Senate Bill No. 485

(By Senators Snyder, Caldwell, Fanning, Minard, Rowe, Unger and Minear )

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[Introduced February 1, 2002; referred to the Committee on Interstate Cooperation; and then to the Committee on the Judiciary.]

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A BILL to amend and reenact article sixteen, chapter forty-eight of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty- one, as amended, relating to interstate family support act.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That article sixteen, chapter forty-eight of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, be amended and reenacted to read as follows:
ARTICLE 16. UNIFORM INTERSTATE FAMILY SUPPORT ACT.
PART 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS.

§48-16-101. Short title.


This article may be cited as the uniform interstate family support act.
§48-16-102. Definitions.
As used in this article:
(1) "Child" means an individual, whether over or under the age of majority, who is or is alleged to be owed a duty of support by the individual's parent or who is or is alleged to be the beneficiary of a support order directed to the parent.
(2) "Child support order" means a support order for a child, including a child who has attained the age of majority under the law of the issuing state.
(3) "Duty of support" means an obligation imposed or imposable by law to provide support for a child, spouse or former spouse, including an unsatisfied obligation to provide support.
(4) "Home state" means the state in which a child lived with a parent or a person acting as parent for at least six consecutive months immediately preceding the time of filing of a petition or comparable pleading for support and, if a child is less than six months old, the state in which the child lived from birth with any of them. A period of temporary absence of any of them is counted as part of the six-month or other period.
(5) "Income" includes earnings or other periodic entitlements to money from any source and any other property subject to withholding for support under the law of this state.
(6) "Income-withholding order" means an order or other legal process directed to an obligor's source of income as defined by section 1-240 of this chapter to withhold support from the income of the obligor.
(7) "Initiating state" means a state from which a proceeding is forwarded or in which a proceeding is filed for forwarding to a responding state under this article or a law or procedure substantially similar to this article, the uniform reciprocal enforcement of support act or the revised uniform reciprocal enforcement of support act.
(8) "Initiating tribunal" means the authorized tribunal in an initiating state.
(9) "Issuing state" means the state in which a tribunal issues a support order or renders a judgment determining parentage.
(10) "Issuing tribunal" means the tribunal that issues a support order or renders a judgment determining parentage.
(11) "Law" includes decisional and statutory law and rules having the force of law.
(12) "Obligee" means:
(i) (A) An individual to whom a duty of support is or is alleged to be owed or in whose favor a support order has been issued or a judgment determining parentage has been rendered;
(ii) (B) A state or political subdivision to which the rights under a duty of support or support order have been assigned or which has independent claims based on financial assistance provided to an individual obligee; or
(iii) (C) An individual seeking a judgment determining parentage of the individual's child.
(13) "Obligor" means an individual or the estate of a decedent:
(i) (A) Who owes or is alleged to owe a duty of support;
(ii) (B) Who is alleged but has not been adjudicated to be a parent of a child; or
(iii) (C) Who is liable under a support order.
(14) "Person" means an individual, corporation, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture, government; governmental subdivision, agency or instrumentality; public corporation; or any other legal or commercial entity.
(15) "Record" means information that is inscribed on a tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or other medium and is retrievable in perceivable form.
(14)(16) "Register" means to record a support order or judgment determining parentage in the registry of foreign support orders.
(15)(17) "Registering tribunal" means a tribunal in which a support order is registered.
(16) (18) "Responding state" means a state in which a proceeding is filed or to which a proceeding is forwarded for filing from an initiating state under this article or a law or procedure substantially similar to this article, the uniform reciprocal enforcement of support act or the revised uniform reciprocal enforcement of support act.
(17)(19) "Responding tribunal" means the authorized tribunal in a responding state.
(18)(20) "Spousal support order" means a support order for a spouse or former spouse of the obligor.
(19)(21) "State" means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands or any territory or insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. The term includes:
(i)(A) An Indian tribe; or and
(ii)(B) a A foreign jurisdiction country or political subdivision that:
(i) Has been declared to be a foreign reciprocating country or political subdivision under federal law;
(ii) Has established a reciprocal arrangement for child support with this state as provided in section 308; or
(iii) has Has enacted a law or established procedures for issuance and enforcement of support orders which are substantially similar to the procedures under this article, the uniform reciprocal enforcement of support act or the revised uniform reciprocal enforcement of support act.
(20)(22) "Support enforcement agency" means a public official or agency authorized to seek:
(i) (A) Enforcement of support orders or laws relating to the duty of support;
(ii) (B) Establishment or modification of child support;
(iii) (C) Determination of parentage; or
(iv) (D) to locate Location of obligors or their assets; or
(E) Determination of the controlling child support order.
(21) (23) "Support order" means a judgment, decree, or order, or directive, whether temporary, final or subject to modification, issued by a tribunal for the benefit of a child, a spouse or a former spouse which provides for monetary support, health care, arrearages or reimbursement and may include related costs and fees, interest, income withholding, attorney's fees and other relief.
(22)(24) "Tribunal" means a court, administrative agency or quasijudicial entity authorized to establish, enforce or modify support orders or to determine parentage.
§48-16-103. Tribunal of state.
The family court is the tribunal of this state.
§48-16-104. Remedies cumulative.
(a) Remedies provided by this article are cumulative and do not affect the availability of remedies under other law, including the recognition of a support order of a foreign country or political subdivision the basis of comity.
(b) This article does not:
(1) Provide the exclusive method of establishing or enforcing a support order under the law of this state; or
(2) Grant a tribunal of this state jurisdiction to render judgment or issue an order relating to child custody or visitation in proceeding under this article.
PART 2. JURISDICTION.

§48-16-201. Basis for jurisdiction over nonresident.
(a) In a proceeding to establish, or enforce, or modify a support order or to determine parentage, a tribunal of this state may exercise personal jurisdiction over a nonresident individual or the individual's guardian or conservator if:
(1) The individual is personally served with notice within this state;
(2) The individual submits to the jurisdiction of this state by consent, by entering a general appearance, or by filing a responsive document having the effect of waiving any contest to personal jurisdiction;
(3) The individual resided with the child in this state;
(4) The individual resided in this state and provided prenatal expenses or support for the child;
(5) The child resides in this state as a result of the acts or directives of the individual;
(6) The individual engaged in sexual intercourse in this state and the child may have been conceived by that act of intercourse;
(7) The individual has committed a tortious act by failing to support a child resident in this state; or
(8) There is any other basis consistent with the constitutions of this state and the United States for the exercise of personal jurisdiction.
(b) The basis of personal jurisdiction set forth in subsection (a) or in any other law of this state may not be used to acquire personal jurisdiction for a tribunal of the state to modify a child support order of another state unless the requirements of sections 611 or 615 are met.
§48-16-202. Duration of personal jurisdiction.

