

                                                                                

6   in section 17b(3), the office shall schedule a hearing before the           

                                                                                

7   court.                                                                      

                                                                                

8       (7) If a support order lacks provisions for health care                     

                                                                                

9   coverage, the office shall petition the court for a modification            

                                                                                

10  to require that 1 or both parents obtain or maintain health care            

                                                                                

11  coverage for the benefit of each child who is subject to the                

                                                                                

12  support order if either of the following is true:                           

                                                                                

13      (a) Either parent has health care coverage available, as a                  

                                                                                

14  benefit of employment, for the benefit of the child at a                    

                                                                                

15  reasonable cost.                                                            

                                                                                

16      (b) Either parent is self-employed, maintains health care                   

                                                                                

17  coverage for himself or herself, and can obtain health care                 

                                                                                

18  coverage for the benefit of the child at a reasonable cost.                 

                                                                                

19      (8) The office shall determine the costs to each parent for                 

                                                                                

20  dependent health care coverage and child care costs and shall               

                                                                                

21  disclose those costs in the report under section 17b(4).                    

                                                                                

22      Sec. 19.  (1) The state friend of the court bureau is                       

                                                                                

23  created within the state court administrative office, under the             

                                                                                

24  supervision and direction of the supreme court.                             

                                                                                

25      (2) The bureau shall have its main office in Lansing.                       

                                                                                

26      (3) The bureau shall do all of the following:                               

                                                                                

27      (a) Develop and recommend guidelines for conduct, operations,               


                                                                                

1   and procedures of the office and its employees, including, but              

                                                                                

2   not limited to, the following:                                              

                                                                                

3                                                                                (i) Case load and staffing standards for employees who                              

                                                                                

4   perform domestic relations mediation functions, investigation and           

                                                                                

5   recommendation functions, referee functions, enforcement                    

                                                                                

6   functions, and clerical functions.                                          

                                                                                

7       (ii) Orientation programs for clients of the office.                         

                                                                                

8       (iii) Public educational programs regarding domestic                         

                                                                                

9   relations law and community resources, including financial and              

                                                                                

10  other counseling, and employment opportunities.                             

                                                                                

11      (iv) Procedural changes in response to the type of grievances                

                                                                                

12  received by an office.                                                      

                                                                                

13      (v) Model pamphlets and procedural forms, which shall be                    

                                                                                

14  distributed to each office.                                                 

                                                                                

15      (vi) A formula to be used in establishing and modifying a                    

                                                                                

16  child support amount and health care obligation.  The formula               

                                                                                

17  shall be based upon the needs of the child and the actual                   

                                                                                

18  resources of each parent.  The formula shall establish a minimum            

                                                                                

19  threshold for modification of a child support amount.  The                  

                                                                                

20  formula shall consider the child care and dependent health care             

                                                                                

21  coverage costs of each parent.  The formula shall include                   

                                                                                

22  guidelines for setting and administratively adjusting the amount            

                                                                                

23  of periodic payments for overdue support, including guidelines              

                                                                                

24  for adjustment of arrearage payment schedules when the current              

                                                                                

25  support obligation for a child terminates and the payer owes                

                                                                                

26  overdue support.                                                            

                                                                                

27      (b) Provide training programs for the friend of the court,                  


                                                                                

1   domestic relations mediators, and employees of the office to                

                                                                                

2   better enable them to carry out the duties described in this act            

                                                                                

3   and supreme court rules.  After September 30, 2002, the training            

                                                                                

4   programs shall include training in the dynamics of domestic                 

                                                                                

5   violence and in handling domestic relations matters that have a             

                                                                                

6   history of domestic violence.                                               

                                                                                

7       (c) Gather and monitor relevant statistics.                                 

