AB576: Bill Text

AB576, s. 13 Section 13. 49.41 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB576,11,25 49.41 Assistance grants exempt from levy. All grants of aid to families with dependent children, payments made for social services, cash benefits paid by counties under s. 59.07 (154), temporary assistance benefits under s. 49.176 and benefits under ss. 49.032, 49.046 and s. 49.177 or federal Title XVI, are exempt from every tax, and from execution, garnishment, attachment and every other process and shall be inalienable.

AB576, s. 14 Section 14. 49.41 of the statutes, as affected by 1995 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is renumbered 49.96 and amended to read:

AB576,12,8 49.96 Assistance grants exempt from levy. All grants of aid to families with dependent children, payments made for social services, cash benefits paid by counties under s. 59.07 (154), temporary assistance benefits under s. 49.176 49.78 and benefits under and s. 49.177 49.77 or federal Title XVI, are exempt from every tax, and from execution, garnishment, attachment and every other process and shall be inalienable.

AB576, s. 15 Section 15. 49.53 (1m) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB576,12,18 49.53 (1m) Except as provided under sub. (2), or (3) or (4), no person may use or disclose information concerning applicants and recipients of general relief under s. 49.02 funded by a relief block grant, temporary assistance under s. 49.176, aid to families with dependent children, social services, child and spousal support and establishment of paternity services under s. 46.25, or supplemental payments under s. 49.177, for any purpose not connected with the administration of the programs. Any person violating this subsection may be fined not less than $25 nor more than $500 or imprisoned in the county jail not less than 10 days nor more than one year or both.

AB576, s. 16 Section 16. 49.53 (1m) of the statutes, as affected by 1995 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is renumbered 49.83 and amended to read:

AB576,13,4 49.83 Except as provided under sub. (2) or (3) s. 49.32 (9) and (10), no person may use or disclose information concerning applicants and recipients of relief funded by a relief block grant, temporary assistance under s. 49.176 49.78, aid to families with dependent children, social services, child and spousal support and establishment of paternity services under s. 46.25, or supplemental payments under s. 49.177 49.77, for any purpose not connected with the administration of the programs. Any person violating this subsection may be fined not less than $25 nor more than $500 or imprisoned in the county jail not less than 10 days nor more than one year or both.

AB576, s. 17 Section 17 . 812.30 (9) of the statutes, as affected by 1995 Wisconsin Act 27, is amended to read:

AB576,13,11 812.30 (9) "Need-based public assistance" means aid to families with dependent children, relief funded by a block grant under ch. 49, relief provided by counties under s. 59.07 (154), medical assistance, temporary assistance under s. 49.176, supplemental security income, food stamps, or benefits received by veterans under s. 45.351 (1) or under 38 USC 501 to 562.

AB576, s. 18 Section 18 . 812.30 (9) of the statutes, as affected by 1995 Wisconsin Acts 27 and .... (this act), is amended to read:

AB576,13,18 812.30 (9) "Need-based public assistance" means aid to families with dependent children, relief funded by a block grant under ch. 49, relief provided by counties under s. 59.07 (154), medical assistance, temporary assistance under s. 49.176 49.78, supplemental security income, food stamps, or benefits received by veterans under s. 45.351 (1) or under 38 USC 501 to 562.

AB576, s. 19 Section 19 . 812.44 (4) of the statutes, as affected by 1995 Wisconsin Act 27, is amended to read:

AB576,13,22 812.44 (4) The notice of exemption served upon the garnishee under s. 812.35 (4) shall be in substantially the following form:

AB576,13,23 STATE OF WISCONSIN

AB576,13,24 CIRCUIT COURT:.... County

AB576,14,2 A.B., Creditor

AB576,14,3 vs. File or Reference Number....

AB576,14,4 C.D., Debtor EXEMPTION NOTICE

AB576,14,5 and EARNINGS GARNISHMENT

AB576,14,6 E.F., Garnishee

AB576,14,8 To the debtor:

AB576,14,13 The creditor was awarded a judgment against you or your spouse by.... (County Circuit or Federal District) Court on the.... day of...., 19.. That judgment not having been fully paid, the creditor has now filed a garnishment proceeding against your earnings from the garnishee. This means that the creditor is seeking to take some of your earnings to satisfy part or all of the judgment against you or your spouse.

AB576,14,14 The total amount of the creditor's claim is as follows:

AB576,14,15 Unpaid balance on judgment $....

AB576,14,16 Unpaid postjudgment interest $....

AB576,14,17 Costs:

AB576,14,18 a. Garnishment filing fee $....

AB576,14,19 b. Garnishee fee $....

AB576,14,20 c. Service of process (estimate) $....

