Section 111-B. Functions, powers and duties of the department  


Latest version.
  • 1. The single
      organizational  unit  within the department shall be responsible for the
      supervision of the activities of state and local officials  relating  to
      establishment  of paternity of children born out-of-wedlock, location of
      absent  parents  and  enforcement  of  support  obligations  of  legally
      responsible relatives to contribute for the support of their dependents.
        2.  The  department  is  hereby authorized to accept, on behalf of the
      state and  the  social  services  districts  concerned,  assignments  of
      support  rights  owed to persons receiving (i) aid to dependent children
      pursuant to title ten of article five of this  chapter  or,  (ii)  where
      appropriate,  foster  care  maintenance  payments made pursuant to title
      IV-E of the federal social security act; provided however, that it  will
      not  be  appropriate  where such requirement will have a negative impact
      upon the health, safety or welfare of such child or other individuals in
      the household or impair the likelihood of the child returning to his  or
      her  family  when  discharged  from  foster  care  or, (iii) home relief
      pursuant to title three of article five of this chapter. Notwithstanding
      any inconsistent provisions of title six of this article  or  any  other
      provisions  of  law,  the  department  may enforce such assigned support
      rights either directly, through social services officials or,  if  there
      is  in effect an approved agreement between the social services official
      and another governmental agency,  through  such  other  agency.  In  any
      proceeding  to  enforce  such  assignment,  the  official  bringing such
      proceeding shall have the same rights as if the  proceeding  were  being
      brought to enforce section four hundred fifteen of the family court act.
        2-a.  The department shall prepare a notice which shall be distributed
      by social services officials to persons who may be  required  to  assign
      support  rights  which  notice  shall explain the rights and obligations
      that may result from the establishment of paternity and the right of the
      assignor to be kept informed, upon request, of the time, date and  place
      of  any proceedings involving the assignor and such other information as
      the department believes is pertinent. The notice shall  state  that  the
      attorney initiating the proceeding represents the department.
        3.  In  appropriate  cases,  the  department  is authorized to utilize
      support enforcement and collection and location services made  available
      through  the  secretary  of  health  and  human  services, including the
      services of federal courts, the  federal  parent  locator  service,  the
      federal case registry of child support orders, the national directory of
      new hires, and the treasury department, if and so long as authorized and
      required by federal law.
        4.  The department shall maintain and operate a parent locator service
      with respect to cases being provided services pursuant to this title.
        To effectuate the purposes of this subdivision, the commissioner shall
      request and receive from the departments, authorities, boards,  bureaus,
      commissions,  corporations,  councils, funds, offices, or other agencies
      of the state, or  any  of  its  political  subdivisions,  and  all  such
      organizational  entities  of the state and social services districts are
      hereby directed, to provide and the political  subdivisions  are  hereby
      authorized  to  provide,  such  assistance  and  data as will enable the
      department and social services districts to  properly  carry  out  their
      powers  and duties to locate such parents and to enforce their liability
      for the support of their children. Any records established  pursuant  to
      the  provisions of this section shall be available only to the secretary
      of health and human services, office of the  inspector  general,  social
      services  districts,  district  attorneys, county attorneys, corporation
      counsels, and courts having jurisdiction in any proceeding under article
      four, five, five-A,  or  five-B  of  the  family  court  act;  provided,
      however,  no  organizational entity of the state need make available any
    
      data or information  which  is  otherwise  required  by  statute  to  be
      maintained in a confidential manner.
        4-a.  (a)  The  department  shall  maintain  and  operate a state case
      registry that contains records with respect to:
        (1) each case receiving services pursuant to this title; and
        (2) each support order established or modified  in  the  state  on  or
      after the first day of October, nineteen hundred ninety-eight.
        (b)  For  the  purpose  of  subparagraph  two of paragraph (a) of this
      subdivision, the term support order means a judgment, decree, or  order,
      whether  temporary, final, or subject to modification, issued by a court
      or an administrative agency of  competent  jurisdiction,  including  any
      adjusted  order issued by a support collection unit, for the support and
      maintenance of a child, including a child who has attained  the  age  of
      majority  under  the law of the issuing state, or a child and the parent
      with whom the child is living,  which  provides  for  monetary  support,
      health care, arrearages, or reimbursement, and which may include related
      costs  and  fees, interest and penalties, income withholding, attorney's
      fees, and other relief.
        (c) Each case record in the state case registry with respect to  cases
      described  in  subparagraph one of paragraph (a) of this subdivision for
      which a support order has been established shall include a record of:
        (1) the amount of monthly (or other periodic) support owed  under  the
      order, and other amounts (including arrearages, interest or late payment
      penalties, and fees) due or overdue under the order;
        (2)  any  amount  described in subparagraph one of this paragraph that
      has been collected;
        (3) the distribution of such collected amounts;
        (4) the birth date of any  child  for  whom  the  order  requires  the
      provision of support; and
        (5)  the amount of any lien imposed with respect to the order pursuant
      to section one hundred eleven-u of this article.
