State Codes and Statutes

Statutes > Iowa > Title-6 > Subtitle-6 > Chapter-252b > 252b-23

        252B.23  SURCHARGE.
         1.  A surcharge shall be due and payable by the obligor on a
      support arrearage identified as difficult to collect and referred by
      the unit on or after January 1, 1998, to a collection entity under
      contract with the unit or other state entity.  The amount of the
      surcharge shall be a percent of the amount of the support arrearage
      referred to the collection entity and shall be specified in the
      contract with the collection entity.  For the purpose of this
      chapter, a "collection entity" includes but is not limited to a
      state agency, including the central collection unit of the department
      of revenue, or a private collection agency.  Use of a collection
      entity is in addition to any other legal means by which support
      payments may be collected.  The unit shall continue to use other
      enforcement actions, as appropriate.
         2. a.  Notice that a surcharge may be assessed on a support
      arrearage referred to a collection entity pursuant to this section
      shall be provided to an obligor in accordance with one of the
      following as applicable:
         (1)  In the order establishing or modifying the support
      obligation.  The unit or district court shall include notice in any
      new or modified support order issued on or after July 1, 1997.
         (2)  Through notice sent by the unit by regular mail to the last
      known address of the support obligor.
         b.  The notice shall also advise that any appropriate
      information may be provided to a collection entity for purposes of
      administering and enforcing the surcharge.
         3.  Arrearages submitted for referral and surcharge pursuant to
      this section shall meet all of the following criteria:
         a.  The arrearages owed shall be based on a court or
      administrative order which establishes the support obligation.
         b.  The arrearage is due for a case in which the unit is
      providing services pursuant to this chapter and one for which the
      arrearage has been identified as difficult to collect by the unit.
         c.  The obligor was provided notice pursuant to subsection 2
      at least fifteen days prior to sending the notice of referral
      pursuant to subsection 4.
         4.  The unit shall send notice of referral to the obligor by
      regular mail to the obligor's last known address, with proof of
      service completed according to rule of civil procedure 1.442, at
      least thirty days prior to the date the arrearage is referred to the
      collection entity.  The notice shall inform the obligor of all of the
      following:
         a.  The arrearage will be referred to a collection entity.
         b.  Upon referral, a surcharge is due and payable by the
      obligor.
         c.  The amount of the surcharge.
         d.  That the obligor may avoid referral by paying the amount
      of the arrearage to the collection services center within twenty days
      of the date of notice of referral.
         e.  That the obligor may contest the referral by submitting a
      written request for review of the unit.  The request shall be
      received by the unit within twenty days of the date of the notice of
      referral.
         f.  The right to contest the referral is limited to a mistake
      of fact, which includes a mistake in the identity of the obligor, a
      mistake as to fulfillment of the requirements for referral under this
      subsection, or a mistake in the amount of the arrearages.
         g.  The unit shall issue a written decision following a
      requested review.
         h.  Following the issuance of a written decision by the unit
      denying that a mistake of fact exists, the obligor may request a
      hearing to challenge the surcharge by sending a written request for a
      hearing to the office of the unit which issued the decision.  The
      request shall be received by the office of the unit which issued the
      decision within ten days of the unit's written decision.  The only
      grounds for a hearing shall be mistake of fact.  Following receipt of
      the written request, the unit which receives the request shall
      certify the matter for hearing in the district court in the county in
      which the underlying support order is filed.
         i.  The address of the collection services center for payment
      of the arrearages.
         5.  If the obligor pays the amount of arrearage within twenty days
      of the date of the notice of referral, referral of the arrearage to a
      collection entity shall not be made.
         6.  If the obligor requests a review or court hearing pursuant to
      this section, referral of the arrearages shall be stayed pending the
      decision of the unit or the court.
         7.  Actions of the unit under this section shall not be subject to
      contested case proceedings or further review pursuant to chapter 17A
      and any resulting court hearing shall be an original hearing before
      the district court.  However, the department shall establish, by rule
      pursuant to chapter 17A, an internal process to provide an additional
      review by the administrator of the child support recovery unit or the
      administrator's designee.
         8.  If an obligor does not pay the amount of the arrearage, does
      not contest the referral, or if following the unit's review and any
      court hearing the unit or court does not find a mistake of fact, the
      arrearages shall be referred to a collection entity.  Following the
      review or hearing, if the unit or court finds a mistake in the amount
      of the arrearage, the arrearages shall be referred to the collection
      entity in the appropriate arrearage amount.  For arrearages referred
      to a collection entity, the obligor shall pay a surcharge equal to a
      percent of the amount of the support arrearage due as of the date of
      the referral.  The surcharge is in addition to the arrearages and any
      other fees or charges owed, and shall be enforced by the collection
      entity as provided under section 252B.5.  Upon referral to the
      collection entity, the surcharge is an automatic judgment against the
      obligor.
         9.  The director or the director's designee may file a notice of
      the surcharge with the clerk of the district court in the county in
      which the underlying support order is filed.  Upon filing, the clerk
      shall enter the amount of the surcharge on the lien index and
      judgment docket.
         10.  Following referral of a support arrearage to a collection
      entity, the surcharge shall be due and owing and enforceable by a
      collection entity or the unit notwithstanding satisfaction of the
      support obligation or whether the collection entity is enforcing a
      support arrearage.  However, the unit may waive payment of all or a
      portion of the surcharge if waiver will facilitate the collection of
      the support arrearage.
         11.  All surcharge payments shall be received and disbursed by the
      collection services center.  The surcharge payments received by the
      collection services center shall be considered repayment receipts as
      defined in section 8.2 and shall be used to pay the costs of any
      contracts with a collection entity.
         12. a.  A payment received by the collection services center
      which meets all the following conditions shall be allocated as
      specified in paragraph "b":
         (1)  The payment is for a case in which arrearages have been
      referred to a collection entity.
         (2)  A surcharge is assessed on the arrearages.
         (3)  The payment is collected under the provisions of the contract
      with the collection entity.
         b.  A payment meeting all of the conditions in paragraph
      "a" shall be allocated between support and costs and fees, and
      the surcharge according to the following formula:
         (1)  The payment shall be divided by the sum of one hundred
      percent plus the percent specified in the contract.
         (2)  The quotient shall be the amount allocated to the support
      arrearage and other fees and costs.
         (3)  The difference between the dividend and the quotient shall be
      the amount allocated to the surcharge.
         13.  Any computer or software programs developed and any records
      used in relation to a contract with a collection entity remain the
      property of the department.  
         Section History: Recent Form
         97 Acts, ch 175, §244; 2003 Acts, ch 145, §286; 2005 Acts, ch 175,
      §119
         Referred to in § 252B.9, 252B.13A