A tribunal of this state exercising personal jurisdiction over a nonresident under section 16-201 may apply section 16-316 (Special Rules of Evidence and Procedure) to receive evidence from another state, and section 16-318 (Assistance with Discovery) to obtain discovery through a tribunal of another state. In all other respects, parts 3 through 7 do not apply and the tribunal shall apply the procedural and substantive law of this state, including the rules on choice of law other than those established by this article.
Personal jurisdiction acquired by a tribunal of this state in a proceeding under this article or other law of this state relating to a support order continues as long as a tribunal of this state has continuing, exclusive jurisdiction to modify its order or continuing jurisdiction to enforce its order as provided by sections 205, 206 and 211.
§48-16-203. Initiating and responding tribunal of state.
Under this article, a tribunal of this state may serve as an initiating tribunal to forward proceedings to another state and as a responding tribunal for proceedings initiated in another state.
§48-16-204. Simultaneous proceedings.
(a) A tribunal of this state may exercise jurisdiction to establish a support order if the petition or comparable pleading is filed after a petition or comparable pleading is filed in another state only if:
(1) The petition or comparable pleading in this state is filed before the expiration of the time allowed in the other state for filing a responsive pleading challenging the exercise of jurisdiction by the other state;
(2) The contesting party timely challenges the exercise of jurisdiction in the other state; and
(3) If relevant, this state is the home state of the child.
(b) A tribunal of this state may not exercise jurisdiction to establish a support order if the petition or comparable pleading is filed before a petition or comparable pleading is filed in another state if:
(1) The petition or comparable pleading in the other state is filed before the expiration of the time allowed in this state for filing a responsive pleading challenging the exercise of jurisdiction by this state;
(2) The contesting party timely challenges the exercise of jurisdiction in this state; and
(3) If relevant, the other state is the home state of the child.
§48-16-205. Continuing, exclusive jurisdiction to modify child support order.

(a) A tribunal of this state issuing that has issued a support order consistent with the law of this state has and shall exercise continuing, exclusive jurisdiction over a to modify its child support order if the order is the controlling order and:
(1) As long as At the time of the filing of a request for modification this state remains is the residence of the obligor, the individual obligee or the child for whose benefit the support order is issued; or
(2) until all of the parties who are individuals have filed written consents with the tribunal of this state for a tribunal of another state to modify the order and assume continuing, exclusive jurisdiction Even if this state is not the residence of the obligor, the individual obligee, or the child for whose benefit the support order is issued, the parties consent in a record or in open court that the tribunal of this state may continue to exercise jurisdiction to modify its order.
(b) A tribunal of this state issuing that has issued a child support order consistent with the law of this state may not exercise its continuing, exclusive jurisdiction to modify the order if: the order has been modified by a tribunal of another state pursuant to this article or a law substantially similar to this article.
(1) All of the parties who are individuals file consent in a record with the tribunal of this state that a tribunal of another state that has jurisdiction over at least one of the parties who is an individual or that is located in the state of residence of the child may modify the order and assume continuing, exclusive jurisdiction; or
(2) Its order is not the controlling order.
(c) If a child support order of this state is modified by a tribunal of another state pursuant to this article or a law substantially similar to this article, a tribunal of this state loses its continuing, exclusive jurisdiction with regard to prospective enforcement of the order issued in this state, and may only: (1) Enforce the order that was modified as to amounts accruing before the modification; (2) enforce nonmodifiable aspects of that order; and (3) provide other appropriate relief for violations of that order which occurred before the effective date of the modification.
(d) A tribunal of this state shall recognize the continuing, exclusive jurisdiction of
(c) If a tribunal of another state which has issued a child support order pursuant to the uniform interstate family support act or a law substantially similar to this that article which modifies a child support order of a tribunal of this state, tribunals of this state shall recognize the continuing, exclusive jurisdiction of the tribunal of the other state.
(d) A tribunal of this state that lacks continuing, exclusive jurisdiction to modify a child support order may serve as an initiating tribunal to request a tribunal of another state to modify a support order issued in that state.
(e) A temporary support order issued ex parte or pending resolution of a jurisdictional conflict does not create continuing, exclusive jurisdiction in the issuing tribunal.
(f) A tribunal of this state issuing a support order consistent with the law of this state has continuing, exclusive jurisdiction over a spousal support order throughout the existence of the support obligation. A tribunal of this state may not modify a spousal support order issued by a tribunal of another state having continuing, exclusive jurisdiction over that order under the law of that state.
§48-16-206. Continuing jurisdiction to enforce child support order.

