LRBa0118/1
RPN:kaf:kat
1997 - 1998 LEGISLATURE
SENATE AMENDMENT 1,
TO 1997 SENATE BILL 78
March 6, 1997 - Offered by Senator
C. Potter.
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8"
Section 5m. 778.30 of the statutes is created to read:
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9778.30 Collection of forfeitures and related charges by assignment. (1) 10In addition to the procedures under s. 23.795 or 345.47 or under this chapter for the
11collection of a forfeiture, assessment, surcharge or restitution payment if a
12defendant fails to pay the forfeiture, assessment, surcharge or restitution payment
13within the period specified by the circuit court, the court may do any of the following:
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1(a) Issue a judgment for the unpaid amount and direct the clerk of circuit court
2to file and docket a transcript of the judgment, without fee. If the court issues a
3judgment for the unpaid amount, the clerk of circuit court shall send to the defendant
4at his or her last-known address written notification that a civil judgment has been
5issued for the unpaid forfeiture, assessment, surcharge or restitution payment. The
6judgment has the same force and effect as judgments docketed under s. 806.10.
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(b) Issue an order assigning not more than 25% of the defendant's commissions,
8earnings, salaries, wages, pension benefits, benefits under ch. 102 and other money
9due or to be due in the future to the clerk of circuit court for payment of the unpaid
10forfeiture, assessment, surcharge or restitution payment. In this paragraph,
11"employer" includes the state and its political subdivisions.
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(c) Issue an order assigning lottery prizes won by a defendant whose name is
13on the list supplied to the clerk of circuit court under s. 565.30 (5r) (a), for payment
14of the unpaid forfeiture, assessment, surcharge or restitution payment.
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(d) A child support withholding assignment or order listed under s. 767.265 (4)
16has priority over any assignment under this section.
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17(2) (a) 1. Upon entry of the assignment under sub. (1) (b), unless the court finds
18that income withholding is likely to cause the defendant irreparable harm, the clerk
19of circuit court shall provide notice of the assignment by regular mail to the
20last-known address of the person from whom the defendant receives or will receive
21money. If the clerk of circuit court does not receive the money from the person
22notified, the the clerk of circuit court shall provide notice of the assignment to any
23other person from whom the defendant receives or will receive money. Notice of an
24assignment under sub. (1) (b) shall inform the intended recipient that, if a prior
25assignment under sub. (1) (b) has been received relating to the same defendant, the
1recipient is required to notify the clerk of circuit court that sent the subsequent notice
2of assignment that another assignment has already been received. A notice of
3assignment shall include a form permitting the recipient to designate on the form
4that another assignment has already been received.
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2. If, after receiving the annual list under s. 565.30 (5r) (a), the clerk of circuit
6court determines that a person identified in the list may be subject to an assignment
7under sub. (1) (c), the clerk shall inform the court of that determination. If the court
8issues an order under sub. (1) (c), the clerk of circuit court shall send the notice of that
9order to the administrator of the lottery division of the department of revenue,
10including a statement of the amount owed under the judgment and the name and
11address of the person owing the judgment. The court shall notify the administrator
12of the lottery division of the department of revenue when the judgment that is the
13basis of the assignment has been paid in full.
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3. Notice under this paragraph may be a notice of the court, a copy of the
15executed assignment or a copy of that part of the court order which directs payment.
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(b) For each payment made under the assignment under sub. (1) (b), the person
17from whom the defendant under the order receives money shall receive an amount
18equal to the person's necessary disbursements, not to exceed $3, which shall be
19deducted from the money to be paid to the defendant.
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(c) A person who receives notice of the assignment under sub. (1) (b) shall
21withhold the amount specified in the notice from any money that person pays to the
22defendant later than one week after receipt of the notice of assignment. Within 5
23days after the day on which the person pays money to the defendant, the person shall
24send the amount withheld to the clerk of circuit court that provided the notice. If the
25person has already received a notice of an assignment under sub. (1) (b) related to
1the same defendant, the person shall retain the later assignment and withhold the
2amount specified in that assignment after the last of any prior assignments is paid
3in full. Within 10 days of receipt of the later notice, the person shall notify the clerk
4of circuit court that sent the notice that the person has received a prior notice of an
5assignment under sub. (1) (b). Section 241.09 does not apply to assignments under
6this section.
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(d) If after receipt of notice of assignment under par. (a) 1. the person from
8whom the defendant receives money fails to withhold the money or send the money
9to the clerk of circuit court as provided in this subsection, the person may be
10proceeded against under the principal action under ch. 785 for contempt of court or
11may be proceeded against under this chapter and be required to forfeit not less than
12$50 nor more than an amount, if the amount exceeds $50, that is equal to 1% of the
13amount not withheld or sent.
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(e) If an employer who receives notice of an assignment under sub. (1) (b) fails
15to notify the clerk of circuit court within 10 days after an employe is terminated or
16after the employe temporarily or permanently leaves the employer's employment,
17the employer may be proceeded against under the principal action under ch. 785 for
18contempt of court.
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19(3) Compliance by the person from whom the defendant receives money with
20the order under sub. (1) (b) operates as a discharge of the person's liability to the
21defendant as to that portion of the defendant's commissions, earnings, salaries,
22wages, benefits or other money so affected.
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23(4) No employer may use an assignment under sub. (1) (b) as a basis for the
24denial of employment to a defendant, the discharge of an employe or any disciplinary
25action against an employe. An employer who denies employment or discharges or
1disciplines an employe in violation of this subsection may be fined not more than
2$500 and may be required to make full restitution to the aggrieved person, including
3reinstatement and back pay. Restitution shall be in accordance with s. 973.20. An
4aggrieved person may apply to the district attorney or to the department of industry,
5labor and job development for enforcement of this subsection.
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6(5) (a) In this subsection, "payroll period" has the meaning given in s. 71.63 (5).
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(b) If after an assignment of earnings is in effect the defendant's employer
8changes its payroll period, or the defendant changes employers and the new
9employer's payroll period is different from the former employer's payroll period, the
10clerk of circuit court may, unless otherwise ordered by a judge, amend the
11withholding assignment or order so that all of the following apply:
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1. The withholding frequency corresponds to the new payroll period.
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2. The amounts to be withheld reflect the adjustment to the withholding
14frequency.
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(c) The clerk of circuit court shall provide notice of the amended withholding
16assignment or order under this subsection by regular mail to the defendant's
17employer and to the defendant.".
