When the support lien docket and ch. DCF 152 were implemented in 1999, the interest rate on delinquent support was 1.5 percent per month or 18 percent per year. Implementation of the support lien docket was controversial, and some considered it particularly unfair to payers who had large arrearages due to the high interest rate. Although interest on delinquent support was eligible for collection through the support lien docket under s. 49.854 (f) 5., Stats., it was expressly excluded from the definition of “arrearage debt” that is used to calculate the “lien-eligible amount” under s. DCF 152.03 (5) and (15). Over the past 20 years, interest forgiveness programs have reduced large arrearages. The interest rate on delinquent support has been reduced to .5 percent per month or 6 percent per year under the statewide pilot program under s. 767.511 (6m), Stats., as created by 2013 Wisconsin Act 20. The pilot program was implemented in 2014 and is not expected to end in the foreseeable future. Judicial enforcement options to collect interest from available assets burden court time and resources. With limited enforcement options, interest-only cases remain open and affect the state’s performance on federal standards that determine incentive payments.
In addition, not including interest debt in the administrative lien amount causes considerable confusion for payers when the payee formerly received Wisconsin Works payments and part of the arrearage is owed to the state due to child support assignment and part is owed to the payee. Under federal law on distribution of support, the principal and interest owed to the payee needs to be paid before any state-owed amount. This means that the amount needed to satisfy the lien is higher than the amount on the lien docket. Interest owed to the payee, which is not included in the lien-eligible amount, must be paid before the remaining payment is applied to the state-owed principal, which is included in the lien-eligible amount. Currently, payers arrive at the child support agency intending to satisfy the lien, are told they must pay more than they expected, and have difficulty understanding the child support agency’s explanation of this complex situation.
With the various changes in circumstances since implementation of the support lien docket, the department believes that the balance of interests now weighs more heavily toward including interest on delinquent support in the lien-eligible amount and allowing collection through administrative enforcement actions.
The proposed rule will also make statutory updates related to eliminating references to percentage-expressed orders, which are prohibited in cases receiving the services of the child support program. In addition, the proposed rule will replace obsolete language on the reimbursement for financial institutions that participate in the record matching program with a cross-reference to the current reimbursement amount under s. 49.852 (2), Stats. 3. Detailed explanation of statutory authority for the rule
Section 49.858 (2) (c), Stats., requires the department to promulgate rules specifying the level of support that is overdue before an individual is considered to be delinquent in the payment of support for purposes of administrative support enforcement, including liens against property. Under s. 49.858 (1) (b), Stats., “support” has the meaning given in s. 49.857 (1) (g), Stats. Under s. 49.857 (1) (g), Stats., “support” is defined as child or family support, maintenance, birth expenses, medical expenses or other expenses related to the support of a child or former spouse. Section 49.854 (1) (f), Stats., defines “support” for purposes of the lien docket to include child or family support, maintenance, medical expenses of a child, birth expenses, and accrued interest on delinquent amounts of the other types of support. To align these two provisions, the department is interpreting “other expenses” in s. 48.857 (1) (g), Stats., to include interest. 4. Estimate of amount of time that state employees will spend developing the rule and of other resources necessary to develop the rule
80 hours
5. List with description of all entities that may be affected by the proposed rule
Child support payers and payees in cases receiving the services of the child support program when payers have lien eligible debts under s. 49.854 (2), Stats.; child support agencies; and title companies 6. Summary and preliminary comparison with any existing or proposed federal regulation that is intended to address the activities to be regulated by the proposed rule
42 USC 666 requires all states to implement procedures under which liens arise by operation of law against real and personal property for amounts of overdue support owed by a noncustodial parent who resides or owns property in the state. 45 CFR 302.70 requires states to have procedures for the imposition of liens against the real and personal property of noncustodial parents who owe overdue support. The order of the distribution of collected support is in 42 USC 657, which was created by the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 and became effective October 1, 2009. 7. Anticipated economic impact of implementing the rule (note if the rule is likely to have a significant economic impact on small business)
No impact on small business.
Contact Person
Connie Chesnik, Attorney
Office of Legal Counsel
(608) 422-7040