(a) A tribunal of this state that has issued a child support order consistent with the law of this state may serve as an initiating tribunal to request a tribunal of another state to enforce or modify a support order issued in that state:
(1) The order if the order is the controlling order and has not been modified by a tribunal of another state that assumed jurisdiction pursuant to the uniform family support act; or
(2) A money judgment for arrears of support and interest on the order accrued before a determination that an order of another state is the controlling order.
(b) A tribunal of this state having continuing, exclusive jurisdiction over a support order may act as a responding tribunal to enforce or modify the order. If a party subject to the continuing, exclusive jurisdiction of the tribunal no longer resides in the issuing state, in subsequent proceedings the tribunal may apply section 16-316 (Special Rules of Evidence and Procedure) to receive evidence from another state and section 16-318 (Assistance with Discovery) to obtain discovery through a tribunal of another state.
(c) A tribunal of this state which lacks continuing, exclusive jurisdiction over a spousal support order may not serve as a responding tribunal to modify a spousal support order of another state.
§48-16-207. Determination of controlling child support order.
(a) If a proceeding is brought under this article and only one tribunal has issued a child support order, the order of that tribunal is controlling and must be recognized.
(b) If a proceeding is brought under this article, and two or more child support orders have been issued by tribunals of this state or another state with regard to the same obligor and same child, a tribunal of this state having personal jurisdiction over both the obligor and individual obligee shall apply the following rules in determining and by order shall determine which order controls to recognize for purposes of continuing, exclusive jurisdiction:
(1) If only one of the tribunals would have continuing, exclusive jurisdiction under this article, the order of that tribunal is controlling and must be recognized.
(2) If more than one of the tribunals would have continuing, exclusive jurisdiction under this article:
(A) An order issued by a tribunal in the current home state of the child; must be recognized, but
(B) If an order has not been issued in the current home state of the child, the order most recently issued is controlling and must be recognized controls.
(3) If none of the tribunals would have continuing, exclusive jurisdiction under this article, the tribunal of this state having jurisdiction over the parties must shall issue a child support order which is controlling and must be recognized controls.
(c) If two or more child support orders have been issued for the same obligor and same child, and if the obligor or the individual obligee resides in this state, upon request of a party who is an individual or a support enforcement agency, may request a tribunal of this state having personal jurisdiction over both the obligor and the obligee who is an individual to shall determine which order controls and must be recognized under subsection (b) of this section. The request must be accompanied by a certified copy of every support order in effect. Every party whose rights may be affected by a determination of the controlling order must be given notice of the request for that determination. The request may be filed with a registration for enforcement or registration for modification pursuant to article six or may be filed as a separate proceeding.
(d) A request to determine which is the controlling order must be accompanied by a copy of every child support order in effect and the applicable record of payments. The requesting party shall give notice of the request to each party whose rights may be affected by the determination.
(d) (e) The tribunal that issued the order that must be recognized as controlling under subsection (a), (b) or (c) is the tribunal that has continuing, exclusive jurisdiction in accordance with to the extend provided in section 16-205 or 206.
(e) (f) A tribunal of this state which that determines by order the identity of which is the controlling child support order under subdivisions (1) and (2) of subsection (b) or subsection (c) or which that issued a new controlling child support order under subdivision (3) of subsection (b) shall include state in that order:
(1) The basis upon which the tribunal made its determination;
(2) The amount of prospective support, if any; and
(3) The total amount of consolidated arrears and accrued interest, if any, under all of the orders after all payments made are credited as provided by section 209.
(f) (g) Within thirty days after issuance of the order determining the identity of which is the controlling order, the party obtaining that order shall file a certified copy of it with in each tribunal that had issued or registered an earlier order of child support. Failure of the party obtaining the order to file a certified copy as required subjects that party to appropriate sanctions by a tribunal in which the issue of failure to file arises, but that failure has no effect on the validity or enforceability of the controlling order. A party or support enforcement agency obtaining the order that fails to file a certified copy is subject to appropriate sanctions by a tribunal in which the issue of failure to file arises. The failure to file does not affect the validity or enforceability of the controlling order.
(h) An order that has been determined to be the controlling order, or a judgment for consolidated arrears of support and interest, if any, made pursuant to this section must be recognized in proceedings under this article.
§48-16-208. Child support orders for two or more obligees.

In responding to multiple registrations or petitions for enforcement of two or more child support orders in effect at the same time with regard to the same obligor and different individual obligees, at least one of which was issued by a tribunal of another state, a tribunal of this state shall enforce those orders in the same manner as if the multiple orders had been issued by a tribunal of this state.
§48-16-209. Credit for payments.
Amounts A tribunal of this state shall credit amounts collected and credited for a particular period pursuant to a support order any child support order against the amounts owed for the same period under any other child support order for support of the same child issued by a tribunal of this or another state must be credited against the amounts accruing or accrued for the same period under a support order issued by the tribunal of this state.
§48-16-210. Application of article to nonresident subject to personal jurisdiction.

A tribunal of this state exercising personal jurisdiction over a nonresident in a proceeding under this article, under other law of this state relating to a support order, or recognizing a support order of a foreign country or political subdivision on the basis of comity may receive evidence from another state pursuant to section 316, communication with a tribunal or another state pursuant to section 317, and obtain discovery through a tribunal of another state pursuant to section 318. In all other respects, articles 3 through 7, inclusive, of this chapter do not apply and the tribunal shall apply the procedural and substantive law of this state.
§48-16-211. Continuing, exclusive jurisdiction to modify spousal support order.

(a) A tribunal of this state issuing a spousal support order consistent with the law of this state has continuing, exclusive jurisdiction to modify the spousal support order throughout the existence of the support obligation.
(b) A tribunal of this state may not modify a spousal support order issued by a tribunal of another state having continuing, exclusive jurisdiction over that order under the law of that state.
(c) A tribunal of this state that has continuing, exclusive jurisdiction over a spousal support order may serve as:
(1) An initiating tribunal to request a tribunal of another state to enforce the spousal support order issued in this state; or
(2) A responding tribunal to enforce or modify its own spousal support order.
PART 3. CIVIL PROCEDURES OF GENERAL APPLICATION.

§48-16-301. Proceedings under article.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this article, this part applies to all proceedings under this article.
(b) This article provides for the following proceedings: (1) Establishment of an order for spousal support or child support; (2) enforcement of a support order and income-withholding order of another state without registration; (3) registration of an order for spousal support or child support of another state for enforcement; (4) modification of an order for child support or spousal support issued by a tribunal of this state; (5) registration of an order for child support of another state for modification; (6) determination of parentage; and (7) assertion of jurisdiction over nonresidents.
(c) An individual petitioner or a support enforcement agency may commence a proceeding authorized under this article by filing a petition in an initiating tribunal for forwarding to a responding tribunal or by filing a petition or a comparable pleading directly in a tribunal of another state which has or can obtain personal jurisdiction over the respondent.
§48-16-302. Proceeding by minor parent.
A minor parent, or a guardian or other legal representative of a minor parent, may maintain a proceeding on behalf of or for the benefit of the minor's child.
§48-16-303. Application of law of state.
Except as otherwise provided by in this article, a responding tribunal of this state shall:
(1) Shall Apply the procedural and substantive law, including the rules on choice of law, generally applicable to similar proceedings originating in this state and may exercise all powers and provide all remedies available in those proceedings; and
(2) shall Determine the duty of support and the amount payable in accordance with the law and support guidelines of this state.
§48-16-304. Duties of initiating tribunal.
(a) Upon the filing of a petition authorized by this article, an initiating tribunal of this state shall forward three copies of the petition and its accompanying documents:
(1) To the responding tribunal or appropriate support enforcement agency in the responding state; or
(2) If the identity of the responding tribunal is unknown, to the state information agency of the responding state with a request that they be forwarded to the appropriate tribunal and that receipt be acknowledged.
(b) If a responding state has not enacted this article or a law or procedure substantially similar to this article, requested by the responding tribunal, a tribunal of this state may shall issue a certificate or other document and make findings required by the law of the responding state. If the responding state is a foreign jurisdiction country or political subdivision, upon request, the tribunal may shall specify the amount of support sought and, convert that amount into the equivalent amount in the foreign currency under applicable official or market exchange rate as publicly reported and provide any other documents necessary to satisfy the requirements of the responding state.
§48-16-305. Duties and powers of responding tribunal.
(a) When a responding tribunal of this state receives a petition or comparable pleading from an initiating tribunal or directly pursuant to subsection (c) (b), section 16-301, (proceedings under this article), the clerk of the court it shall cause the petition or pleading to be filed and notify the petitioner where and when it was filed.
(b) A responding tribunal of this state, to the extent otherwise authorized not prohibited by other law, may do one or more of the following:
(1) Issue or enforce a support order, modify a child support order, or render a judgment determine the controlling child support order to determine parentage;
(2) Order an obligor to comply with a support order, specifying the amount and the manner of compliance;
(3) Order income withholding;
(4) Determine the amount of any arrearages and specify a method of payment;
(5) Enforce orders by civil contempt;
(6) Set aside property for satisfaction of the support order; (7) Place liens and order execution on the obligor's property;