                                                                                

8       (d) Annually issue a report containing a detailed summary of                

                                                                                

9   the types of grievances received by each office, and whether the            

                                                                                

10  grievances are resolved or outstanding.  The report shall be                

                                                                                

11  transmitted to the legislature and to each office and shall be              

                                                                                

12  made available to the public.  The annual report required by this           

                                                                                

13  subdivision shall include, but is not limited to, all of the                

                                                                                

14  following:                                                                  

                                                                                

15                                                                               (i) An evaluative summary, supplemented by applicable                               

                                                                                

16  quantitative data, of the activities and functioning of each                

                                                                                

17  citizen advisory committee during the preceding year.                       

                                                                                

18      (ii) An evaluative summary, supplemented by applicable                       

                                                                                

19  quantitative data, of the activities and functioning of the                 

                                                                                

20  aggregate of all citizen advisory committees in the state during            

                                                                                

21  the preceding year.                                                         

                                                                                

22      (iii) An identification of problems that impede the                          

                                                                                

23  efficiency of the activities and functioning of the citizen                 

                                                                                

24  advisory committees and the satisfaction of the users of the                

                                                                                

25  committees' services.                                                       

                                                                                

26      (e) Develop and recommend guidelines to be used by an office                

                                                                                

27  in determining whether or not parenting time has been wrongfully            


                                                                                

1   denied 1 parent by the  custodial  other parent.                            

                                                                                

2       (f) Develop standards and procedures for the transfer of part               

                                                                                

3   or all of the responsibilities for a case from one office to                

                                                                                

4   another in situations considered appropriate by the bureau.                 

                                                                                

5       (g) Certify domestic relations mediation training programs as               

                                                                                

6   provided in section 13.                                                     

                                                                                

7       (h) Establish a 9-person state advisory committee, serving                  

                                                                                

8   without compensation except as provided in subsection (4),                  

                                                                                

9   composed of the following members, each of whom is a member of a            

                                                                                

10  citizen advisory committee:                                                 

                                                                                

11                                                                               (i) Three public members who have had contact with an office                        

                                                                                

12  of the friend of the court.                                                 

                                                                                

13      (ii) Three attorneys who are members of the state bar of                     

                                                                                

14  Michigan and whose practices are primarily domestic relations               

                                                                                

15  law.  Not more than 1 attorney may be a circuit court judge.                

                                                                                

16      (iii) Three human service professionals who provide family                   

                                                                                

17  counseling.                                                                 

                                                                                

18      (i) Cooperate with the office of child support in developing                

                                                                                

19  and implementing a statewide information system as provided in              

                                                                                

20  the office of child support act, 1971 PA 174, MCL 400.231 to                

                                                                                

21  400.240.                                                                    

                                                                                

22      (j) Develop and make available guidelines to assist the                     

                                                                                

23  office of the friend of the court in determining the                        

                                                                                

24  appropriateness in individual cases of the following:                       

                                                                                

25                                                                               (i) Imposing a lien or requiring the posting of a bond,                             

                                                                                

26  security, or other guarantee to secure the payment of support.              

                                                                                

27      (ii) Implementing the offset of a delinquent payer's state                   


                                                                                

1   income tax refund.                                                          

                                                                                

2       (k) Develop and provide the office of the friend of the court               

                                                                                

3   with all of the following:                                                  

                                                                                

4                                                                                (i) Form motions, responses, and orders for use by an                               

                                                                                

5   individual in requesting the court to modify his or her child               

                                                                                

6   support  , custody,  or parenting time order, or in responding to           

                                                                                

7   a motion for modification without the assistance of legal                   

                                                                                

8   counsel.                                                                    

                                                                                

9       (ii) Instructions on preparing and filing the forms,                         

                                                                                

10  instructions on service of process, and instructions on                     

                                                                                

11  scheduling a support  , custody,  or parenting time modification            

                                                                                

12  hearing.                                                                    

                                                                                

13                                                                               (l) Develop guidelines for, and encourage the use of, plain                         

                                                                                

14  language within the office of the friend of the court including,            

                                                                                

15  but not limited to, the use of plain language in forms and                  

                                                                                

16  instructions within the office and in statements of account                 

                                                                                

17  provided as required in section 9.                                          

                                                                                