        (d) The department shall update and monitor each case  record  in  the
      state  registry  described  in subparagraph one of paragraph (a) of this
      subdivision on the basis of:
        (1) information  on  administrative  actions  and  administrative  and
      judicial proceedings and orders relating to paternity and support;
        (2)  information obtained from comparison with federal, state or local
      sources of information;
        (3) information on support collections and distributions; and
        (4) any other relevant information.
        (e) Information maintained as part of the state case registry shall be
      made available to other state and federal agencies as  provided  for  in
      federal statutes and regulations promulgated by the federal secretary of
      health and human services.
        5.  (a)  There  shall  be  established  for  each  state fiscal year a
      statewide child support collections goal for amounts of  collections  of
      support  obligations  pursuant  to  this  title, which goal shall be set
      forth in that portion of the state's local  assistance  budget  intended
      for  the  appropriation  of  reimbursement  to social services districts
      pursuant to  this  chapter.  The  commissioner  shall,  subject  to  the
      approval  of  the director of the budget, annually allocate a portion of
      the statewide goal to each social services district, which portion shall
      be based upon the district's portion of the statewide aid  to  dependent
      children program and other relevant factors.
        (b)  Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of section one hundred
      fifty-three of this chapter, for each  social  services  district  which
      fails  to  meet  its  portion of the collection goal established by this
      section, the  commissioner  shall  deny  state  reimbursement  for  such
    
      district's  expenditures  for  aid  to  dependent children, in an amount
      equal to the difference between the amount  of  non-federal  funds  such
      district  is  required to repay to the state out of collections actually
      made  and  the amount of non-federal funds such district would have been
      required to repay to the state had it met its collection goal.
        (c) Any social services district which has  been  determined  to  have
      failed  to  meet  its  portion  of  the  collection  goal  may request a
      redetermination by the commissioner or his designee in a  manner  to  be
      established  by  department regulations. Upon a showing by such district
      that such failure was due in whole or in  part  to  factors  other  than
      those administrative and processing functions or organizations which are
      subject  to  the jurisdiction of such district's local legislative body,
      the commissioner shall waive such failure in whole or in part and  shall
      restore  all  or  a  corresponding  portion  of  any state reimbursement
      previously denied pursuant to this section.
        (d)  For  purposes  of  determining  the  amount  of   child   support
      collections  which  are attributable toward meeting a district's portion
      of the statewide collections goal, any amounts collected by  one  social
      services district on behalf of another shall be credited to the district
      to which support payments have been assigned. Support payments collected
      on behalf of another state or on behalf of persons not in receipt of aid
      to   dependent  children  shall  not  be  taken  into  consideration  in
      determining whether such district has met its goal.
        (e) The department may for purposes of administrative convenience  set
      monthly  or  quarterly  goals based upon each district's annual goal and
      may deny reimbursement on a monthly or quarterly  basis,  subject  to  a
      final  adjustment at the end of each year reflecting the extent to which
      each such district has met its portion of the statewide annual goal.
        6. When  the  commissioner  has  determined  that  a  social  services
      district  has  failed to meet its portion of the statewide child support
      collections goal, as determined in accordance  with  the  provisions  of
      subdivision  five  of  this  section,  or  has failed to comply with the
      applicable provisions of federal law and regulations,  he  shall  notify
      such  district  and  the  appropriate  local  legislative  body  of such
      determination and may  promulgate  any  regulations  he  determines  are
      necessary  to  improve  such  district's  organization,  administration,
      management or program. Such regulations shall be fully complied with  by
      the effective date of such regulations.
        7.  The  department,  through  the  commissioner, shall enter into the
      agreement provided for in section one hundred seventy-one-c of  the  tax
      law  and  is  authorized  to furnish to the commissioner of taxation and
      finance and the state tax commission such information and to  take  such
      other  actions  as  may be necessary to carry out the agreement provided
      for in such section,  for  the  crediting  of  overpayments  of  tax  to
      past-due support which is owed to persons receiving services pursuant to
      this  title and title six-B of this article. A person receiving services
      under this title shall receive a pro rata share of  the  overpayment  of
      tax,  based  on  the  amount  of past-due support owed to such person as
      certified to the tax commission by the department  pursuant  to  section
      one hundred seventy-one-c of the tax law, in cases where the individual,
      estate  or  trust  owing  past-due  support to such person owes past-due
      support to other persons or entities so certified to the tax  commission
      by  the  department. Amounts certified to the state tax commission under
      such agreement may include amounts specified  in  subdivision  eight  of
      this section. The amount paid by the state comptroller to the department
      pursuant  to subdivision one of section one hundred seventy-one-c of the
      tax law shall be distributed in accordance with applicable provisions of
      this chapter and the department's regulations. To the  extent  permitted
    
      by  federal  law, the department may also certify amounts to the federal
      department of health and human services for tax interception to the same
      extent as it certifies amounts pursuant to such section of the tax law.
