Amendment ASA1-AB651

LRBs0337/1

MJL&RPN:wlj:rs

2003 - 2004 LEGISLATURE

ASSEMBLY SUBSTITUTE AMENDMENT 1, TO 2003 ASSEMBLY BILL 651

February 5, 2004 - Offered by Representative Montgomery.

AB651-ASA1,1,13 An Act to repeal 814.04 (1) (b); to renumber and amend 895.035 (2); to amend 16.007 (6) (a), 812.34 (2) (a), 812.34 (2) (b) 1., 812.37 (1), 812.38 (1) (b), 812.44 (4) (form) 1., 812.44 (4) (form) 3., 814.04 (1) (a), 814.04 (2), 814.07, 815.18 (3) (k), 895.035 (4), 895.80 (1), 895.80 (2), 895.80 (3) (b), 938.245 (2) (a) 5. am., 938.32 (1t) (a) 1m., 938.45 (1r) (a), 938.45 (1r) (b), 943.24 (3) (b), 943.24 (3) (c), 943.245 (3), 943.245 (4), 943.51 (3) and 943.51 (3m); to repeal and recreate 895.80 (3) (a) and 895.80 (4); and to create 29.962, 218.04 (9j), 812.34 (2) (c), 895.035 (2) (b) 2. and 3., 895.80 (3) (c) and 895.80 (6) of the statutes; relating to: (parental liability for acts of their minor child,) recovery of damages for certain criminal actions, garnishment, attorney fees, exemption from execution of accounts, civil actions by collection agencies, earnings garnishment, retail theft, recovery in actions involving worthless checks, and revocation of fish and game approvals for which payment is made by worthless checks.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB651-ASA1, s. 1 Section 1. 16.007 (6) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB651-ASA1,2,7 16.007 (6) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), whenever the claims board by unanimous vote finds that payment to a claimant of not more than the amount specified in s. 799.01 (1) (d) is justified, it may order the amount that it finds justified to be paid on its own motion without submission of the claim in bill form to the legislature. The claim shall be paid on a voucher upon the certification of the chairperson and secretary of the board, and shall be charged as provided in sub. (6m).

AB651-ASA1, s. 2 Section 2. 29.962 of the statutes is created to read:

AB651-ASA1,2,19 29.962 Worthless checks for approvals. If a person tenders a check or other order for payment to an issuing agent appointed under s. 29.024 (6) (a) 3. to make payment for an approval issued under this chapter to an issuing agent, and the check is drawn on an account that does not exist or on an account with insufficient funds, or is otherwise worthless, the issuing agent may give notification to the department of the fact after having made an effort to receive payment from the person who tendered the check or other payment. If the issuing agent gives such notification, the department shall revoke the approval and send notification to the holder of the approval that it has been revoked for failure to make payment for the approval. The holder of the approval shall return the approval to the department within 7 days after receiving the notification.

AB651-ASA1, s. 3 Section 3. 218.04 (9j) of the statutes is created to read:

AB651-ASA1,3,3 218.04 (9j) Consolidation of accounts. (a) A licensee may, after receiving authorization from a creditor, consolidate the creditor's account or accounts relating to a particular debtor with those of any other creditor or creditors relating to that debtor and may cause an action to be brought on behalf of the creditor or creditors. All of the following apply to any action caused to be brought by a licensee on behalf of a creditor or creditors under this subsection:

AB651-ASA1,3,5 1. The summons and complaint shall be prepared by an attorney or at the direction of an attorney.

AB651-ASA1,3,8 2. The name or names of the creditor or creditors shall appear in the pleadings and in the caption of the case as the real party or parties in interest and the licensee's name shall not appear in the caption or pleadings.

AB651-ASA1,3,13 3. The creditor or creditors in each instance shall be given the opportunity either to select an attorney to commence the action or to designate, as a part of the authorization process, the collection agency as the agent of the creditor or creditors to retain an attorney and forward the claim or claims to the attorney on behalf of the creditor or creditors.

AB651-ASA1,3,17 (b) In any action brought by a licensee under this subsection, the licensee shall not appear on behalf of any creditor or creditors before any court, including the clerk of any small claims court in an action on the debt or in garnishment proceedings, except when called as a witness by the plaintiff's attorney in open court.

AB651-ASA1, s. 4 Section 4. 812.34 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB651-ASA1,3,21 812.34 (2) (a) Unless the court grants relief under s. 812.38 (2) or par. (b) or (c) applies, 80% of the debtor's disposable earnings are exempt from garnishment under this subchapter.

AB651-ASA1, s. 5 Section 5. 812.34 (2) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB651-ASA1,3,24 812.34 (2) (b) 1. The debtor's household income is below the poverty line, or the garnishment would cause that result; or.

AB651-ASA1, s. 6 Section 6. 812.34 (2) (c) of the statutes is created to read:

AB651-ASA1,4,4 812.34 (2) (c) If the garnishment of 20% of the debtor's disposable income under this subchapter would result in the debtor's household income being below the poverty line, the amount of the garnishment is limited to the debtor's household income in excess of the poverty line before the garnishment is in effect.

AB651-ASA1, s. 7 Section 7. 812.37 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB651-ASA1,4,11 812.37 (1) Except as provided in s. 812.34 (1), the debtor may claim an exemption under s. 812.34 (2) (b) or a limit to the garnishment under s. 812.34 (2) (c), or may assert any defense to the earnings garnishment, by completing the answer form and delivering or mailing it to the garnishee. The debtor or debtor's spouse may file an answer or an amended answer at any time before or during the effective period of the earnings garnishment.