(8) Order an obligor to keep the tribunal informed of the obligor's current residential address, telephone number, employer, address of employment and telephone number at the place of employment;
(9) Issue a capias for an obligor who has failed after proper notice to appear at a hearing ordered by the tribunal and enter the capias in any local and state computer systems for criminal warrants;
(10) Order the obligor to seek appropriate employment by specified methods;
(11) Award reasonable attorney's fees and other fees and costs; and
(12) Grant any other available remedy.
(c) A responding tribunal of this state shall include in a support order issued under this article or, in the documents accompanying the order, the calculations on which the support order is based.
(d) A responding tribunal of this state may not condition the payment of a support order issued under this article upon compliance by a party with provisions for visitation.
(e) If a responding tribunal of this state issues an order under this article, the tribunal shall send a copy of the order to the petitioner and the respondent and to the initiating tribunal, if any.
(f) If requested to enforce a support order, arrears, or judgment or modify a support order stated in a foreign currency, a responding tribunal of this state shall convert the amount stated in the foreign currency to the equivalent amount in dollars under the applicable official or market exchange rate as publicly reported.
§48-16-306. Inappropriate tribunal.
If a petition or comparable pleading is received by an inappropriate tribunal of this state, the clerk of the court tribunal shall forward the pleading and accompanying documents to an appropriate tribunal in this state or another state and notify the petitioner where and when the pleading was sent.
§48-16-307. Duties of support enforcement agency.
(a) A support enforcement agency of this state, upon request, shall provide services to a petitioner in a proceeding under this article.
(b) A support enforcement agency of this state that is providing services to the petitioner as appropriate shall:
(1) Take all steps necessary to enable an appropriate tribunal in this state or another state to obtain jurisdiction over the respondent;
(2) Request an appropriate tribunal to set a date, time and place for a hearing;
(3) Make a reasonable effort to obtain all relevant information, including information as to income and property of the parties;
(4) Within two days, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays, after receipt of a written notice from an initiating, responding or registering tribunal, send a copy of the notice to the petitioner;
(5) Within two days, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays, after receipt of a written communication from the respondent or the respondent's attorney, send a copy of the communication to the petitioner; and
(6) Notify the petitioner if jurisdiction over the respondent cannot be obtained.
(c) A support enforcement agency of this state that requests registration of a child support order in this state for enforcement or for modification shall make reasonable efforts:
(1) To ensure that the order to be registered is the controlling order; or
(2) If two or more child support orders exist and the identity of the controlling order has not been determined, to ensure that a request for such a determination is made in a tribunal having jurisdiction to do so.
(d) A support enforcement agency of this state that requests registration and enforcement of a support order, arrears or judgment stated in a foreign currency shall convert the amounts stated in the foreign currency into the equivalent amounts in dollars under the applicable official or market exchange rate as publicly reported.
(e) A support enforcement agency of this state shall request a tribunal of this state to issue a child support order and an income withholding order that redirect payment of current support, arrears and interest if requested to do so by a support enforcement agency of another state pursuant to section 319 of the uniform interstate family support act.
(c)(f) This article does not create or negate a relationship of attorney and client or other fiduciary relationship between a support enforcement agency or the attorney for the agency and the individual being assisted by the agency.
§48-16-308. Duty of West Virginia support enforcement commission.
(a) If the West Virginia support enforcement commission determines that the support enforcement agency is neglecting or refusing to provide services to an individual, the commission may order the agency to perform its duties under this article or may provide those services directly to the individual.
(b) The West Virginia support enforcement commission may determine that a foreign country or political subdivision has established a reciprocal arrangement for child support with this state and take appropriate action for notification of the determination.
§48-16-309. Private counsel.
An individual may employ private counsel to represent the individual in proceedings authorized by this article.
§48-16-310. Duties of state information agency.
(a) The bureau for child support enforcement is the state information agency under this article.
(b) The state information agency shall:
(1) Compile and maintain a current list, including addresses, of the tribunals in this state which have jurisdiction under this article and any support enforcement agencies in this state and transmit a copy to the state information agency of every other state;
(2) Maintain a register of names and addresses tribunals and support enforcement agencies received from other states;
(3) Forward to the appropriate tribunal in the place county in this state in which the individual obligee who is an individual or the obligor resides, or in which the obligor's property is believed to be located, all documents concerning a proceeding under this article received from an initiating tribunal or the state information agency of the initiating state; and
(4) Obtain information concerning the location of the obligor and the obligor's property within this state not exempt from execution, by such means as postal verification and federal or state locator services, examination of telephone directories, requests for the obligor's address from employers and examination of governmental records, including, to the extent not prohibited by other law, those relating to real property, vital statistics, law enforcement, taxation, motor vehicles, driver's licenses and social security.
§48-16-311. Pleadings and accompanying documents.
(a) A In a proceeding under this article, a petitioner seeking to establish or modify a support order, or to determine parentage in a proceeding under this article or to register and modify a support order of another state must verify the file a petition. Unless otherwise ordered under section 16-312 (Nondisclosure of Information in Exceptional Circumstances), the petition or accompanying documents must provide, so far as known, the name, residential address and social security numbers of the obligor and the obligee or the parent and alleged parent and the name, sex, residential address, social security number and date of birth of each child for whom whose benefit support is sought or whose parentage is to be determined. The Unless filed at the time of registration, the petition must be accompanied by a certified copy of any support order in effect known to have been issued by another tribunal. The petition may include any other information that may assist in locating or identifying the respondent.
(b) The petition must specify the relief sought. The petition and accompanying documents must conform substantially with the requirements imposed by the forms mandated by federal law for use in cases filed by a support enforcement agency.
§48-16-312. Nondisclosure of information in exceptional circumstances.