State Codes and Statutes

Statutes > Iowa > Title-6 > Subtitle-6 > Chapter-252b > 252b-23

        252B.23  SURCHARGE.
         1.  A surcharge shall be due and payable by the obligor on a
      support arrearage identified as difficult to collect and referred by
      the unit on or after January 1, 1998, to a collection entity under
      contract with the unit or other state entity.  The amount of the
      surcharge shall be a percent of the amount of the support arrearage
      referred to the collection entity and shall be specified in the
      contract with the collection entity.  For the purpose of this
      chapter, a "collection entity" includes but is not limited to a
      state agency, including the central collection unit of the department
      of revenue, or a private collection agency.  Use of a collection
      entity is in addition to any other legal means by which support
      payments may be collected.  The unit shall continue to use other
      enforcement actions, as appropriate.
         2. a.  Notice that a surcharge may be assessed on a support
      arrearage referred to a collection entity pursuant to this section
      shall be provided to an obligor in accordance with one of the
      following as applicable:
         (1)  In the order establishing or modifying the support
      obligation.  The unit or district court shall include notice in any
      new or modified support order issued on or after July 1, 1997.
         (2)  Through notice sent by the unit by regular mail to the last
      known address of the support obligor.
         b.  The notice shall also advise that any appropriate
      information may be provided to a collection entity for purposes of
      administering and enforcing the surcharge.
         3.  Arrearages submitted for referral and surcharge pursuant to
      this section shall meet all of the following criteria:
         a.  The arrearages owed shall be based on a court or
      administrative order which establishes the support obligation.
         b.  The arrearage is due for a case in which the unit is
      providing services pursuant to this chapter and one for which the
      arrearage has been identified as difficult to collect by the unit.
         c.  The obligor was provided notice pursuant to subsection 2
      at least fifteen days prior to sending the notice of referral
      pursuant to subsection 4.
         4.  The unit shall send notice of referral to the obligor by
      regular mail to the obligor's last known address, with proof of
      service completed according to rule of civil procedure 1.442, at
      least thirty days prior to the date the arrearage is referred to the
      collection entity.  The notice shall inform the obligor of all of the
      following:
         a.  The arrearage will be referred to a collection entity.
         b.  Upon referral, a surcharge is due and payable by the
      obligor.
         c.  The amount of the surcharge.
         d.  That the obligor may avoid referral by paying the amount
      of the arrearage to the collection services center within twenty days
      of the date of notice of referral.
         e.  That the obligor may contest the referral by submitting a
      written request for review of the unit.  The request shall be
      received by the unit within twenty days of the date of the notice of
      referral.
         f.  The right to contest the referral is limited to a mistake
      of fact, which includes a mistake in the identity of the obligor, a
      mistake as to fulfillment of the requirements for referral under this
      subsection, or a mistake in the amount of the arrearages.
         g.  The unit shall issue a written decision following a
      requested review.
         h.  Following the issuance of a written decision by the unit
      denying that a mistake of fact exists, the obligor may request a
      hearing to challenge the surcharge by sending a written request for a
      hearing to the office of the unit which issued the decision.  The
      request shall be received by the office of the unit which issued the
      decision within ten days of the unit's written decision.  The only
      grounds for a hearing shall be mistake of fact.  Following receipt of
      the written request, the unit which receives the request shall
      certify the matter for hearing in the district court in the county in