18      (m) In consultation with the domestic violence prevention and               

                                                                                

19  treatment board created in section 2 of 1978 PA 389, MCL                    

                                                                                

20  400.1502, develop guidelines for the implementation of section 41           

                                                                                

21  of the support and parenting time enforcement act, MCL 552.641,             

                                                                                

22  that take into consideration at least all of the following                  

                                                                                

23  regarding the parties and each child involved in a dispute                  

                                                                                

24  governed by section 41 of the support and parenting time                    

                                                                                

25  enforcement act, MCL 552.641:                                               

                                                                                

26                                                                               (i) Domestic violence.                                                              

                                                                                

27      (ii) Safety of the parties and child.                                        


                                                                                

1       (iii) Uneven bargaining positions of the parties.                            

                                                                                

2       (4) The state advisory committee established under subsection               

                                                                                

3   (3)(h) shall advise the bureau in the performance of its duties             

                                                                                

4   under this section.  The bureau shall make a state advisory                 

                                                                                

5   committee report or recommendation available to the public.                 

                                                                                

6   State advisory committee members shall be reimbursed for their              

                                                                                

7   expenses for mileage, meals, and, if necessary, lodging, under              

                                                                                

8   the schedule for reimbursement established annually by the                  

                                                                                

9   legislature.  A state advisory committee meeting is open to the             

                                                                                

10  public.  A member of the public attending a state advisory                  

                                                                                

11  committee meeting shall be given a reasonable opportunity to                

                                                                                

12  address the committee on any issue under consideration by the               

                                                                                

13  committee.  If a vote is to be taken by the state advisory                  

                                                                                

14  committee, the opportunity to address the committee shall be                

                                                                                

15  given before the vote is taken.                                             

                                                                                

16      (5) The bureau may call upon each office of the friend of the               

                                                                                

17  court for assistance in performing the duties imposed in this               

                                                                                

18  section.                                                                    

                                                                                

19      Sec. 28.  Each office of the friend of the court shall                      

                                                                                

20  compile data on the number and type of complaints regarding                 

                                                                                

21  support and parenting time.  The data shall include, but need not           

                                                                                

22  be limited to, the number of cases in which a party fails to                

                                                                                

23  appear at a show cause hearing and the number of cases in which a           

                                                                                

24  bench warrant is issued for failure to appear.  The data compiled           

                                                                                

25  under this section shall be transmitted at least annually in a              

                                                                                

26  report to the office of the state court administrator.  The                 

                                                                                

27  following specific information shall also be compiled:                      


                                                                                

1       (a) The number of state or federal income tax intercepts                    

                                                                                

2   subsequently found to be based on inaccurate information or                 

                                                                                

3   employee error.                                                             

                                                                                

4       (b) The number of support orders modified due to inaccurate                 

                                                                                

5   information or employee error.                                              

                                                                                

6       (c) The number of grievances filed in a calendar year, the                  

                                                                                

7   nature of each grievance, the judicial response to each                     

                                                                                

8   grievance, and any sanction imposed as a result of each                     

                                                                                

9   grievance.                                                                  

                                                                                

10      (d) The number of  custody  parenting time recommendations                  

                                                                                

11  recommending  physical custody  parenting time to the mother, the           

                                                                                

12  father, or a third party.                                                   

                                                                                

13      (e) The number of makeup parenting time petitions filed, the                

                                                                                

14  number of hearings held on makeup parenting time petitions, the             

                                                                                

15  number of instances makeup parenting time is ordered, and the               

                                                                                

16  amount of makeup parenting time that is ordered.                            

                                                                                

17      (f) The number of reviews completed in a calendar year.                     

                                                                                

18      Enacting section 1.  This amendatory act takes effect                       

                                                                                

19  January 1, 2005.                                                            

                                                                                

20      Enacting section 2.  This amendatory act does not take                      

                                                                                

21  effect unless                          House Bill No. 5949                  

                                                                                

22                         of the 92nd Legislature is enacted into              

                                                                                

23  law.