BISMARCK -- Deadbeat parents might find themselves on an electronic "most wanted" list or their driver's licenses suspended if two bills pass the North Dakota Legislature.
Senate Bill 2245 would create a public list of parents who are in contempt or have been convicted of nonpayment of child support. The list might be put on a Web site, state officials told the Senate Human Services Committee Monday.
Other states already publish "wanted' posters. Massachusetts has done it since 1992 and 79 of 85 parents featured have been caught or have surrendered, said Mike Schwindt, director of the state Child Support Enforcement Office.
The North Dakota information is already a public record, he said, but the bill would establish policies on publishing the lists.
The department would send letters to parents who owe more than $2,000, telling them their names, and information about their unpaid obligation, could be published.
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Schwindt said the bill also would allow the state to look for parents who are owed money.
"Despite a recent project to find missing custodial parents, we still have over $128,000 in undistributed child support that is payable to 320 parents," he said. The bill gives the department express approval to release the names of parents who should be getting money.
Senate Bill 2246 would allow the Department of Human Services to almost automatically suspend a noncustodial parents' driver's license, hunting license or professional license if they are three months behind in their support and refuse to enter a payment plan.
Currently a law that allows such suspensions can only be used by a judge after a contempt finding has been made.
It's seldom used, said Jim Fleming, deputy director of the state Child Support Enforcement Office. The problem is when nonpaying parents get a notice that they are going to be found in contempt, they only have to pay one month's payment to be in compliance. The next month, the process can start all over, which Fleming compared to a revolving door.
The bills are sponsored by Sen. Tom Fischer, R-Fargo.
"I was surprised to learn that over $185 million is owed in past-due support in North Dakota," he said.
He said parents who pay their child support obligations have nothing to worry about. And someone who is behind in paying support can avoid the license suspension sanctions by entering and honoring a payment plan with the department.
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SB 2246 also would punish employers who withhold child support payments from their employees' checks and then keep the money.
When an employer withholds child support payments from an employee's check and never turns it over to the state, that parent is socked with sanctions for being behind in payments, Fischer said.
The committee recommended SB 2245 be passed but did not act on SB 2246.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Janell Cole at (701) 224-0830