      which the underlying support order is filed.
         i.  The address of the collection services center for payment
      of the arrearages.
         5.  If the obligor pays the amount of arrearage within twenty days
      of the date of the notice of referral, referral of the arrearage to a
      collection entity shall not be made.
         6.  If the obligor requests a review or court hearing pursuant to
      this section, referral of the arrearages shall be stayed pending the
      decision of the unit or the court.
         7.  Actions of the unit under this section shall not be subject to
      contested case proceedings or further review pursuant to chapter 17A
      and any resulting court hearing shall be an original hearing before
      the district court.  However, the department shall establish, by rule
      pursuant to chapter 17A, an internal process to provide an additional
      review by the administrator of the child support recovery unit or the
      administrator's designee.
         8.  If an obligor does not pay the amount of the arrearage, does
      not contest the referral, or if following the unit's review and any
      court hearing the unit or court does not find a mistake of fact, the
      arrearages shall be referred to a collection entity.  Following the
      review or hearing, if the unit or court finds a mistake in the amount
      of the arrearage, the arrearages shall be referred to the collection
      entity in the appropriate arrearage amount.  For arrearages referred
      to a collection entity, the obligor shall pay a surcharge equal to a
      percent of the amount of the support arrearage due as of the date of
      the referral.  The surcharge is in addition to the arrearages and any
      other fees or charges owed, and shall be enforced by the collection
      entity as provided under section 252B.5.  Upon referral to the
      collection entity, the surcharge is an automatic judgment against the
      obligor.
         9.  The director or the director's designee may file a notice of
      the surcharge with the clerk of the district court in the county in
      which the underlying support order is filed.  Upon filing, the clerk
      shall enter the amount of the surcharge on the lien index and
      judgment docket.
         10.  Following referral of a support arrearage to a collection
      entity, the surcharge shall be due and owing and enforceable by a
      collection entity or the unit notwithstanding satisfaction of the
      support obligation or whether the collection entity is enforcing a
      support arrearage.  However, the unit may waive payment of all or a
      portion of the surcharge if waiver will facilitate the collection of
      the support arrearage.
         11.  All surcharge payments shall be received and disbursed by the
      collection services center.  The surcharge payments received by the
      collection services center shall be considered repayment receipts as
      defined in section 8.2 and shall be used to pay the costs of any
      contracts with a collection entity.
         12. a.  A payment received by the collection services center
      which meets all the following conditions shall be allocated as
      specified in paragraph "b":
         (1)  The payment is for a case in which arrearages have been
      referred to a collection entity.
         (2)  A surcharge is assessed on the arrearages.
         (3)  The payment is collected under the provisions of the contract
      with the collection entity.
         b.  A payment meeting all of the conditions in paragraph
      "a" shall be allocated between support and costs and fees, and
      the surcharge according to the following formula:
         (1)  The payment shall be divided by the sum of one hundred
      percent plus the percent specified in the contract.
         (2)  The quotient shall be the amount allocated to the support
      arrearage and other fees and costs.
         (3)  The difference between the dividend and the quotient shall be
      the amount allocated to the surcharge.
         13.  Any computer or software programs developed and any records
      used in relation to a contract with a collection entity remain the
      property of the department.  
         Section History: Recent Form
         97 Acts, ch 175, §244; 2003 Acts, ch 145, §286; 2005 Acts, ch 175,
      §119
         Referred to in § 252B.9, 252B.13A

