SB257: Bill Text

Current law specifies certain information that must be included in a petition in an action affecting the family, such as a divorce, paternity action, or action to enforce or revise an order issued in a divorce. This bill requires a petition in an action affecting the family to indicate whether either of the parties is obligated to pay child or family support under a judgment or order issued by a court and, if so, the name of the court and the amount of support owed under the judgment or order.

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

SB257, s. 1 Section 1. 46.10 (14) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB257,3,9 46.10 (14) (b) Except as provided in par. (c) and subject to par. (cm), liability of a parent specified in sub. (2) or s. 46.03 (18) for the care and maintenance of the parent's minor child who has been placed by a court order under s. 48.355 or 48.357 in a residential, nonmedical facility such as a group home, foster home, treatment foster home, or residential care center for children and youth shall be determined by the court by using the percentage standard established by the department of workforce development under s. 49.22 (9) (a) and by applying the percentage standard in the manner established by the department under s. 46.247.

SB257, s. 2 Section 2. 46.247 of the statutes is amended to read:

SB257,3,18 46.247 Application of child support standard for certain children. For purposes of determining child support under s. 46.10 (14) (b), the department shall promulgate rules related to the application of the standard established by the department of workforce development under s. 49.22 (9) (a) to a child support obligation for the care and maintenance of a child who is placed by a court order under s. 48.355 or 48.357 in a residential, nonmedical facility. The rules shall take into account the needs of any person, including dependent children other than the child, whom either parent is legally obligated to support.

SB257, s. 3 Section 3. 48.30 (6) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB257,4,11 48.30 (6) (b) If it appears to the court that disposition of the case may include placement of the child outside the child's home, the court shall order the child's parent to provide a statement of income, assets, debts, and living expenses to the court or the designated agency under s. 48.33 (1) at least 5 days before the scheduled date of the dispositional hearing or as otherwise ordered by the court. The clerk of court shall provide, without charge, to any parent ordered to provide a statement of income, assets, debts, and living expenses a document setting forth the percentage standard established by the department of workforce development under s. 49.22 (9) (a) and the manner of its application established by the department of health and family services under s. 46.247 and listing the factors that a court may consider under s. 46.10 (14) (c).

SB257, s. 4 Section 4. 48.31 (7) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB257,4,23 48.31 (7) (b) If it appears to the court that disposition of the case may include placement of the child outside the child's home, the court shall order the child's parent to provide a statement of income, assets, debts, and living expenses to the court or the designated agency under s. 48.33 (1) at least 5 days before the scheduled date of the dispositional hearing or as otherwise ordered by the court. The clerk of court shall provide, without charge, to any parent ordered to provide a statement of income, assets, debts, and living expenses a document setting forth the percentage standard established by the department of workforce development under s. 49.22 (9) (a) and the manner of its application established by the department of health and family services under s. 46.247 and listing the factors that a court may consider under s. 46.10 (14) (c).

SB257, s. 5 Section 5. 48.357 (5m) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB257,5,12 48.357 (5m) (a) If a proposed change in placement changes a child's placement from a placement in the child's home to a placement outside the child's home, the court shall order the child's parent to provide a statement of income, assets, debts, and living expenses to the court or the person or agency primarily responsible for implementing the dispositional order by a date specified by the court. The clerk of court shall provide, without charge, to any parent ordered to provide a statement of income, assets, debts, and living expenses a document setting forth the percentage standard established by the department of workforce development under s. 49.22 (9) (a) and the manner of its application established by the department of health and family services under s. 46.247 and listing the factors that a court may consider under s. 46.10 (14) (c). If the child is placed outside the child's home, the court shall determine the liability of the parent in the manner provided in s. 46.10 (14).

SB257, s. 6 Section 6. 48.363 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB257,5,23 48.363 (1) (c) If the proposed revision is for a change in the amount of child support to be paid by a parent, the court shall order the child's parent to provide a statement of income, assets, debts, and living expenses to the court and the person or agency primarily responsible for implementing the dispositional order by a date specified by the court. The clerk of court shall provide, without charge, to any parent ordered to provide a statement of income, assets, debts, and living expenses a document setting forth the percentage standard established by the department of workforce development under s. 49.22 (9) (a) and the manner of its application established by the department of health and family services under s. 46.247 and listing the factors that a court may consider under s. 46.10 (14) (c).