        The  department  shall by regulation establish procedures by which any
      individual, estate or trust which is the subject of a  certification  to
      the  state  tax commission in accordance with such agreement may contest
      such certification based on defenses that  are  not  subject  to  family
      court   jurisdiction.  Such  regulations  and  the  notice  required  by
      subdivision four of section one hundred seventy-one-c  of  the  tax  law
      shall  set  forth  defenses  which  may  be available to the individual,
      estate or trust to contest such certification, and the manner in which a
      review of the certification based on such defenses may be obtained.
        8. (a) Amounts  certified  to  the  state  tax  commission  under  the
      agreement described in subdivision seven of this section for persons who
      are receiving services pursuant to this title may include:
        (i)  amounts  representing  delinquencies  which  have accrued under a
      court order of support;
        (ii) with respect to any court order of support made before  September
      first, nineteen hundred eighty-four which provided for periodic payments
      toward  an established arrears amount, the entire amount of such arrears
      where the respondent is, at any time  after  September  first,  nineteen
      hundred eighty-four, delinquent in making such periodic payments; and
        (iii)  with  respect  to  any  court order of support made on or after
      September first,  nineteen  hundred  eighty-four  which  establishes  an
      arrears  amount,  the  entire  amount of such arrears, unless such order
      includes a finding that anticipated tax refunds  pursuant  to  the  most
      recently filed state and federal tax returns have been considered by the
      court  and  taken  into  account  in  determining the amount of periodic
      payments to be made toward the arrears amount,  or  in  determining  the
      amount  of  the  current support order, and expressly provides that such
      arrears are not to be so certified.
        (b) For the purpose of the state child  support  program  any  payment
      made  by  a  respondent  which  is  insufficient to fully satisfy both a
      current court order of support and a periodic payment toward the balance
      of any arrears amount established by court order shall be first  applied
      toward  the current order of support or any delinquency thereon and then
      toward the periodic payment on any arrears amount established  by  court
      order unless otherwise required by federal regulation.
        * 10.  (a)  The department, through the commissioner, shall enter into
      the agreement provided for in section sixteen hundred thirteen-a of  the
      tax  law and is authorized to furnish to the director of the lottery and
      the division of the lottery such information  and  to  take  such  other
      actions as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of the agreement
      provided for in such section, for the crediting of lottery prizes of six
      hundred  dollars  or  more  to past-due support which is owed to persons
      receiving services pursuant to this title. A person  receiving  services
      under  this  title  shall  receive a pro rata share of the prize winning
      based on the amount of past-due support owed to such person as  provided
      to  the  division  of  the lottery by the department pursuant to section
      sixteen  hundred  thirteen-a  of  the  tax  law,  in  cases  where   the
      individual,  estate  or trust owing past-due support to such person owes
      past-due support to  other  persons  or  entities  so  provided  to  the
      division  of  the  lottery  by  the  department. Amounts provided to the
      division of  the  lottery  under  such  agreement  may  include  amounts
      specified  in this subdivision. The amount paid by the state comptroller
      to the department pursuant to subdivision one of section sixteen hundred
      thirteen-a of the tax  law  shall  be  distributed  in  accordance  with
      applicable provisions of this chapter and the department's regulations.
    
        (b)  The  department shall by regulation establish procedures by which
      any individual, estate or trust which is the subject of crediting of any
      lottery prize of six hundred dollars or more to the  state  division  of
      the lottery in accordance with such agreement may contest such crediting
      based  on  defenses  that  are not subject to family court jurisdiction.
      Such regulations shall require that notice be given to  the  individual,
      estate or trust which shall set forth:
        (i) defenses which may be available to the individual, estate or trust
      to contest such crediting;
        (ii)  the  manner in which a review of the crediting of lottery prizes
      of six hundred dollars or more based on such defenses may be obtained;
        (iii) the address and telephone number  of  the  local  department  of
      social  services'  support  collection  unit which may be contacted with
      respect to correction of any error in  such  crediting  concerning  such
      individual's, estate's or trust's liability for past-due support or with
      respect to payment of such liability; and
        (iv) the time frame by which such a defense must be made.
        * NB There are 2 sb 10's
        * 10.  The commissioner must review the child support standards act at
      least once every four years to ensure that its  application  results  in
      the  determination of appropriate child support amounts. As part of such
      review, the commissioner must consider economic  data  on  the  cost  of
      raising  children  and  analyze  case data, gathered through sampling or
      other methods, on the application of,  and  deviations  from  the  basic
      child  support  obligation.  The  analysis  of  the data must be used to
      ensure that such deviations are limited and, if  appropriate,  necessary
      revisions  to  the  child support standards act must be submitted to the
      legislature to accomplish such purpose.