State Codes and Statutes

State Codes and Statutes

Statutes > Iowa > Title-6 > Subtitle-6 > Chapter-252b > 252b-23

        252B.23  SURCHARGE.
         1.  A surcharge shall be due and payable by the obligor on a
      support arrearage identified as difficult to collect and referred by
      the unit on or after January 1, 1998, to a collection entity under
      contract with the unit or other state entity.  The amount of the
      surcharge shall be a percent of the amount of the support arrearage
      referred to the collection entity and shall be specified in the
      contract with the collection entity.  For the purpose of this
      chapter, a "collection entity" includes but is not limited to a
      state agency, including the central collection unit of the department
      of revenue, or a private collection agency.  Use of a collection
      entity is in addition to any other legal means by which support
      payments may be collected.  The unit shall continue to use other
      enforcement actions, as appropriate.
         2. a.  Notice that a surcharge may be assessed on a support
      arrearage referred to a collection entity pursuant to this section
      shall be provided to an obligor in accordance with one of the
      following as applicable:
         (1)  In the order establishing or modifying the support
      obligation.  The unit or district court shall include notice in any
      new or modified support order issued on or after July 1, 1997.
         (2)  Through notice sent by the unit by regular mail to the last
      known address of the support obligor.
         b.  The notice shall also advise that any appropriate
      information may be provided to a collection entity for purposes of
      administering and enforcing the surcharge.
         3.  Arrearages submitted for referral and surcharge pursuant to
      this section shall meet all of the following criteria:
         a.  The arrearages owed shall be based on a court or
      administrative order which establishes the support obligation.
         b.  The arrearage is due for a case in which the unit is
      providing services pursuant to this chapter and one for which the
      arrearage has been identified as difficult to collect by the unit.
         c.  The obligor was provided notice pursuant to subsection 2
      at least fifteen days prior to sending the notice of referral
      pursuant to subsection 4.
         4.  The unit shall send notice of referral to the obligor by
      regular mail to the obligor's last known address, with proof of
      service completed according to rule of civil procedure 1.442, at
      least thirty days prior to the date the arrearage is referred to the
      collection entity.  The notice shall inform the obligor of all of the
      following:
         a.  The arrearage will be referred to a collection entity.
         b.  Upon referral, a surcharge is due and payable by the
      obligor.
         c.  The amount of the surcharge.
         d.  That the obligor may avoid referral by paying the amount
      of the arrearage to the collection services center within twenty days
      of the date of notice of referral.
         e.  That the obligor may contest the referral by submitting a
      written request for review of the unit.  The request shall be
      received by the unit within twenty days of the date of the notice of
      referral.
         f.  The right to contest the referral is limited to a mistake
      of fact, which includes a mistake in the identity of the obligor, a
      mistake as to fulfillment of the requirements for referral under this
      subsection, or a mistake in the amount of the arrearages.
         g.  The unit shall issue a written decision following a
      requested review.
         h.  Following the issuance of a written decision by the unit
      denying that a mistake of fact exists, the obligor may request a
      hearing to challenge the surcharge by sending a written request for a
      hearing to the office of the unit which issued the decision.  The
      request shall be received by the office of the unit which issued the
      decision within ten days of the unit's written decision.  The only
      grounds for a hearing shall be mistake of fact.  Following receipt of
      the written request, the unit which receives the request shall
      certify the matter for hearing in the district court in the county in
