HB639 Alabama 2010 Session

Existing law provides two methods by which a person may have his or her driver's license suspended, revoked, or otherwise restricted for failure to pay child support. The Department of Human Resources, by administrative order, may direct the Department of Public Safety to suspend or otherwise restrict the driver's license of a obligor who is six months or more in arrears on his or her child support obligation, or the obligee to whom the child support is to be paid may file a contempt petition in the appropriate court

This bill would require that when a petition for contempt is filed seeking suspension or restriction of a driver's license for failing to pay child support, the court is required to order the obligor to reimburse the obligee for the attorney fees and court costs associated with filing the petition for contempt. The bill would prohibit the court from authorizing reinstatement of a driver's license unless the obligor has reimbursed the court costs associated with filing the petition for contempt and has complied with the order of the court to the satisfaction of the court

To amend Section 30-3-177, Code of Alabama 1975, to provide further for the filing of a contempt petition seeking suspension or other restriction of a driver's license for failure to pay court ordered child support; to require the court to order reimbursement by the obligor of the attorney fees and court costs associated with filing the petition for contempt; and to provide that the court may not authorize reinstatement of a license until the court costs are paid and the other terms of the court order satisfied.