        * NB There are 2 sb 10's
        11. (a) Amounts certified to the division of  the  lottery  under  the
      agreement  described  in subdivision ten of this section for persons who
      are receiving services pursuant to this title may include:
        (i) amounts representing delinquencies  which  have  accrued  under  a
      court order of support;
        (ii) with respect to any court order of support made which establishes
      an arrears amount, the entire amount of such arrears.
        (b)  For  the  purpose  of the state child support program any payment
      made by a respondent which is  insufficient  to  fully  satisfy  both  a
      current court order of support and a periodic payment toward the balance
      of  any arrears amount established by court order shall be first applied
      toward the current order of support or any delinquency thereon and  then
      toward  the  periodic payment on any arrears amount established by court
      order unless otherwise required by federal regulation.
        * 12. (a) The department, through the commissioner, shall  enter  into
      the  agreement  provided  for in section five hundred ten of the vehicle
      and traffic law and is authorized to  furnish  to  the  commissioner  of
      motor  vehicles  such  information  and  to  take such actions as may be
      necessary to carry out the agreement provided for in such  section,  for
      the  enforcement  of  child  support  orders  through  the suspension of
      delinquent obligors' driving privileges.
        (b) (1) When a support obligor who is or was under a  court  order  to
      pay  child  support  or  combined child and spousal support to a support
      collection unit on behalf of persons receiving services under this title
      has accumulated support arrears equivalent to or greater than the amount
      of support due pursuant to such order for a period of four  months,  the
      office  of  temporary and disability assistance shall notify the support
      obligor in writing that his or her continued failure to pay the  support
      arrears shall result in notification to the department of motor vehicles
    
      to  suspend  the support obligor's driving privileges unless the support
      obligor complies with the requirements set forth  in  paragraph  (e)  of
      this  subdivision. For purposes of determining whether a support obligor
      has accumulated support arrears equivalent to or greater than the amount
      of  support  due  for  a  period  of  four  months,  the  amount  of any
      retroactive support, other than periodic payments of retroactive support
      which are past due, shall not be included in the calculation of  support
      arrears  pursuant  to  this section; however, if at least four months of
      support arrears have accumulated subsequent to the  date  of  the  court
      order,  the  entire  amount  of any retroactive support may be collected
      pursuant  to  the  provisions  of  this  subdivision  or  as   otherwise
      authorized by law.
        (2)  The  department shall provide the notice required by subparagraph
      one of this paragraph by first class mail to the support obligor's  last
      known address or such other place where the support obligor is likely to
      receive  notice,  or  in  the  same  manner  as a summons may be served.
      Forty-five days after the date of such notice, if  the  support  obligor
      has  not  challenged  the  determination  of the support collection unit
      pursuant to subparagraph one of paragraph (d) of this subdivision or  if
      the  support  obligor has failed to satisfy the arrears/past due support
      or to otherwise comply with the requirements set forth in paragraph  (e)
      of this subdivision, the department shall notify the department of motor
      vehicles  that  the  support  obligor's  driving  privileges  are  to be
      suspended pursuant to section  five  hundred  ten  of  the  vehicle  and
      traffic  law.  Upon the support obligor's compliance with the provisions
      of paragraph (e) of this subdivision, the department  shall  advise  the
      department  of  motor  vehicles  within  five  business  days  that  the
      suspension  of  the  support  obligor's  driving  privileges  shall   be
      terminated.  If  the  support  obligor  appears in person at the support
      collection unit to satisfy the requirements of  paragraph  (e)  of  this
      subdivision,  the  support  collection  unit shall immediately provide a
      notice of compliance to the support obligor, in addition to  the  notice
      sent directly to the department of motor vehicles.
        (3)  Notwithstanding  the  requirements of this subdivision, no notice
      shall be issued by the department pursuant to subparagraph one  of  this
      paragraph  to  a  support  obligor  from whom support payments are being
      received by the support  collection  unit  as  a  result  of  an  income
      execution  or  an income deduction order issued pursuant to section five
      thousand two hundred forty-one or five thousand two hundred forty-two of
      the civil practice law and rules.
