MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2001 Regular Session

To: Public Health and Welfare; Judiciary

By: Senator(s) Huggins

AN ACT RELATING TO CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT; TO AMEND SECTION 93-11-101, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CLARIFY THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TERMS "ARREARAGE" AND "DELINQUENCY"; TO AMEND SECTION 93-11-153, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCLUDE COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES AS ENTITIES THAT CAN SUSPEND LICENSES OR CERTIFICATIONS FOR NONPAYMENT OF CHILD SUPPORT; TO AMEND SECTIONS 93-9-25 AND 93-9-27, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CLARIFY REFERENCES IN THE GENETIC TESTING STATUTES; TO AMEND SECTION 43-19-101, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CLARIFY THE APPLICATION OF THE CHILD SUPPORT AWARD MINIMUM GUIDELINES BASED ON THE PERCENTAGE OF ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME, TO AUTHORIZE THE IMPUTATION OF EARNING ABILITY BASED ON THE CURRENT MINIMUM WAGE IF THE ABSENT PARENT DOES NOT APPEAR AT THE CHILD SUPPORT HEARING, AND TO DEFINE REASONABLE MEDICAL SUPPORT; TO AMEND SECTIONS 93-5-23 AND 93-11-65, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE FOR AUTOMATIC EMANCIPATION OF A MINOR IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 93-9-11, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO DELETE THE ONE-YEAR LIMITATION ON THE RECOVERY OF UNPAID CHILD SUPPORT; TO AMEND SECTION 19-19-5, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE CONSTABLES TO SERVE PROCESS FOR ANY COUNTY, CHANCERY OR CIRCUIT COURT; TO AMEND SECTION 43-19-37, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THE ELEMENTS FOR A PRIMA FACIE CASE AND THE BURDEN OF PROOF FOR CONTEMPT OF COURT FOR FAILURE TO PAY CHILD SUPPORT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 93-11-101, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

93-11-101. As used in Sections 93-11-101 through 93-11-119, the following words shall have the meaning ascribed to them herein unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

(a) "Order for support" means any order of the chancery, circuit, county or family court, which provides for periodic payment of funds for the support of a child, whether temporary or final, and includes any such order which provides for:

(i) Modification or resumption of, or payment of arrearage accrued under, a previously existing order; or

(ii) Reimbursement of support.

"Order for support" shall also mean:

(i) An order for support and maintenance of a spouse if a minor child is living with such spouse; or

(ii) In actions to which the Department of Human Services is a party, an order for support and maintenance of a spouse if a minor child is living with such spouse and such maintenance is collected in conjunction with child support.

(b) "Court" means the court that enters an order for withholding pursuant to Section 93-11-103(1).

(c) "Clerk of the court" means the clerk of the court that enters an order for withholding pursuant to Section 93-11-103(1).

(d) "Arrearage" means the total amount of unpaid support obligations.

(e) "Delinquency" means any payments that are ordered by any court to be paid by a noncustodial parent for the support of a child that have remained unpaid for at least thirty (30) days after payment is due. Delinquency shall also include payments that are ordered by any court to be paid for maintenance of a spouse in cases in which the department is collecting such support in conjunction with child support. * * *

(f) "Department" means the Mississippi Department of Human Services.

(g) "Employer" means a person who has control of the payment of wages to an individual.

(h) "Income" means any form of periodic payment to an individual, regardless of source, including, but not limited to: wages, salary, commission, compensation as an independent contractor, workers' compensation, disability, annuity and retirement benefits, and any other payments made by any person, private entity, federal or state government or any unit of local government, notwithstanding any other provisions of state or local law which limit or exempt income or the amount or percentage of income that can be withheld; provided, however, that income excludes:

(i) Any amounts required by law to be withheld, other than creditor claims, including, but not limited to, federal, state and local taxes, Social Security and other retirement and disability contributions;

(ii) Any amounts exempted by federal law;

(iii) Public assistance payments; and

(iv) Unemployment insurance benefits except as provided by law.

(i) "Obligor" means the individual who owes a duty to make payments under an order for support.

(j) "Obligee" means:

(i) An individual to whom a duty of support is or is alleged to be owed or in whose favor a support order has been issued or a judgment determining parentage has been rendered;

(ii) A state or political subdivision to which the rights under a duty of support or support order have been assigned or which independent claims based on financial assistance provided to an individual obligee; or

(iii) An individual seeking a judgment determining parentage of the individual's child.

(k) "Payor" means any payor of income to an obligor.