Upon a finding, which may be made ex parte, that the health, safety or liberty of a party or child would be unreasonably put at risk by the disclosure of identifying information, or if an existing order so provides, a tribunal shall order that the address of the child or party or other identifying information not be disclosed in a pleading or other document filed in a proceeding under this article.
If a party alleges in an affidavit or a pleading under oath that the health, safety, or liberty of a party or child would be jeopardized by disclosure of specific identifying information, that information must be sealed and may not be disclosed to the other party or the public. After a hearing in which a tribunal takes into consideration the health, safety or liberty of the party or child, the tribunal may order disclosure of information that the tribunal determines to be in the interest of justice.
§48-16-313. Costs and fees.
(a) The petitioner may not be required to pay a filing fee or other costs.
(b) If an obligee prevails, a responding tribunal may assess against an obligor filing fees, reasonable attorney's fees, other costs and necessary travel and other reasonable expenses incurred by the obligee and the obligee's witnesses. The tribunal may not assess fees, costs or expenses against the obligee or the support enforcement agency of either the initiating or the responding state, except as provided by other law. Attorney's fees may be taxed as costs and may be ordered paid directly to the attorney, who may enforce the order in the attorney's own name. Payment of support owed to the obligee has priority over fees, costs and expenses.
(c) The tribunal shall order the payment of costs and reasonable attorney's fees if it determines that a hearing was requested primarily for delay. In a proceeding under part 16-601, et seq., (Enforcement and Modification of Support Order After Registration) a hearing is presumed to have been requested primarily for delay if a registered support order is confirmed or enforced without change.
§48-16-314. Limited immunity of petitioner.
(a) Participation by a petitioner in a proceeding under this article before a responding tribunal, whether in person, by private attorney, or through services provided by the support enforcement agency, does not confer personal jurisdiction over the petitioner in another proceeding.
(b) A petitioner is not amenable to service of civil process while physically present in this state to participate in a proceeding under this article.
(c) The immunity granted by this section does not extend to civil litigation based on acts unrelated to a proceeding under this article committed by a party while present in this state to participate in the proceeding.
§48-16-315. Nonparentage as defense.
A party whose parentage of a child has been previously determined by or pursuant to law may not plead nonparentage as a defense to a proceeding under this article.
§48-16-316. Special rules of evidence and procedure.
(a) The physical presence of the petitioner a nonresident party who is an individual in a responding tribunal of this state is not required for the establishment, enforcement or modification of a support order or the rendition of a judgment determining parentage.
(b) A verified petition, An affidavit, document substantially complying with federally mandated forms and or a document incorporated by reference in any of them, which would not be excluded under the hearsay rule if given in person, is admissible in evidence if given under oath penalty of perjury by a party or witness residing in another state.
(c) A copy of the record of child support payments certified as a true copy of the original by the custodian of the record may be forwarded to a responding tribunal. The copy is evidence of facts asserted in it and is admissible to show whether payments were made.
(d) Copies of bills for testing for parentage and for prenatal and postnatal health care of the mother and child, furnished to the adverse party at least ten days before trial, are admissible in evidence to prove the amount of the charges billed and that the charges were reasonable, necessary and customary.
(e) Documentary evidence transmitted from another state to a tribunal of this state by telephone, telecopier or other means that do not provide an original writing record may not be excluded from evidence on an objection based on the means of transmission.
(f) In a proceeding under this article, a tribunal of this state may shall permit a party or witness residing in another state to be deposed or to testify by telephone, audiovisual means or other electronic means at a designated tribunal or other location in that state. A tribunal of this state shall cooperate with tribunals of other states in designating an appropriate location for the deposition or testimony. The supreme court of appeals shall promulgate new rules or amend the rules of practice and procedure for family law to establish procedures pertaining to the exercise of cross examination in those instances involving the receipt of testimony by means other than direct or personal testimony.
(g) If a party called to testify at a civil hearing refuses to answer on the ground that the testimony may be self-incriminating, the trier of fact may draw an adverse inference from the refusal.
(h) A privilege against disclosure of communications between spouses does not apply in a proceeding under this article.
(i) The defense of immunity based on the relationship of husband and wife or parent and child does not apply in a proceeding under this article.
(j) A voluntary acknowledgment or paternity, certified as a true copy is admissible to establish parentage of the child.
§48-16-317. Communications between tribunals.
A tribunal of this state may communicate with a tribunal of another state or foreign country or political subdivision in writing a record, or by telephone or other means, to obtain information concerning the laws of that state, the legal effect of a judgment, decree, or order of that tribunal and the status of a proceeding in the other state or foreign country or political subdivision. A tribunal of this state may furnish similar information by similar means to a tribunal of another state or foreign country or political subdivision.
§48-16-318. Assistance with discovery.
A tribunal of this state may:
(1) Request a tribunal of another state to assist in obtaining discovery; and
(2) Upon request, compel a person over whom it has jurisdiction to respond to a discovery order issued by a tribunal of another state.
§48-16-319. Receipt and disbursement of payments.
(a) A support enforcement agency or tribunal of this state shall disburse promptly any amounts received pursuant to a support order, as directed by the order. The agency or tribunal shall furnish to a requesting party or tribunal of another state a certified statement by the custodian of the record of the amounts and dates of all payments received.
(b) If neither the obligor, nor the obligee who is an individual, nor the child resides in this state, upon request from the support enforcement agency of this state or another state, a tribunal of this state shall:
(1) Direct that the support payment be made to the support enforcement agency in the state in which the obligee is receiving services; and
(2) Issue and send to the obligor's employer a conforming income withholding order or an administrative notice of change of payee, reflecting the redirected payments.
(c) The support enforcement agency of this state receiving redirected payments from another state pursuant to a law similar to subsection (b) of this section shall furnish to a requesting party or tribunal of the other state a certified statement by the custodian of the record of the amount and dates of all payments received.
PART 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF SUPPORT ORDER.