        (c) The notice  provided  to  a  support  obligor  by  the  department
      pursuant  to paragraph (b) of this subdivision shall contain the caption
      of the order of support, the date the order of support was entered,  the
      court  in  which  it  was  entered,  the amount of the periodic payments
      directed, and the amount of arrears/past due support. In  addition,  the
      notice shall include:
        (1) an explanation of the action required pursuant to paragraph (e) of
      this  subdivision  to  be  taken  by  the  support  obligor to avoid the
      suspension of his or her driving privileges;
        (2) a statement that forty-five days after the date of the notice, the
      department of motor vehicles will be notified  to  suspend  the  support
      obligor's  driving  privileges  unless the support obligor may challenge
      the support collection unit's determination as set  forth  in  paragraph
      (d)  of  this  subdivision  within  forty-five  days of the date of such
      notice; a statement of the manner  in  which  the  support  obligor  may
      challenge the determination, and a statement that if the support obligor
      challenges  the determination, a review will be completed by the support
      collection unit within seventy-five days of the date of the notice;
    
        (3) a statement that if the support obligor  does  not  challenge  the
      support  collection  unit's  determination  then the department of motor
      vehicles shall be notified to  suspend  the  support  obligor's  driving
      privileges  unless  the  support obligor contacts the support collection
      unit to arrange for full payment or commencement of satisfactory payment
      arrangements  on  the  arrears/past  due support, or to comply otherwise
      with the requirements set forth in paragraph (e)  of  this  subdivision,
      within forty-five days of the date of the notice;
        (4)  the  address  and telephone number of the support collection unit
      that the support obligor may contact  to  request  information  about  a
      challenge  or to comply with the requirements set forth in paragraph (e)
      of this subdivision;
        (5) a  statement  that  the  suspension  of  driving  privileges  will
      continue  until the support obligor pays the support arrears or complies
      otherwise with the requirements set  forth  in  paragraph  (e)  of  this
      subdivision; and
        (6)  a  statement  printed in boldface type that the support obligor's
      intentional submission  of  false  written  statements  to  the  support
      collection  unit  for the purpose of frustrating or defeating the lawful
      enforcement of support obligations is  punishable  pursuant  to  section
      175.35 of the penal law.
        (d)  (1) A support obligor may challenge in writing the correctness of
      the determination of the support  collection  unit  that  the  obligor's
      driving  privileges should be suspended, and in support of the challenge
      may submit  documentation  demonstrating  mistaken  identity,  error  in
      calculation  of  arrears,  financial  exemption  from license suspension
      pursuant  to  the  conditions  enumerated  in  paragraph  (e)  of   this
      subdivision,  the  absence  of an underlying court order to support such
      determination, or other reason that the person is not  subject  to  such
      determination.  Such documents may include but are not limited to a copy
      of the order of support pursuant to which the  obligor  claims  to  have
      made  payment,  other relevant court orders, copies of cancelled checks,
      receipts for support payments, pay stubs or other documents  identifying
      wage  withholding,  and  proof  of identity. The support collection unit
      shall review the documentation submitted by the support  obligor,  shall
      adjust  the  support  obligor's account if appropriate, and shall notify
      the support obligor of the results of the review initiated  in  response
      to  the  challenge  within seventy-five days from the date of the notice
      required by paragraph (b) of this subdivision. If the support collection
      unit's review  indicates  that  the  determination  to  suspend  driving
      privileges  was  correct,  the  support collection unit shall notify the
      support obligor of the results  of  the  review  and  that  the  support
      obligor  has thirty-five days from the date of mailing of such notice to
      satisfy the full amount of  the  arrears  or  commence  payment  of  the
      arrears/past   due  support  as  specified  in  paragraph  (e)  of  this
      subdivision and if the support obligor  fails  to  do  so,  the  support
      collection unit shall notify the department of motor vehicles to suspend
      the  support  obligor's  driving  privileges  pursuant  to  section five
      hundred ten of the vehicle and traffic law. The support obligor shall be
      further notified that if the support obligor files objections  with  the
      family  court and serves these objections on the support collection unit
      within thirty-five days from the date of mailing of the  notice  denying
      the  challenge  pursuant  to  subdivision  five  of section four hundred
      fifty-four of the family court act, the support  collection  unit  shall
      not  notify  the  department  of  motor  vehicles to suspend the support
      obligor's driving privileges until fifteen days after entry of judgement
      by the family court denying the objections.
    
        (2) A support obligor may within thirty-five days of  mailing  of  the
      notice  denying  his  or  her  challenge  by the support collection unit
      request that the family  court  review  the  support  collection  unit's
      determination  pursuant  to  subdivision  five  of  section four hundred
      fifty-four  of the family court act. If the support obligor requests the
      family court to review the determination of the support collection unit,
      the support collection unit shall not notify  the  department  of  motor
      vehicles  to  suspend  the  support  obligor's  driving privileges until
      fifteen days after mailing of a copy of the judgment by the family court
      to the support obligor denying the objections.