SB257, s. 7 Section 7. 49.22 (9) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB257,6,3 49.22 (9) (a) The department shall promulgate rules that provide a standard for courts to use in determining a child support obligation based upon a percentage of the gross income and assets of either or both parents.

SB257,6,9 (b) The department shall promulgate rules shall that provide for consideration of the income of each parent and the amount of physical placement with each parent adjustments to the standard promulgated under par. (a) that a court, in its discretion, may use in determining a child support obligation in cases in which a child has substantial periods of physical placement with each parent or in which a parent has a preexisting obligation to support a child.

SB257, s. 8 Section 8. 301.12 (14) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB257,6,19 301.12 (14) (b) Except as provided in par. (c) and subject to par. (cm), liability of a parent specified in sub. (2) or s. 301.03 (18) for the care and maintenance of the parent's minor child who has been placed by a court order under s. 938.183, 938.355, or 938.357 in a residential, nonmedical facility such as a group home, foster home, treatment foster home, residential care center for children and youth, or juvenile correctional institution shall be determined by the court by using the percentage standard established by the department of workforce development under s. 49.22 (9) (a) and by applying the percentage standard in the manner established by the department under par. (g).

SB257, s. 9 Section 9. 301.12 (14) (g) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB257,7,2 301.12 (14) (g) For purposes of determining child support under par. (b), the department shall promulgate rules related to the application of the standard established by the department of workforce development under s. 49.22 (9) (a) to a child support obligation for the care and maintenance of a child who is placed by a court order under s. 938.183, 938.355, or 938.357 in a residential, nonmedical facility. The rules shall take into account the needs of any person, including dependent children other than the child, whom either parent is legally obligated to support.

SB257, s. 10 Section 10. 767.085 (1) (dm) of the statutes is created to read:

SB257,7,7 767.085 (1) (dm) Whether either of the parties is obligated to pay child or family support under a judgment or order issued by a court and, if so, the name of the court that issued each judgment or order and the amount of child or family support owed under each judgment or order, if known.

SB257, s. 11 Section 11. 767.085 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB257,7,12 767.085 (2) (b) The clerk of court shall provide without charge, to each person filing a petition requesting child support, a document setting forth the percentage standard established by the department under s. 49.22 (9) (a) and listing the factors which that a court may consider under s. 767.25 (1m) and (1r).

SB257, s. 12 Section 12. 767.085 (2m) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB257,7,17 767.085 (2m) (a) 2. Shall be accompanied by a document, provided without charge by the clerk of court, setting forth the percentage standard established by the department under s. 49.22 (9) (a) and listing the factors which that a court may consider under s. 767.25 (1m) and (1r).

SB257, s. 13 Section 13. 767.23 (1n) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB257,8,6 767.23 (1n) Before making any temporary order under sub. (1), the court or circuit court commissioner shall consider those factors that the court is required by this chapter to consider before entering a final judgment on the same subject matter. In making a determination under sub. (1) (a) or (am), the court or circuit court commissioner shall consider the factors under s. 767.24 (5). If the court or circuit court commissioner makes a temporary child support order that deviates from the amount of support that would be required by using the percentage standard established by the department under s. 49.22 (9) (a) or by using the method of calculating child support under s. 767.25 (1r), the court or circuit court commissioner shall comply with the requirements of s. 767.25 (1n). A temporary order under sub. (1) may be based upon the written stipulation of the parties, subject to the approval of the court or circuit court commissioner. Temporary orders made by a circuit court commissioner may be reviewed by the court.

SB257, s. 14 Section 14. 767.25 (1j) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB257,8,10 767.25 (1j) Except as provided in sub. subs. (1m) and (1r), the court shall determine child support payments by using the percentage standard established by the department under s. 49.22 (9) (a).

SB257, s. 15 Section 15. 767.25 (1m) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB257,8,16 767.25 (1m) (b) The financial resources of both parents , including the resulting disparity in the parties' incomes and resources, and, if the payer's income and resources are lower than the payee's income and resources, whether application of the percentage standard would create substantially disparate standards of living between the parties.