AB651-ASA1, s. 8 Section 8. 812.38 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB651-ASA1,4,18 812.38 (1) (b) The debtor may file with the court a written petition for relief from the earnings garnishment if the exemption percentage under s. 812.34 (2) (a) is insufficient for the debtor to acquire the necessities of life for the debtor and his or her dependents. The petition shall state with reasonable specificity the grounds for the relief requested and shall include any additional information necessary to support the petition.

AB651-ASA1, s. 9 Section 9. 812.44 (4) (form) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB651-ASA1,4,22 812.44 (4) (form) 1. Your household income is below the federal poverty level, or this garnishment would cause that to happen. See the enclosed schedules and worksheet to determine if you qualify for this exemption.

AB651-ASA1, s. 10 Section 10. 812.44 (4) (form) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB651-ASA1,4,25 812.44 (4) (form) 3. At least 25% of your disposable earnings are assigned by court order for support.

AB651-ASA1,5,3 If the garnishment of 20% of your disposable income would result in the income of your household being below the poverty line, the garnishment is limited to the amount of your household's income in excess of the poverty line.

AB651-ASA1,5,7 If you qualify for a complete exemption or for a limit on the amount of the garnishment to the amount that your household's income exceeds the poverty line, you must give or mail a copy of the enclosed debtor's answer form to the garnishee in order to receive that increased exemption.

AB651-ASA1,5,9 If your circumstances change while the garnishment is in effect, you may file a new answer at any time.

AB651-ASA1,5,13 If you do not qualify for a complete exemption, but you will not be able to acquire the necessities of life for yourself and your dependents if your earnings are reduced by this earnings garnishment, you may ask the court in which this earnings garnishment was filed to increase your exemption or grant you other relief.

AB651-ASA1,5,15 IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE CONSULT AN ATTORNEY

AB651-ASA1,5,21 If you have earnings that are being garnisheed that are exempt or subject to a defense, the sooner you file your answer or seek relief from the court, the sooner such relief can be provided. This earnings garnishment affects your earnings in pay periods beginning within 13 weeks after it was served on the garnishee. You may agree in writing with the creditor to extend it for additional 13-week periods until the debt is paid.

AB651-ASA1,5,22 PENALTIES

AB651-ASA1,5,25 If you wrongly claim an exemption or defense in bad faith, or if the creditor wrongly objects to your claim in bad faith, the court may order the person who acted in bad faith to pay court costs, actual damages and reasonable attorney fees.

AB651-ASA1, s. 11 Section 11. 814.04 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB651-ASA1,6,9 814.04 (1) (a) When the amount recovered or the value of the property involved is $1,000 or over greater than the maximum amount specified in s. 799.01 (1) (d), attorney fees shall be $100 $500; when it is equal to or less than $1,000 and is $500 or over, $50 the maximum amount specified in s. 799.01 (1) (d), but is $1,000 or more, attorney fees shall be $300; when it is less than $500 and is $200 or over, $25; and when it is less than $200, $15 $1,000, attorney fees shall be $100. In all other cases in which there is no amount recovered or that do not involve property, attorney fees shall be $300.

AB651-ASA1, s. 12 Section 12. 814.04 (1) (b) of the statutes is repealed.

AB651-ASA1, s. 13 Section 13. 814.04 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB651-ASA1,6,24 814.04 (2) Disbursements. All the necessary disbursements and fees allowed by law; the compensation of referees; a reasonable disbursement for the service of process or other papers in an action when the same are served by a person authorized by law other than an officer, but the item may not exceed the authorized sheriff's fee for the same service; amounts actually paid out for certified and other copies of papers and records in any public office; postage, telegraphing photocopying, telephoning, electronic communications, facsimile transmissions, and express or overnight delivery; depositions including copies; plats and photographs, not exceeding $50 $100 for each item; an expert witness fee not exceeding $100 $300 for each expert who testifies, exclusive of the standard witness fee and mileage which shall also be taxed for each expert; and in actions relating to or affecting the title to lands, the cost of procuring an abstract of title to the lands. Guardian ad litem fees shall not be taxed as a cost or disbursement.

AB651-ASA1, s. 14 Section 14. 814.07 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB651-ASA1,7,3 814.07 Costs on motion. Costs may be allowed on a motion, in the discretion of the court or judge, not exceeding $50 $300, and may be absolute or directed to abide the event of the action.

AB651-ASA1, s. 15 Section 15. 815.18 (3) (k) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB651-ASA1,7,7 815.18 (3) (k) Depository accounts. Depository accounts in the aggregate value of $1,000, but only to the extent that the account is for the debtor's personal use and is not used as a business account.

AB651-ASA1, s. 16 Section 16. 895.035 (2) of the statutes is renumbered 895.035 (2) (a) and amended to read:

AB651-ASA1,7,15 895.035 (2) (a) The parent or parents with custody of a minor child, in any circumstances where he, she, or they may not be liable under the common law, are liable for damages to property, for the cost of repairing or replacing property or removing the marking, drawing, writing, or etching from property regarding a violation under s. 943.017, for the value of unrecovered stolen property , or for personal injury attributable to a willful, malicious, or wanton act of the child.

AB651-ASA1,7,18 (b) 1. The parent or parents with custody of their minor child are jointly and severally liable with the child for the damages imposed under s. 943.51 for their child's violation of s. 943.50.