        (e) A support obligor who has  received  a  notice  that  his  or  her
      driving privileges shall be suspended may avoid the suspension by:
        (1) making full payment of all arrears/past due support to the support
      collection unit; or
        (2)   making   satisfactory  payment  arrangements  with  the  support
      collection unit for payment of the  arrears/past  due  support  and  the
      current  support  obligation.  "Satisfactory payment arrangements" shall
      mean:
        (i) execution of a confession of judgment for the total balance of the
      arrears/past due support; and
        (ii) execution of  a  verified  statement  of  net  worth  on  a  form
      prescribed  by  the commissioner setting forth the obligor's income from
      all sources, liquid assets and holdings, copies of the obligor's drivers
      license, most recent federal and state tax return, and a  representative
      pay stub, and an eighteen month employment history; and
        (iii)  execution  and  verification  of a stipulation that the obligor
      will notify the support collection unit of all future changes of address
      until such time as the obligation to pay support is terminated; and
        (iv) payment of support to  the  support  collection  unit  by  income
      execution pursuant to section five thousand two hundred forty-one of the
      civil  practice law and rules, which shall include deductions sufficient
      to ensure compliance with the direction in  the  order  of  support  and
      shall  include  an  additional  amount to be applied to the reduction of
      arrears as required by subdivision (b) of such section, or by  execution
      of  an  agreement  for  payment  of the arrears/past due support and any
      current support directly to the support collection  unit  in  an  amount
      which  is  consistent with that which would have been made under such an
      income execution; provided however, that where the support obligor fails
      to comply  with  the  agreement,  he/she  may  avoid  or  terminate  the
      suspension  of  driving privileges only by making at least fifty percent
      payment of all arrears/past due support to the support  collection  unit
      and  in  addition,  entering  into  a  payment  plan  pursuant  to  this
      subdivision with  the  support  collection  unit  within  fifteen  days.
      However,  in  any  case  when the support obligor fails to comply with a
      payment plan as described herein more than once  within  twelve  months,
      the  obligor  must  pay  the  balance of all arrears/past due support to
      avoid or terminate license suspension. "Failure  to  comply"  for  these
      purposes  shall  mean  missing  payments in an amount equivalent to four
      months of support under the payment plan,  unless  the  support  obligor
      demonstrates  that  he or she has filed a petition for modification that
      is pending; or
        (3)  providing  documentation  that  shows  the  support  obligor   is
      receiving public assistance or supplemental security income; or
        (4)  providing  to  the  support  collection  unit  the  documentation
      required by clauses (i)  through  (iii)  of  subparagraph  two  of  this
      paragraph,  where  such  documentation  is  sufficient  for  the support
      collection unit to determine:
    
        (i) that the support obligor's income, as defined by subparagraph five
      of paragraph (b) of subdivision one of section four hundred thirteen  of
      the family court act, falls below the self-support reserve as defined by
      subparagraph  six  of  paragraph  (b) of subdivision one of section four
      hundred thirteen of the family court act; or
        (ii)  that  the  amount of the support obligor's income, as defined by
      subparagraph five of paragraph (b) of subdivision one  of  section  four
      hundred thirteen of the family court act, remaining after the payment of
      the current support obligation would fall below the self-support reserve
      as  defined  by  subparagraph six of paragraph (b) of subdivision one of
      section four hundred thirteen of the family court act.
        (f) A support obligor who alleges that he  or  she  has  not  received
      actual  notice  pursuant  to  paragraph  one  of subdivision (b) of this
      section and whose driving privileges were  suspended  may  at  any  time
      request  a  review pursuant to subdivision (d) of this section or comply
      with the requirements of subdivision (e) of this  section,  and  upon  a
      determination  that  he  or  she  has  not  accumulated  support arrears
      equivalent to or greater than the amount of support due for a period  of
      four  months or that he or she meets the requirements of subdivision (e)
      of this section, the department shall notify  the  department  of  motor
      vehicles that the suspension of driving privileges shall be terminated.
        * NB Repealed June 30, 2011
        13.  (a)  The commissioner shall enter into the agreement provided for
      in section one hundred seventy-one-g of the tax law and is authorized to
      furnish to the commissioner of taxation and finance any information, and
      to take such other actions,  as  may  be  necessary  to  carry  out  the
      agreement  provided  for  in  such section, for the purpose of reviewing
      support orders pursuant to subdivision twelve  of  section  one  hundred
      eleven-h of this title.
        (b) Information obtained under paragraph (a) of this subdivision shall
      be  confidential and shall not be disclosed to persons or agencies other
      than  those  entitled  to  such  information  when  such  disclosure  is
      necessary for the proper administration of the child support enforcement
      program pursuant to this title.
        14.  The  department  is authorized to receive and transmit funds paid
      pursuant to any order of child support  or  child  and  spousal  support
      issued   on  or  after  the  first  day  of  January,  nineteen  hundred
      ninety-four under the provisions of section two  hundred  thirty-six  or
      two  hundred forty of the domestic relations law, or article four, five,
      five-A or five-B of the family  court  act,  and  which  the  court  has
      ordered  to  be paid pursuant to an income deduction order issued by the
      court pursuant to subdivision (c) of section five thousand  two  hundred
      forty-two of the civil practice law and rules. Such funds received shall
      be   transmitted  within  five  business  days  of  their  receipt.  The
      department shall maintain records of its  receipt  and  transmission  of
      funds and furnish such records to the parties to the order upon request.