§48-16-401. Petition to establish support order.
(a) If a support order entitled to recognition under this article has not been issued, a responding tribunal of this state may issue a support order if:
(1) The individual seeking the order resides in another state; or
(2) The support enforcement agency seeking the order is located in another state.
(b) The tribunal may issue a temporary child support order if

(1) The respondent has signed a verified statement acknowledging parentage; (2) the respondent has been determined by or pursuant to law to be the parent; or (3) there is other clear and convincing evidence that the respondent is the child's parent. the tribunal determines that such an order is appropriate and the individual ordered to pay is:
(1) A presumed father of the child;
(2) Petitioning to have his paternity adjudicated;
(3) Identified as the father of the child through genetic testing;
(4) An alleged father who has declined to submit to genetic testing;
(5) Shown by clear and convincing evidence to be the father of the child;
(6) An acknowledged father as provided by applicable state law;
(7) The mother of the child; or
(8) An individual who has been ordered to pay child support in a previous proceeding and the order has not been reversed or vacated.
(c) Upon finding, after notice and opportunity to be heard, that an obligor owes a duty of support, the tribunal shall issue a support order directed to the obligor and may issue other orders pursuant to section 16-305 (Duties and Powers of Responding Tribunal).
PART 5. DIRECT ENFORCEMENT OF ORDER OF

ANOTHER STATE WITHOUT REGISTRATION.

§48-16-501. Employer's receipt of income withholding order of another state.

An income withholding order issued in another state may be sent by or on behalf of the obligee, or by the support enforcement agency, to the person or entity defined as the obligor's source of income under section 1-241 of this chapter without first filing a petition or comparable pleading or registering the order with a tribunal of this state.
§48-16-502. Employer's compliance with income withholding order of another state.

(a) Upon receipt of the order, the obligor's employer shall immediately provide a copy of the order to the obligor.
(b) The employer shall treat an income withholding order issued in another state which appears regular on its face as if it had been issued by a tribunal of this state.
(c) Except as provided by subsection (d) and section 16-503, the employer shall withhold and distribute the funds as directed in the withholding order by complying with the terms of the order, as applicable, that specify:
(1) The duration and the amount of periodic payments of current child support, stated as a sum certain;
(2) The person or agency designated to receive payments and the address to which the payments are to be forwarded;
(3) Medical support, whether in the form of periodic cash payment, stated as a sum certain, or ordering the obligor to provide health insurance coverage for the child under a policy available through the obligor's employment;
(4) The amount of periodic payments of fees and costs for a support enforcement agency, the issuing tribunal and the obligee's attorney, stated as sums certain; and
(5) The amount of periodic payments of arrears and interest on arrears, stated as sums certain.
(d) The employer shall comply with the law of the state of the obligor's principal place of employment for withholding from income with respect to:
(1) The employer's fee for processing an income withholding order;
(2) The maximum amount permitted to be withheld from the obligor's income;
(3) The time periods within which the employer must implement the withholding order and forward the child support payment.
§48-16-503. Employer's compliance with two or more income withholding orders.

If the obligor's employer receives multiple orders to withhold support from the earnings of the same obligor, the employer shall be deemed to have satisfied the terms of the multiple orders if the law of the state of the obligor's principal place of employment to establish the priorities for withholding and allocating income withheld for multiple child support obligees is complied with.
If an obligor's employer receives two or more income withholding orders with respect to the earnings of the same obligor, the employer satisfies the terms of the orders if the employer complies with the law of the state of the obligor's principal place of employment to establish the priorities for withholding and allocating income withheld for two or more child support obligees.
§48-16-504. Immunity from civil liability.
An employer who complies with an income withholding order issued in another state in accordance with this article is not subject to civil liability to any individual or agency with regard to the employer's withholding of child support from the obligor's income.
§48-16-505. Penalties for noncompliance.
An employer who willfully fails to comply with an income withholding order issued by another state and received for enforcement is subject to the same penalties that may be imposed for noncompliance with an order issued by a tribunal of this state.
§48-16-506. Contest by obligor.
(a) An obligor may contest the validity or enforcement of an income withholding order issued in another state and received directly by an employer in this state by registering the order in a tribunal of this state and filing a contest to that order as provided in article six, or otherwise contesting the order in the same manner as if the order had been issued by a tribunal of this state. Section 604 (Choice of Law) applies to the contest.
(b) The obligor shall give notice of the contest to:
(1) A support enforcement agency providing services to the obligee;
(2) Each employer which has directly received an income withholding order relating to the obligor; and
(3) The person or agency designated to receive payments in the income withholding order, or if no person or agency is designated, to the obligee.
§48-16-507. Administrative enforcement of orders.
(a) A party or support enforcement agency seeking to enforce a support order or an income withholding order, or both, issued by a tribunal of another state may send the documents required for registering the order to a support enforcement agency of this state.
(b) Upon receipt of the documents, the support enforcement agency, without initially seeking to register the order, shall consider and, if appropriate, use any administrative procedure authorized by the law of this state to enforce a support order or an income withholding order, or both. If the obligor does not contest administrative enforcement, the order need not be registered. If the obligor contests the validity or administrative enforcement of the order, the support enforcement agency shall register the order pursuant to this article.
PART 6. REGISTRATION, ENFORCEMENT AND MODIFICATION OF

SUPPORT ORDER.

