HB354 Alabama 2015 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Marcel Black

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2015

Title

Child support, Uniform Interstate Family Support Act adopted, registration, enforcement, and modification of foreign child support orders, Secs. 30-3D-101 to 30-3D-105, inclusive, 30-3D-201 to 30-3D-211, inclusive, 30-3D-301 to 30-3D-319, inclusive, 30-3D-401, 30-3D-402, 30-3D-501 to 30-3D-507, inclusive, 30-3D-601 to 30-3D-616, inclusive, 30-3D-701 to 30-3D-713, inclusive, 30-3D-801, 30-3D-802, 30-3D-901, 30-3D-902, added; Secs. 30-3A-101, 30-3A-102, 30-3A-103, 30-3A-201 to 30-3A-209, inclusive, 30-3A-301 to 30-3A-319, inclusive, 30-3A-401, 30-3A-501 to 30-3A-507, inclusive, 30-3A-601 to 30-3A-614, inclusive, 30-3A-701, 30-3A-801, 30-3A-802, 30-3A-901 to 30-3A-906, inclusive, repealed

Summary

HB354 repeals Alabama's old UIFSA rules and adopts the 2008 UIFSA and Hague Convention framework to register, enforce, and modify foreign child-support orders.

What This Bill Does

It replaces Chapter 3A with Chapter 3D, adopting the 2008 Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (UIFSA) and Hague Convention procedures for international child-support cases. The Department of Human Resources becomes the state's support enforcement and information agency, coordinating processes and data. It sets rules for which order controls when there are multiple orders and how orders can be registered and enforced across state lines or foreign countries, including currency conversion and handling of arrears. It also creates procedures for recognition and enforcement of Convention orders, including direct requests, hearings, and due process protections.

Who It Affects

• Obligees (custodial parents) and obligors (noncustodial parents) — new, uniform rules for recognizing, enforcing, and modifying foreign child-support orders, with procedures for registration, currency conversion, and arrears handling.
• Employers and state agencies (like the Department of Human Resources) — must implement and enforce cross-state or foreign orders through wage withholding, enforcement tools, and case management; agencies gain new roles and protections.

Key Provisions

• Repeals Chapter 3A and adopts Chapter 3D to implement the 2008 Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (UIFSA) and Hague Convention procedures for international child-support cases.
• Defines key terms (child, support order, foreign country, home state, foreign tribunal, obligee, obligor, etc.) and designates the Department of Human Resources as the state's support enforcement agency and information agency.
• Establishes continuing, exclusive jurisdiction to modify a child-support order and rules to determine the 'controlling order' when multiple orders exist.
• Sets up procedures to register foreign orders (including foreign orders under the Convention) for enforcement or modification, with notices and required documents.
• Provides enforcement tools and guidelines for registered orders, including income-withholding, arrears collection, sanctions, and payment disbursement, with currency conversion for foreign orders.
• Creates Convention-based processes for recognition, enforcement, and modification of Convention orders and foreign support agreements, including direct requests and guidelines for hearings, public policy limits, and appellate rights.
• Maintains transition provisions and timelines; preserves other remedies and comity while integrating the 2008 UIFSA framework.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Child Support