      The department shall be entitled to collect an annual service fee not to
      exceed  the  maximum  fee  permitted  pursuant  to  federal  law for its
      provision of such services. Funds received in satisfaction of  such  fee
      shall  be  deposited  in  an  account and shall be made available to the
      department for costs incurred in the implementation of this section. The
      department shall not furnish any additional services to the  parties  to
      enforce  the support obligation; however, a party seeking enforcement of
      a support obligation may apply  for  enforcement  services  pursuant  to
      section  one hundred eleven-g of this title. The department shall not be
      responsible for the receipt and transmission of any funds until after it
      has received a copy  of  the  income  deduction  order  and  the  person
      entitled  to the payment of support pursuant to the order of support has
    
      submitted payment of the annual service fee, and unless its records show
      that it has received such funds on behalf of the parties to  the  order,
      and  that the party to whom the funds are to be transmitted has provided
      the department with his or her correct address.
        15. (a) The department, through the commissioner, shall enter into the
      agreement  provided  for in section one hundred seventy-one-i of the tax
      law and is authorized to furnish to the  commissioner  of  taxation  and
      finance  such  information  and  to  take  such  other actions as may be
      necessary to carry out such agreement.
        (b) (1) When a support obligor who is or was under a  court  order  to
      pay  child  support  or  combined child and spousal support to a support
      collection unit on behalf of persons receiving services under this title
      has accumulated support arrears equivalent to or greater than the amount
      of support due pursuant to such order for a period of four  months,  the
      office  of  temporary and disability assistance shall notify the support
      obligor in writing that his or her continued failure to  fully  pay  the
      support  arrears  shall  result  in  notification  to  the department of
      taxation and finance that they are authorized to collect such arrearage.
      For purposes of determining whether a support  obligor  has  accumulated
      support  arrears equivalent to or greater than the amount of support due
      for a period of four months, the  amount  of  any  retroactive  support,
      other  than periodic payments of retroactive support which are past due,
      shall not be included in the calculation of support arrears pursuant  to
      this  section;  however, if at least four months of support arrears have
      accumulated subsequent to the date of the court order, the entire amount
      of any retroactive support may be collected pursuant to  the  provisions
      of this subdivision or as otherwise authorized by law.
        (2)  The  department shall provide the notice required by subparagraph
      one of this paragraph by first class mail to the support obligor's  last
      known address or such other place where the support obligor is likely to
      receive  notice  by  first class mail. Forty-five days after the date of
      such notice, if the support obligor has not challenged the determination
      of the support collection unit pursuant to subparagraph one of paragraph
      (d) of this subdivision or if the support obligor has failed to  satisfy
      the  arrears, the department shall notify the department of taxation and
      finance that the support obligor's support arrearage are  authorized  to
      be collected as prescribed in subparagraph one of this paragraph.
        (3)  Notwithstanding  the  requirements of this subdivision, no notice
      shall be issued by the department pursuant to subparagraph one  of  this
      paragraph  to  a  support  obligor  from whom support payments are being
      received by the support  collection  unit  as  a  result  of  an  income
      execution  or  an income deduction order issued pursuant to section five
      thousand two hundred forty-one or five thousand two hundred forty-two of
      the civil practice law and rules.
        (c) The notice  provided  to  a  support  obligor  by  the  department
      pursuant  to paragraph (b) of this subdivision shall contain the caption
      of the order of support, the date the order of support was entered,  the
      court  in  which  it  was  entered,  the amount of the periodic payments
      directed, and the amount of  arrears.  In  addition,  the  notice  shall
      include:
        (1)  a  statement that unless the support arrears are satisfied within
      forty-five days after the date of the notice, the department of taxation
      and finance will be  notified  that  they  are  authorized  to  commence
      collection  action  unless  the  support  obligor challenges the support
      collection unit's determination as set forth in paragraph  (d)  of  this
      subdivision  within  forty-five  days  of  the  date  of  such notice; a
      statement of the manner in which the support obligor may  challenge  the
      determination,  and  a  statement that if the support obligor challenges
    
      the determination, a review will be completed by the support  collection
      unit within seventy-five days of the date of the notice;
        (2)  a  statement  that  if the support obligor does not challenge the
      support collection unit's determination then the department of  taxation
      and  finance  shall  be  notified  that  they are authorized to commence
      collection action  unless  the  support  obligor  contacts  the  support
      collection unit to arrange for full payment of the arrears;
        (3)  the  address  and telephone number of the support collection unit
      that the support obligor may contact  to  request  information  about  a
      challenge to the determination of the support collection unit;
        (4)  a  statement  that  the  collection  actions by the department of
      taxation and finance is authorized to continue until the support obligor
      pays the support arrears; and
        (5) a statement printed in boldface type that  the  support  obligor's
      intentional  submission  of  false  written  statements  to  the support
      collection unit for the purpose of frustrating or defeating  the  lawful
      enforcement  of  support  obligations  is punishable pursuant to section
      175.35 of the penal law.