AB576,14,21 TOTAL $....

AB576,14,24 By law, you are entitled to an exemption of not less than 80% of your disposable earnings. Your "disposable earnings" are those remaining after social security and federal and state income taxes are withheld.

AB576,14,25 Your earnings are completely exempt from garnishment if:

AB576,15,3 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.

AB576,15,9 2. You receive aid to families with dependent children, relief funded by a relief block grant under ch. 49, relief provided by counties under section 59.07 (154) of the Wisconsin Statutes, medical assistance, temporary assistance under section 49.176 of the Wisconsin Statutes, supplemental security income, food stamps, or veterans benefits based on need under USC 501 to 562 or section 45.351 (1) of the Wisconsin Statutes, or have received these benefits within the past 6 months.

AB576,15,11 3. At least 25% of your disposable earnings are assigned by court order for support.

AB576,15,14 If you qualify for a complete exemption, you must give or mail a copy of the enclosed debtor's answer form to the garnishee in order to receive that increased exemption.

AB576,15,16 If your circumstances change while the garnishment is in effect, you may file a new answer at any time.

AB576,15,20 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.

AB576,15,22 IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE CONSULT AN ATTORNEY

AB576,16,3 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.

AB576,16,4 PENALTIES

AB576,16,7 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.

AB576, s. 20 Section 20 . 812.44 (4) of the statutes, as affected by 1995 Wisconsin Acts 27 and .... (this act), is amended to read:

AB576,16,11 812.44 (4) The notice of exemption served upon the garnishee under s. 812.35 (4) shall be in substantially the following form:

AB576,16,12 STATE OF WISCONSIN

AB576,16,13 CIRCUIT COURT:.... County

AB576,16,15 A.B., Creditor

AB576,16,16 vs. File or Reference Number....

AB576,16,17 C.D., Debtor EXEMPTION NOTICE

AB576,16,18 and EARNINGS GARNISHMENT

AB576,16,19 E.F., Garnishee

AB576,16,21 To the debtor:

AB576,17,2 The creditor was awarded a judgment against you or your spouse by.... (County Circuit or Federal District) Court on the.... day of...., 19.. That judgment not having been fully paid, the creditor has now filed a garnishment proceeding against your earnings from the garnishee. This means that the creditor is seeking to take some of your earnings to satisfy part or all of the judgment against you or your spouse.

AB576,17,3 The total amount of the creditor's claim is as follows:

AB576,17,4 Unpaid balance on judgment $....

AB576,17,5 Unpaid postjudgment interest $....

AB576,17,6 Costs:

AB576,17,7 a. Garnishment filing fee $....

AB576,17,8 b. Garnishee fee $....

AB576,17,9 c. Service of process (estimate) $....

AB576,17,10 TOTAL $....

AB576,17,13 By law, you are entitled to an exemption of not less than 80% of your disposable earnings. Your "disposable earnings" are those remaining after social security and federal and state income taxes are withheld.

AB576,17,14 Your earnings are completely exempt from garnishment if:

AB576,17,17 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.

AB576,17,23 2. You receive aid to families with dependent children, relief funded by a relief block grant under ch. 49, relief provided by counties under section 59.07 (154) of the Wisconsin Statutes, medical assistance, temporary assistance under section 49.176 49.78 of the Wisconsin Statutes, supplemental security income, food stamps, or veterans benefits based on need under USC 501 to 562 or section 45.351 (1) of the Wisconsin Statutes, or have received these benefits within the past 6 months.

AB576,17,25 3. At least 25% of your disposable earnings are assigned by court order for support.

AB576,18,3 If you qualify for a complete exemption, you must give or mail a copy of the enclosed debtor's answer form to the garnishee in order to receive that increased exemption.

AB576,18,5 If your circumstances change while the garnishment is in effect, you may file a new answer at any time.

AB576,18,9 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.

AB576,18,11 IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE CONSULT AN ATTORNEY

AB576,18,17 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.

AB576,18,18 PENALTIES

AB576,18,21 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.

AB576, s. 21 Section 21 . 812.44 (5) of the statutes, as affected by 1995 Wisconsin Act 27, is amended to read:

AB576,18,25 812.44 (5) The debtor's answer form under s. 812.37 shall be in substantially the following form:

AB576,19,1 STATE OF WISCONSIN

AB576,19,2 CIRCUIT COURT:.... County

AB576,19,4 A.B., Creditor

AB576,19,5 vs. File or Reference Number....

AB576,19,6 C.D., Debtor EARNINGS GARNISHMENT

AB576,19,7 and DEBTOR'S ANSWER

AB576,19,8 E.F., Garnishee