Indiana-2011-HB1427-Enrolled

First Regular Session 117th General Assembly (2011)

PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type, additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in ~~this~~ ~~style~~ ~~type.~~
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HOUSE ENROLLED ACT No. 1427

AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning family law and juvenile law.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:

SOURCE: IC 31-14-11-2.5; (11)HE1427.1.3. -->     SECTION 3. IC 31-14-11-2.5 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2011]: Sec. 2.5. (a) A court shall specify in a child support order which parent of a child may claim the child as a dependent for purposes of federal and state taxes.
    (b) In determining which parent may claim the child as a dependent under subsection (a), the court shall consider the following:
        (1) The value of claiming the child as a dependent at the marginal tax rate of each parent.
        (2) The income of each parent.
        (3) The age of the child and the number of years that the child

could be claimed as a dependent.
        (4) Each parent's percentage of the costs of supporting the child.
        (5) If applicable, the financial aid benefit for postsecondary education for the child.
        (6) If applicable, the financial burden each parent assumed under the property settlement in a dissolution proceeding.
        (7) Any other relevant factors.
    (c) If a court specifies that the noncustodial parent of a child may claim the child as a dependent for purposes of federal and state taxes, the court shall order the custodial parent of the child to take all actions necessary to release the custodial parent's claim to the exemption in the manner required under Section 152(e) of the Internal Revenue Code.
    (d) If a court determines that a parent who is ordered to pay child support may claim the child as a dependent under subsection (a), the court shall include in the order that the parent may only claim the child as a dependent for federal and state tax purposes if the parent has paid at least ninety-five percent (95%) of the parent's child support obligation for the calendar year for which the parent is ordered to claim the child as a dependent by January 31 of the following year.

SOURCE: IC 31-16-6-1.5; (11)HE1427.1.4. -->     SECTION 4. IC 31-16-6-1.5 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2011]: Sec. 1.5. (a) A court shall specify in a child support order which parent of a child may claim the child as a dependent for purposes of federal and state taxes.
    (b) In determining which parent may claim the child as a dependent under subsection, the court shall consider the following:
        (1) The value of claiming the child as a dependent at the marginal tax rate of each parent.
        (2) The income of each parent.
        (3) The age of the child or children and the number of years that the child or children could be claimed as a dependent or dependents.
        (4) Each parent's percentage of the costs of supporting the child or children.
        (5) If applicable, the financial aid benefit for postsecondary education for the child or children.
        (6) If applicable, the financial burden each parent assumed under the property settlement in a dissolution proceeding.
        (7) Any other relevant factors.
    (c) If a court designates that the noncustodial parent of a child may claim the child as a dependent for purposes of federal and state taxes, the court shall order the custodial parent of the child to take all actions necessary to release the custodial parent's claim to the exemption in the manner required under Section 152(e) of the Internal Revenue Code.
     (d) If a court determines that a parent who is ordered to pay child support may claim the child as a dependent under subsection (a), the court shall include in the order that the parent may only claim the child as a dependent for federal and state tax purposes if the parent has paid at least ninety-five percent (95%) of the parent's child support for the calendar year for which the parent is ordered to claim the child as a dependent by January 31 of the following year.

SOURCE: IC 31-25-4-13.1; (11)HE1427.1.5. -->     SECTION 5. IC 31-25-4-13.1, AS ADDED BY P.L.146-2006, SECTION 20, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2011]: Sec. 13.1. (a) This section applies after December 31, 2006.
    (b) The bureau shall make the agreements necessary for the effective administration of the plan with local governmental officials within Indiana. The bureau shall contract with:
        (1) a prosecuting attorney;
        (2) a private attorney or private entity if the bureau determines that a reasonable contract cannot be entered into with a prosecuting attorney and the determination is approved by at least two-thirds (2/3) of the Indiana child custody and support advisory committee (established by IC 33-24-11-1); or
        (3) a collection agency licensed under IC 25-11 to collect arrearages on child support orders under which collections have not been made on arrearages for at least two (2) years;
in each judicial circuit to undertake activities required to be performed under Title IV-D of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 651), including establishment of paternity, establishment, enforcement, and modification of child support orders, activities under the Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act (IC 31-2-1, before its repeal) or the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (IC 31-18, or IC 31-1.5 before its repeal), and if the contract is with a prosecuting attorney, prosecutions of welfare fraud.
    (c) The hiring of a private attorney or private entity by an agreement or a contract made under this section is not subject to the approval of the attorney general under IC 4-6-5-3. An agreement or a contract made under this section is not subject to IC 4-13-2-14.3 or IC 5-22.

    (d) Subject to section 14.1 of this chapter, a prosecuting attorney with which the bureau contracts under subsection (b):
        (1) may contract with a collection agency licensed under IC 25-11 to provide child support enforcement services; and
        (2) shall contract with a collection agency licensed under IC 25-11 to collect arrearages on child support orders under which collections have not been made on arrearages for at least two (2) years.
    (e) A prosecuting attorney or private attorney entering into an agreement or a contract with the bureau under this section enters into an attorney-client relationship with the state to represent the interests of the state in the effective administration of the plan and not the interests of any other person. An attorney-client relationship is not created with any other person by reason of an agreement or contract with the bureau.
    (f) At the time that an application for child support services is made, the applicant must be informed that:
        (1) an attorney who provides services for the child support bureau is the attorney for the state and is not providing legal representation to the applicant; and
        (2) communications made by the applicant to the attorney and the advice given by the attorney to the applicant are not confidential communications protected by the privilege provided under IC 34-46-3-1.
    (g) A prosecuting attorney or private attorney who contracts or agrees under this section to undertake activities required to be performed under Title IV-D is not required to mediate, resolve, or litigate a dispute between the parties relating to:
         (1) the amount of parenting time or parenting time credit; or
        (2) the assignment of the right to claim a child as a dependent for federal and state tax purposes.
    (h) An agreement made under subsection (b) must contain requirements stipulating service levels a prosecuting attorney or private entity is expected to meet. The bureau shall disburse incentive money based on whether a prosecuting attorney or private entity meets service levels stipulated in an agreement made under subsection (b).