The bill amends New Jersey's child support enforcement laws to grant courts greater discretion in suspending licenses and reporting credit for obligors who fail to meet their child support obligations. Key provisions include the requirement that all appropriate enforcement methods must be exhausted before a license can be suspended, and it introduces specific conditions under which a license may be revoked. These conditions include failure to provide health care coverage for the child for six months, non-compliance with subpoenas related to child support, or having arrears that equal or exceed six months of payments. The bill also allows the Probation Division to file a certification with the court regarding an obligor's non-compliance, potentially leading to license suspension without further due process.

Additionally, the bill modifies the process for contesting license suspensions and clarifies the factors courts may consider, such as involuntary unemployment or compliance with payment plans, before deciding on license revocation. It removes mandatory provisions related to license suspension, including the requirement for a 10-day notice before child support enforcement agencies request consumer reports. This change aims to streamline the enforcement process and reduce barriers for obligors, while also allowing for more flexible payment agreements and extended plans for arrears. Overall, the bill seeks to create a fairer approach to child support enforcement while protecting the rights of consumers.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 2A:17-56.41, 2A:17-56.43, 2A:17-56.8, 56:11-31