SB257, s. 16 Section 16. 767.25 (1r) of the statutes is created to read:

SB257,8,24 767.25 (1r) Notwithstanding sub. (1m), in cases in which a child has substantial periods of physical placement with each parent or in which a parent has a preexisting obligation to support a child, upon request by a party or on its own motion, the court may modify the amount of child support payments determined under sub. (1j) in the manner provided by rule under s. 49.22 (9) (b). The court is not required to provide the information specified in sub. (1n) if the court determines child support payments under this subsection.

SB257, s. 17 Section 17. 767.295 (2) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB257,9,12 767.295 (2) (c) If the court enters an order under par. (a), it shall order the parent to pay child support equal to the amount determined by applying the percentage standard established under s. 49.22 (9) (a) to the income a person would earn by working 40 hours per week for the federal minimum hourly wage under 29 USC 206 (a) (1) or equal to the amount of child support that the parent was ordered to pay in the most recent determination of support under this chapter. The child support obligation ordered under this paragraph continues until the parent makes timely payment in full for 3 consecutive months or until the person participates in the program under s. 49.36 for 16 weeks, whichever comes first. The court shall provide in its order that the parent must make child support payments calculated under s. 767.25 (1j) or, (1m), or (1r) after the obligation to make payments ordered under this paragraph ceases.

SB257, s. 18 Section 18. 767.32 (1) (b) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB257,9,21 767.32 (1) (b) 4. A difference between the amount of child support ordered by the court to be paid by the payer and the amount that the payer would have been required to pay based on the percentage standard established by the department under s. 49.22 (9) (a), or based on the method of calculating child support under s. 767.25 (1r), if the court did not use the percentage standard or the method under s. 767.25 (1r) in determining the child support payments and did not provide the information required under s. 46.10 (14) (d), 301.12 (14) (d), or 767.25 (1n), whichever is appropriate.

SB257, s. 19 Section 19. 767.32 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB257,9,25 767.32 (2) Except as provided in sub. (2m) or (2r), if the court revises a judgment or order with respect to child support payments, it shall do so by using the percentage standard established by the department under s. 49.22 (9) (a).

SB257, s. 20 Section 20. 767.32 (2m) of the statutes is renumbered 767.32 (2m) (a).

SB257, s. 21 Section 21. 767.32 (2m) (b) of the statutes is created to read:

SB257,10,9 767.32 (2m) (b) Notwithstanding par. (a), in cases in which a child has substantial periods of physical placement with each parent or in which a parent has a preexisting obligation to support a child, upon request by a party or on its own motion, the court may modify the amount of child support payments determined under sub. (2) in the manner provided by rule under s. 49.22 (9) (b). The court is not required to provide the information specified in s. 767.25 (1n) if the court determines child support payments under this paragraph.

SB257, s. 22 Section 22. 767.33 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB257,10,17 767.33 (1) (a) An order for child or family support under this chapter may provide for an annual adjustment in the amount to be paid based on a change in the payer's income if the amount of child or family support is expressed in the order as a fixed sum and based on the percentage standard established by the department under s. 49.22 (9) (a) or on the method of calculating child support under s. 767.25 (1r). No adjustment may be made under this section unless the order provides for the adjustment.

SB257, s. 23 Section 23. 767.33 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB257,10,22 767.33 (1) (b) An adjustment under this section may not be made more than once in a year and shall be determined on the basis of the percentage standard established by the department under s. 49.22 (9) (a) or the method of calculating child support under s. 767.25 (1r).

SB257, s. 24 Section 24. 767.45 (7) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB257,11,3 767.45 (7) The clerk of court shall provide without charge, to each person bringing an action under this section, except to the state under sub. (1) (g) or (6m), a document setting forth the percentage standard established by the department under s. 49.22 (9) (a) and listing the factors which that a court may consider under s. 767.25 (1m) and (1r).

SB257, s. 25 Section 25. 767.455 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB257,11,8 767.455 (6) Document. The summons served on the respondent shall be accompanied by a document, provided without charge by the clerk of court, setting forth the percentage standard established by the department under s. 49.22 (9) (a) and listing the factors which that a court may consider under s. 767.25 (1m) and (1r).

SB257, s. 26 Section 26. 767.477 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB257,11,16 767.477 (2) Before making any temporary order under sub. (1), the court shall consider those factors that the court is required to consider when granting a final judgment on the same subject matter. If the court makes a temporary child support order that deviates from the amount of support that would be required by using the percentage standard established by the department under s. 49.22 (9) (a) or by using the method of calculating child support under s. 767.25 (1r), the court shall comply with the requirements of s. 767.25 (1n).