SECTION 2. Section 93-11-153, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

93-11-153. As used in Sections 93-11-151 through 93-11-163, the following words and terms shall have the meanings ascribed herein:

(a) "Licensing entity" or "entity" means any entity specified in Title 73, Professions and Vocations, of the Mississippi Code, and includes the Mississippi Department of Public Safety with respect to driver's licenses, the Mississippi State Tax Commission with respect to licenses for the sale of alcoholic beverages and other licenses or registration authorizing a person to engage in a business, the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks with respect to hunting and fishing licenses, and any other state agency, county or municipality that issues a license authorizing a person to engage in a business, occupation or profession. For the purposes of this article, the Supreme Court shall be considered to be the licensing entity for attorneys.

(b) "License" means a license, certificate, permit, credential, registration, or any other authorization issued by a licensing entity that allows a person to engage in a business, occupation or profession, to operate a motor vehicle, to sell alcoholic beverages, or to hunt and fish.

(c) "Licensee" means any person holding a license issued by a licensing entity.

(d) "Order for support" means any judgment or order that provides for payments of a sum certain for the support of a child, whether it is temporary or final, and includes, but is not limited to, an order for reimbursement for public assistance or an order for making periodic payments on a support arrearage, or a sum certain due for a support arrearage.

(e) "Out of compliance with an order for support" means that the obligor is at least thirty (30) days in arrears or delinquent in making payments in full for current support, or in making periodic payments on a support arrearage.

(f) "Department" means the Mississippi Department of Human Services.

(g) "Division" means the division within the department that is charged with the state administration of Title IV-D of the Social Security Act.

(h) "Delinquency" means any payments of a sum certain ordered by any court to be paid by a noncustodial parent for the support of a child that have remained unpaid for at least thirty (30) days after payment is due. Delinquency shall also include payments of a sum certain ordered by any court to be paid for maintenance of a spouse that have remained unpaid for at least thirty (30) days.

SECTION 3. Section 93-9-25, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

93-9-25. The costs of the genetic or other tests required by the court and the compensation of each expert witness appointed by the court shall be fixed at a reasonable amount. It shall be paid as the court shall order. The court may order that it be paid by the parties in such proportions and at such times as it shall prescribe, and that, after payment by either of the parties or both, all or part or none of it be taxed as costs in the action. The fee of an expert witness called by a party but not appointed by the court shall be paid by the party calling him but shall not be taxed as costs in the action.

SECTION 4. Section 93-9-27, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

93-9-27. (1) If the court finds that the conclusions of all the experts, as disclosed by the evidence based upon the tests, are that the alleged father is not the father of the child, the question of paternity shall be resolved accordingly. If an expert concludes that the genetic or other tests show the probability of paternity, such evidence shall be admitted.

(2) There shall be rebuttable presumption, affecting the burden of proof, of paternity, if the court finds that the probability of paternity, as calculated by the experts qualified as examiners of genetic tests, is ninety-eight percent (98%) or greater. This presumption may only be rebutted by a preponderance of the evidence.

(3) Parties to an action to establish paternity shall not be entitled to a jury trial.

SECTION 5. Section 43-19-101, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

43-19-101. (1) The following child support award guidelines shall be a rebuttable presumption in all judicial or administrative proceedings regarding the awarding or modifying of child support awards in this state:

Number Of Children Percentage Of Adjusted Gross Income

Due Support That Should Be Awarded For Support

1 14%

2 20%

3 22%

4 24%

5 or more 26%

(2) The guidelines provided for in subsection (1) of this section apply unless the judicial or administrative body awarding or modifying the child support award makes a written finding or specific finding on the record that the application of the guidelines would be unjust or inappropriate in a particular case as determined under the criteria specified in Section 43-19-103.

(3) The amount of "adjusted gross income" as that term is used in subsection (1) of this section shall be calculated as follows:

(a) Determine gross income from all potential sources that may reasonably be expected to be available to the absent parent including, but not limited to, the following: wages and salary income; income from self employment; income from commissions; income from investments, including dividends, interest income and income on any trust account or property; absent parent's portion of any joint income of both parents; workers' compensation, disability, unemployment, annuity and retirement benefits, including an individual retirement account (IRA); any other payments made by any person, private entity, federal or state government or any unit of local government; alimony; any income earned from an interest in or from inherited property; any other form of earned income; and gross income shall exclude any monetary benefits derived from a second household, such as income of the absent parent's current spouse;

(b) Subtract the following legally mandated deductions:

(i) Federal, state and local taxes. Contributions to the payment of taxes over and beyond the actual liability for the taxable year shall not be considered a mandatory deduction;

(ii) Social security contributions;

(iii) Retirement and disability contributions except any voluntary retirement and disability contributions;

(c) If the absent parent is subject to an existing court order for another child or children, subtract the amount of that court-ordered support;

(d) Compute the total annual amount of adjusted gross income based on paragraphs (a) through (d), then divide this amount by twelve (12) to obtain the monthly amount of adjusted gross income.