      which the underlying support order is filed.
         i.  The address of the collection services center for payment
      of the arrearages.
         5.  If the obligor pays the amount of arrearage within twenty days
      of the date of the notice of referral, referral of the arrearage to a
      collection entity shall not be made.
         6.  If the obligor requests a review or court hearing pursuant to
      this section, referral of the arrearages shall be stayed pending the
      decision of the unit or the court.
         7.  Actions of the unit under this section shall not be subject to
      contested case proceedings or further review pursuant to chapter 17A
      and any resulting court hearing shall be an original hearing before
      the district court.  However, the department shall establish, by rule
      pursuant to chapter 17A, an internal process to provide an additional
      review by the administrator of the child support recovery unit or the
      administrator's designee.
         8.  If an obligor does not pay the amount of the arrearage, does
      not contest the referral, or if following the unit's review and any
      court hearing the unit or court does not find a mistake of fact, the
      arrearages shall be referred to a collection entity.  Following the
      review or hearing, if the unit or court finds a mistake in the amount
      of the arrearage, the arrearages shall be referred to the collection
      entity in the appropriate arrearage amount.  For arrearages referred
      to a collection entity, the obligor shall pay a surcharge equal to a
      percent of the amount of the support arrearage due as of the date of
      the referral.  The surcharge is in addition to the arrearages and any
      other fees or charges owed, and shall be enforced by the collection
      entity as provided under section 252B.5.  Upon referral to the
      collection entity, the surcharge is an automatic judgment against the
      obligor.
         9.  The director or the director's designee may file a notice of
      the surcharge with the clerk of the district court in the county in
      which the underlying support order is filed.  Upon filing, the clerk
      shall enter the amount of the surcharge on the lien index and
      judgment docket.
         10.  Following referral of a support arrearage to a collection
      entity, the surcharge shall be due and owing and enforceable by a
      collection entity or the unit notwithstanding satisfaction of the
      support obligation or whether the collection entity is enforcing a
      support arrearage.  However, the unit may waive payment of all or a
      portion of the surcharge if waiver will facilitate the collection of
      the support arrearage.
         11.  All surcharge payments shall be received and disbursed by the
      collection services center.  The surcharge payments received by the
      collection services center shall be considered repayment receipts as
      defined in section 8.2 and shall be used to pay the costs of any
      contracts with a collection entity.
         12. a.  A payment received by the collection services center
      which meets all the following conditions shall be allocated as
      specified in paragraph "b":
         (1)  The payment is for a case in which arrearages have been
      referred to a collection entity.
         (2)  A surcharge is assessed on the arrearages.
         (3)  The payment is collected under the provisions of the contract
      with the collection entity.
         b.  A payment meeting all of the conditions in paragraph
      "a" shall be allocated between support and costs and fees, and
      the surcharge according to the following formula:
         (1)  The payment shall be divided by the sum of one hundred
      percent plus the percent specified in the contract.
         (2)  The quotient shall be the amount allocated to the support
      arrearage and other fees and costs.
         (3)  The difference between the dividend and the quotient shall be
      the amount allocated to the surcharge.
         13.  Any computer or software programs developed and any records
      used in relation to a contract with a collection entity remain the
      property of the department.  
         Section History: Recent Form
         97 Acts, ch 175, §244; 2003 Acts, ch 145, §286; 2005 Acts, ch 175,
      §119
         Referred to in § 252B.9, 252B.13A