SB257, s. 27 Section 27. 938.30 (6) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB257,12,2 938.30 (6) (b) If it appears to the court that disposition of the case may include placement of the juvenile outside the juvenile's home, the court shall order the juvenile's parent to provide a statement of income, assets, debts, and living expenses to the court or the designated agency under s. 938.33 (1) at least 5 days before the scheduled date of the dispositional hearing or as otherwise ordered by the court. The clerk of court shall provide, without charge, to any parent ordered to provide a statement of income, assets, debts, and living expenses a document setting forth the percentage standard established by the department of workforce development under s. 49.22 (9) (a) and listing the factors that a court may consider under s. 301.12 (14) (c).

SB257, s. 28 Section 28. 938.31 (7) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB257,12,13 938.31 (7) (b) If it appears to the court that disposition of the case may include placement of the juvenile outside the juvenile's home, the court shall order the juvenile's parent to provide a statement of income, assets, debts, and living expenses to the court or the designated agency under s. 938.33 (1) at least 5 days before the scheduled date of the dispositional hearing or as otherwise ordered by the court. The clerk of court shall provide, without charge, to any parent ordered to provide a statement of income, assets, debts, and living expenses a document setting forth the percentage standard established by the department of workforce development under s. 49.22 (9) (a) and listing the factors that a court may consider under s. 301.12 (14) (c).

SB257, s. 29 Section 29. 938.357 (5m) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB257,12,25 938.357 (5m) (a) If a proposed change in placement changes a juvenile's placement from a placement in the juvenile's home to a placement outside the juvenile's home, the court shall order the juvenile's parent to provide a statement of income, assets, debts, and living expenses to the court or the person or agency primarily responsible for implementing the dispositional order by a date specified by the court. The clerk of court shall provide, without charge, to any parent ordered to provide a statement of income, assets, debts, and living expenses a document setting forth the percentage standard established by the department of workforce development under s. 49.22 (9) (a) and listing the factors that a court may consider under s. 301.12 (14) (c). If the juvenile is placed outside the juvenile's home, the court shall determine the liability of the parent in the manner provided in s. 301.12 (14).

SB257, s. 30 Section 30. 938.363 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB257,13,10 938.363 (1) (c) If the proposed revision is for a change in the amount of child support to be paid by a parent, the court shall order the juvenile's parent to provide a statement of income, assets, debts, and living expenses to the court and the person or agency primarily responsible for implementing the dispositional order by a date specified by the court. The clerk of court shall provide, without charge, to any parent ordered to provide a statement of income, assets, debts, and living expenses a document setting forth the percentage standard established by the department of workforce development under s. 49.22 (9) (a) and listing the factors that a court may consider under s. 301.12 (14) (c).

SB257, s. 31 Section 31. Nonstatutory provisions.

SB257,13,15 (1) No creation or amendment of a statute section by this act constitutes a substantial change in circumstances on which may be based a revision under section 767.32 of the statutes, as affected by this act, of a judgment or order with respect to an amount of child or family support.

SB257, s. 32 Section 32. Initial applicability.

SB257,13,23 (1) Calculating child support in special circumstances. The treatment of sections 767.23 (1n), 767.25 (1j) and (1r), 767.295 (2) (c), 767.32 (1) (b) 4., 767.33 (1) (a) and (b), and 767.477 (2) of the statutes, the renumbering of section 767.32 (2m) of the statutes, and the creation of section 767.32 (2m) (b) of the statutes first apply to child support orders that are granted on the effective date of this subsection, including orders in actions or proceedings to modify a judgment or order that was granted before the effective date of this subsection.

SB257,14,2 (2) Percentage standard document listing deviation factors. The treatment of sections 767.085 (2) (b) and (2m) (a) 2., 767.45 (7), and 767.455 (6) of the statutes first applies to actions commenced on the first day of the 7th month beginning after publication.

SB257,14,5 (3) Noting other support orders in petition. The treatment of section 767.085 (1) (dm) of the statutes first applies to petitions filed on the first day of the 2nd month beginning after the effective date of this subsection.

SB257,14,6 (End)