§48-16-601. Registration of order for enforcement.
A support order or an income withholding order issued by a tribunal of another state may be registered in this state for enforcement.
§48-16-602. Procedure to register order for enforcement.
(a) A support order or income withholding order of another state may be registered in this state by sending the following documents records and information to the state information agency who shall forward the order to the appropriate tribunal:
(1) A letter of transmittal to the tribunal requesting registration and enforcement;
(2) Two copies, including one certified copy, of all orders the order to be registered, including any modification of an the order;
(3) A sworn statement by the party seeking person requesting registration or a certified statement by the custodian of the records showing the amount of any arrearage;
(4) The name of the obligor and, if known:
(i) (A) The obligor's address and social security number;
(ii) (B) The name and address of the obligor's employer and any other source of income of the obligor; and
(iii) (C) A description and the location of property of the obligor in this state not exempt from execution; and
(5) Except as otherwise provided in section 312, the name and address of the obligee and, if applicable, the agency or person to whom support payments are to be remitted.
(b) On receipt of a request for registration, the clerk of the court shall cause the order to be filed as a foreign judgment, together with one copy of the documents and information, regardless of their form.
(c) A petition or comparable pleading seeking a remedy that must be affirmatively sought under other law of this state may be filed at the same time as the request for registration or later. The pleading must specify the grounds for the remedy sought.
(d) If two or more orders are in effect, the person requesting registration shall:
(1) Furnish to the tribunal a copy of every support order asserted to be in effect in addition to the documents specified in this section;
(2) Specify the order alleged to be the controlling order, if any; and
(3) Specify the amount of consolidated arrears, if any.
(e) A request for a determination of which is the controlling order may be filed separately or with a request for registration and enforcement or for registration and modification. The person requesting registration shall give notice of the request to each party whose rights may be affected by the determination.
§48-16-603. Effect of registration for enforcement.
(a) A support order or income withholding order issued in another state is registered when the order is filed in the registering tribunal of this state.
(b) A registered order issued in another state is enforceable in the same manner and is subject to the same procedures as an order issued by a tribunal of this state.
(c) Except as otherwise provided in this article, a tribunal of this state shall recognize and enforce, but may not modify, a registered order if the issuing tribunal had jurisdiction.
§48-16-604. Choice of law.
(a) The Except as otherwise provided in subsection (d) of this section, the law of the issuing state governs:
(1) The nature, extent, amount and duration of current payments and other obligations of support and under a registered support order;
(2) The computation and payment of arrearages and accrual of interest on the arrearages under the support order; and
(3) The existence and satisfaction of other obligations under the support order.
(b) In a proceeding for arrearages arrears under a registered support order, the statute of limitation under the laws of this state or of the issuing state, whichever is longer, applies.
(c) A responding tribunal of this state shall apply the procedures and remedies of this state to enforce current support and collect arrears and interest due on a support order of another state registered in this state.
(d) After a tribunal of this or another state determines which is the controlling order and issues an order consolidating arrears, if any, a tribunal of this state shall prospectively apply the law of the state issuing the controlling order, including its law on interest on arrears, on current and future support and on consolidated arrears.
§48-16-605. Notice of registration of order.
(a) When a support order or income withholding order issued in another state is registered, the clerk of the court shall notify the nonregistering party. The notice must be accompanied by a copy of the registered order and the documents and relevant information accompanying the order.
(b) The A notice must inform the nonregistering party:
(1) That a registered order is enforceable as of the date of registration in the same manner as an order issued by a tribunal of this state;
(2) That a hearing to contest the validity or enforcement of the registered order must be requested within twenty days after notice;
(3) That failure to contest the validity or enforcement of the registered order in a timely manner will result in confirmation of the order and enforcement of the order and the alleged arrearages and precludes further contest of that order with respect to any matter that could have been asserted; and
(4) Of the amount of any alleged arrearages.
(c) If the registering party asserts that two or more orders are in effect, a notice must also:
(1) Identify the two or more orders and the order alleged by the registering person to be the controlling order and the consolidated arrears, if any;
(2) Notify the nonregistering party of the right to a determination of which is the controlling order;
(3) State the procedures provided in subsection (b) of this section apply to the determination of which is the controlling order; and
(4) State that failure to contest the validity or enforcement of the order alleged to be the controlling order in a timely manner may result in confirmation that the order is the controlling order.
(c)(d) Upon registration of an income withholding order for enforcement, the registering tribunal shall notify the obligor's source of income pursuant to part 14-401, et seq., of this chapter.
§48-16-606. Procedure to contest validity or enforcement of registered order.

(a) A nonregistering party seeking to contest the validity or enforcement of a registered order in this state shall request a hearing within twenty days after the date of mailing or personal service of notice of the registration. The nonregistering party may seek to vacate the registration, to assert any defense to an allegation of noncompliance with the registered order, or to contest the remedies being sought or the amount of any alleged arrearages pursuant to section 16-607 (Contest of Registration or Enforcement).
(b) If the nonregistering party fails to contest the validity or enforcement of the registered order in a timely manner, the order is confirmed by operation of law.
(c) If a nonregistering party requests a hearing to contest the validity or enforcement of the registered order, the registering tribunal shall schedule the matter for hearing and give notice to the parties of the date, time and place of the hearing.
§48-16-607. Contest of registration or enforcement.
(a) A party contesting the validity or enforcement of a registered order or seeking to vacate the registration has the burden of proving one or more of the following defenses:
(1) The issuing tribunal lacked personal jurisdiction over the contesting party;
(2) The order was obtained by fraud;
(3) The order has been vacated, suspended or modified by a later order;
(4) The issuing tribunal has stayed the order pending appeal;
(5) There is a defense under the law of this state to the remedy sought;
(6) Full or partial payment has been made; or
(7) The statute of limitation under section 16-604 (Choice of Law) precludes enforcement of some or all of the alleged arrearages; or
(8) The alleged controlling order is not the controlling order.
(b) If a party presents evidence establishing a full or partial defense under subsection (a), a tribunal may stay enforcement of the registered order, continue the proceeding to permit production of additional relevant evidence, and issue other appropriate orders. An uncontested portion of the registered order may be enforced by all remedies available under the law of this state.
(c) If the contesting party does not establish a defense under subsection (a) to the validity or enforcement of the order, the registering tribunal shall issue an order confirming the order.
§48-16-608. Confirmed order.
Confirmation of a registered order, whether by operation of law or after notice and hearing, precludes further contest of the order with respect to any matter that could have been asserted at the time of registration.
§48-16-609. Procedure to register child support order of another state for modification.