        (d) A support obligor who has  received  a  notice  that  his  or  her
      support  arrearage  shall  be referred to the department of taxation and
      finance for collection action may avoid such action by making payment of
      all arrears to the support collection unit; providing documentation that
      shows the  support  obligor  is  receiving  public  assistance,  medical
      assistance, food stamps or supplemental security income; or providing to
      the support collection unit the documentation sufficient for the support
      collection unit to determine:
        (1) an error in the calculation of the obligor's support arrears which
      would  render the obligor ineligible for collection by the department of
      taxation and finance; or
        (2) a mistake  in  the  identity  of  the  obligor  showing  that  the
      individual  making  the  challenge  is not the obligor identified by the
      department; or
        (3) the absence of an underlying court order for support  pursuant  to
      which  the  obligor's  arrears  gave  rise to eligibility for collection
      action on such arrears by the department of taxation and finance.
        16.  Bureaus  of  special  hearings;  child  support  unit.  (a)   The
      department  is  authorized  to  establish  a bureau of special hearings;
      child support unit solely for the purposes of  providing  administrative
      law  judges  to  decide  objections  to  the  determination of a support
      collection unit to refer an  obligor's  arrears  to  the  department  of
      taxation  and finance for collection pursuant to subdivision nineteen of
      section one hundred eleven-h  of  this  title.  The  administrative  law
      judges  employed by the unit shall serve exclusively within the unit and
      shall not be utilized for any purpose other than those described in this
      subdivision and shall be salaried employees of the department and  shall
      not be removed from such unit except for cause.
        (b)  The  unit  shall  review  a support collection unit's denial of a
      challenge made by  a  support  obligor  pursuant  to  paragraph  two  of
      subdivision  nineteen  of  section one hundred eleven-h of this title if
      objections thereto are filed by  a  support  obligor  who  has  received
      notice  that the department intends to notify the department of taxation
      and finance to collect such support obligor's support arrears.  Specific
      written  objections  to  a  support  collection  unit's  denial  must be
      submitted by the support obligor to the unit within thirty days  of  the
      date  of  the  notice of the support collection unit's denial. A support
      obligor who files such objections shall serve a copy of  the  objections
      upon  the  support  collection unit, which shall have ten days from such
      service to file a written rebuttal to such objections and a copy of  the
    
      record  upon  which  the  support  collection  unit's  denial  was made,
      including all documentation submitted by the support obligor.  Proof  of
      service shall be filed with the unit at the time of filing of objections
      and  any  rebuttal.  The  unit's  review  shall be based solely upon the
      record and submissions of the support obligor and the support collection
      unit upon which the support collection unit's denial  was  made.  Within
      fifteen days after the rebuttal, if any, is filed, an administrative law
      judge  of  the  unit  shall  (i)  deny  the objections and remand to the
      support  collection  unit  or  (ii)  affirm  the   objections   if   the
      administrative   law  judge  finds  the  determination  of  the  support
      collection unit is based upon an erroneous determination of fact by  the
      support  collection  unit.  Such  decision  shall  pertain solely to the
      mistaken identity of the obligor, a prejudicial error in the calculation
      of  the  obligor's  arrears,  the  obligor's  financial  exemption  from
      collection  of support arrears by the department of taxation and finance
      or the absence of an underlying  court  order  establishing  arrears  to
      support  eligibility  for  such  enforcement. Upon an affirmation of the
      objections  the  administrative  law  judge  shall  direct  the  support
      collection  unit not to notify the department of taxation and finance of
      their authority to collect the support obligor's arrears. Provisions set
      forth in this subdivision relating to procedures for hearing  objections
      by  the  unit  shall apply solely to such cases and not affect or modify
      any other procedure for review or appeal of  administrative  enforcement
      of  child  support  requirements. The decision of the administrative law
      judge pursuant to this section shall be final and not reviewable by  the
      commissioner,   and   shall  be  reviewable  only  pursuant  to  article
      seventy-eight of the civil practice law and rules.
        17. Special services for review and adjustment. The  department  shall
      develop  procedures  for  and require local social services districts to
      dedicate special staff to the review and  adjustment  of  child  support
      orders   entered   prior   to   September  fifteenth,  nineteen  hundred
      eighty-nine on behalf of children in receipt  of  public  assistance  or
      child  support services pursuant to section one hundred eleven-g of this
      title. Such  review  and  adjustment  shall  be  performed  pursuant  to
      subdivisions  twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen and sixteen of section
      one hundred eleven-h of this title. All such cases shall be reviewed and
      if necessary adjusted no later than December thirty-first, two thousand.