A party or support enforcement agency seeking to modify, or to modify and enforce, a child support order issued in another state shall register that order in this state in the same manner provided in part 1 if the order has not been registered. A petition for modification may be filed at the same time as a request for registration or later. The pleading must specify the grounds for modification.
§48-16-610. Effect of registration for modification.
A tribunal of this state may enforce a child support order of another state registered for purposes of modification, in the same manner as if the order had been issued by a tribunal of this state, but the registered order may be modified only if the requirements of section 16-611 (Modification of Child Support Order of Another State) have been met.
§48-16-611. Modification of child support order of another state.
(a) After If section 613 does not apply, except as otherwise provided in section 615, upon petition a tribunal of this state may modify a child support order issued in another state has been which is registered in this state, the responding tribunal of this state may modify that order only if section 16-613 does not apply and if, after notice and hearing, the tribunal it finds that:
(1) The following requirements are met:
(i) (A) The Neither the child, the individual obligee who is an individual and nor the obligor do not reside resides in the issuing state;
(ii) (B) A petitioner who is a nonresident of this state seeks modification; and
(iii) (C) The respondent is subject to the personal jurisdiction of the tribunal of this state; or
(2) the child This state is the state of residence of the child or a party who is an individual is subject to the personal jurisdiction of the tribunal of this state and all of the parties who are individuals have filed written consents in a record in the issuing tribunal for a tribunal of this state to modify the support order and assume continuing, exclusive jurisdiction over the order. However, if the issuing state is a foreign jurisdiction that has not enacted a law or established procedures substantially similar to the procedures under this article, the consent otherwise required of an individual residing in this state is not required for the tribunal to assume jurisdiction to modify the child support order.
(b) Modification of a registered child support order is subject to the same requirements, procedures and defenses that apply to the modification of an order issued by a tribunal of this state and the order may be enforced and satisfied in the same manner.
(c) A Except as otherwise provided in section 615, a tribunal of this state may not modify any aspect of a child support order that may not be modified under the law of the issuing state, including the duration of the obligation of support. If two or more tribunals have issued child support orders for the same obligor and child, the order that controls and must be so recognized under section 16-207 establishes the aspects of the support order which are nonmodifiable.
(d) In a proceeding to modify a child support order, the law of the state that is determined to have issued the initial controlling order governs the duration of the obligation of support. The obligor's fulfillment of the duty of support established by that order precludes imposition of a further obligation of support by a tribunal of this state.
(e) On issuance of an order by a tribunal of this state modifying a child support order issued in another state, a the tribunal of this state becomes the tribunal of continuing, exclusive jurisdiction.
§48-16-612. Recognition of order modified in another state.
A If a child support order issued by a tribunal of this state shall recognize a modification of its earlier child support order is modified by a tribunal of another state which assumed jurisdiction pursuant to this article or a law substantially similar to this article and, upon request, except as otherwise provided in this article, shall the uniform interstate family support act, a tribunal of this state:
(1) Enforce May enforce the its order that was modified only as to amounts arrears and interest accruing before the modification;
(2) enforce only nonmodifiable aspects of that order; (3) May provide other appropriate relief only for violations of that its order which occurred before the effective date of the modification; and
(4) (3) Shall recognize the modifying order of the other state, upon registration, for the purpose of enforcement.
§48-16-613. Jurisdiction to modify support order of another state when individual parties reside in this state.

(a) If all of the individual parties reside in this state and the child does not reside in the issuing state, a tribunal of this state has jurisdiction to enforce and to modify the issuing state's child support order in a proceeding to register that order.
(b) A tribunal of this state exercising jurisdiction as provided in this section shall apply the provisions of parts 1 and 2 and this part to the enforcement or modification proceeding. Parts 3 through 5, inclusive, and parts 7 and 8 do not apply and the tribunal shall apply the procedural and substantive law of this state.
§48-16-614. Notice to issuing tribunal of modification.
Within thirty days after issuance of a modified child support order, the party obtaining the modification shall file a certified copy of the order with the issuing tribunal which had continuing, exclusive jurisdiction over the earlier order and in each tribunal in which the party knows that earlier order has been registered. Failure of the party obtaining the order to file a certified copy as required subjects that party to appropriate sanctions by a tribunal in which the issue of failure to file arises, but that failure has no effect on the validity or enforceability of the modified order of the new tribunal of continuing, exclusive jurisdiction.
§48-16-615. Jurisdiction to modify child support order of foreign country or political subdivision.

(a) If a foreign country or political subdivision that is a state will not or may not modify its order pursuant to its laws, a tribunal of this state may assume jurisdiction to modify the child support order and bind all individuals subject to the personal jurisdiction of the tribunal whether or not the consent to modification of a child support order otherwise required of the individual pursuant to section 611 has been given or whether the individual seeking modification is a resident of this state or of the foreign country or political subdivision.
(b) An order issued pursuant to this section is the controlling order.
PART 7. DETERMINATION OF PARENTAGE.

§48-16-701. Proceeding to determine parentage.
(a) A tribunal court of this state authorized to determine parentage of a child may serve as an initiating or a responding tribunal in a proceeding to determine parentage brought under this article or a law substantially similar to this article., the uniform reciprocal enforcement of support act, or the revised uniform reciprocal enforcement of support act to determine that the petitioner is a parent of a particular child or to determine that a respondent is a parent of that child.
(b) In a proceeding to determine parentage, a responding tribunal of this state shall apply article 24-101, et seq., of this chapter and the rules of this state on choice of law.
PART 8. INTERSTATE RENDITION.

§48-16-801. Grounds for rendition.
(a) For purposes of this article, "governor" includes an individual performing the functions of governor or the executive authority of a state covered by this article.
(b) The governor of this state may:
(1) Demand that the governor of another state surrender an individual found in the other state who is charged criminally in this state with having failed to provide for the support of an obligee; or
(2) On the demand by the governor of another state, surrender an individual found in this state who is charged criminally in the other state with having failed to provide for the support of an obligee.
(c) A provision for extradition of individuals not inconsistent with this article applies to the demand even if the individual whose surrender is demanded was not in the demanding state when the crime was allegedly committed and has not fled therefrom.
§48-16-802. Conditions of rendition.
(a) Before making demand that the governor of another state surrender an individual charged criminally in this state with having failed to provide for the support of an obligee, the governor of this state may require a prosecutor of this state to demonstrate that at least sixty days previously the obligee had initiated proceedings for support pursuant to this article or that the proceeding would be of no avail.
(b) If, under this article or a law substantially similar to this article, the uniform reciprocal enforcement of support act, or the revised uniform reciprocal enforcement of support act, the governor of another state makes a demand that the governor of this state surrender an individual charged criminally in that state with having failed to provide for the support of a child or other individual to whom a duty of support is owed, the governor may require a prosecutor to investigate the demand and report whether a proceeding for support has been initiated or would be effective. If it appears that a proceeding would be effective but has not been initiated, the governor may delay honoring the demand for a reasonable time to permit the initiation of a proceeding.
(c) If a proceeding for support has been initiated and the individual whose rendition is demanded prevails, the governor may decline to honor the demand. If the petitioner prevails and the individual whose rendition is demanded is subject to a support order, the governor may decline to honor the demand if the individual is complying with the support order.
PART 9. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.

§48-16-901. Uniformity of application and construction.
This article shall be applied and construed to effectuate its general purpose to make uniform In applying and construing this Uniform Act consideration must be given to the need to promote uniformity of the law with respect to the its subject of this article matter among states enacting that enact it.
§48-16-902. Severability clause.
If any provision of this article or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of this article which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application and to this end the provisions of this article are severable.
§48-16-903. Effective date.
The provisions of this article take effect on the first day of January, one thousand nine hundred ninety-eight.
The provisions of this article originally enacted during the regular session of the Legislature in the year one thousand nine hundred ninety-seven were effective on the first day of January, one thousand nine hundred ninety-eight. The provisions of this article enacted during the regular session of the Legislature in the year two thousand two take effect on the first day of July, two thousand two.
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(NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to make changes to the uniform interstate family support act as recommended by the national conference of commissioners on uniform state laws.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.)