(e) If the absent parent is also the legal parent of another child(ren) * * * residing with him, then the court may subtract five percent (5%) from his adjusted gross income per child not to exceed fifteen percent (15%) for three (3) or more children;

Upon conclusion of the calculation of paragraphs (a) through (e), multiply the monthly amount of adjusted gross income by the appropriate percentage designated in subsection (1) to arrive at the amount of the monthly child support award; however, where multiple obligations are to be established or modified, this percentage shall apply to each case and shall not be divided between the households of multiple custodial parents.

(4) Should the absent parent not appear at either an administrative or judicial hearing for the determination of child support, after being properly served, or income information is otherwise unavailable, the court may impute earning ability and may award support based on current minimum wage for full time employment or the defendant's prior earning capacity or capability.

(5) In cases in which the adjusted gross income as defined in this section is more than One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00) or less than Six Thousand Dollars ($6,000.00), the court shall make a written finding in the record as to whether or not the application of the guidelines established in this section is reasonable.

(6) The Department of Human Services shall review the appropriateness of these guidelines beginning January 1, 1994, and, at least every four (4) years thereafter and report its findings to the Legislature no later than the first day of the regular legislative session of that year. The Legislature shall thereafter amend these guidelines when it finds that amendment is necessary to ensure that equitable support is being awarded in all cases involving the support of minor children.

(7) All orders involving support of minor children, as a matter of law, shall include reasonable medical support. Notice to the noncustodial parent's employer that medical support has been ordered shall be on a form as prescribed by the Department of Human Services.

(8) For the purpose of determining the reasonableness of medical insurance, the court may find that medical insurance which costs more than fifty percent (50%) of the child support obligation is unreasonable. In the case of multiple orders, fifty percent (50%) of the highest order shall be used to determine reasonableness. The cost of medical insurance shall not be included in determining the amount of child support under these guidelines.

SECTION 6. Section 93-5-23, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

93-5-23. (1) When a divorce shall be decreed from the bonds of matrimony, the court may, in its discretion, having regard to the circumstances of the parties and the nature of the case, as may seem equitable and just, make all orders touching the care, custody and maintenance of the children of the marriage, and also touching the maintenance and alimony of the wife or the husband, or any allowance to be made to her or him, and shall, if need be, require bond, sureties or other guarantee for the payment of the sum so allowed. Orders touching on the custody of the children of the marriage shall be made in accordance with the provisions of Section 93-5-24. The court may afterwards, on petition, change the decree, and make from time to time such new decrees as the case may require. However, where proof shows that both parents have separate incomes or estates, the court may require that each parent contribute to the support and maintenance of the children of the marriage in proportion to the relative financial ability of each. In the event a legally responsible parent has health insurance available to him or her through an employer or organization that may extend benefits to the dependents of such parent, any order of support issued against such parent may require him or her to exercise the option of additional coverage in favor of such children as he or she is legally responsible to support.

(2) Whenever the court has ordered a party to make periodic payments for the maintenance or support of a child, but no bond, sureties or other guarantee has been required to secure such payments, and whenever such payments as have become due remain unpaid for a period of at least thirty (30) days, the court may, upon petition of the person to whom such payments are owing, or such person's legal representative, enter an order requiring that bond, sureties or other security be given by the person obligated to make such payments, the amount and sufficiency of which shall be approved by the court. The obligor shall, as in other civil actions, be served with process and shall be entitled to a hearing in such case.

(3) Whenever in any proceeding in the chancery court concerning the custody of a child a party alleges that the child whose custody is at issue has been the victim of sexual or physical abuse by the other party, the court may, on its own motion, grant a continuance in the custody proceeding only until such allegation has been investigated by the Department of Human Services. At the time of ordering such continuance the court may direct the party, and his attorney, making such allegation of child abuse to report in writing and provide all evidence touching on the allegation of abuse to the Department of Human Services. The Department of Human Services shall investigate such allegation and take such action as it deems appropriate and as provided in such cases under the Youth Court Law (being Chapter 21 of Title 43, Mississippi Code of 1972) or under the laws establishing family courts (being Chapter 23 of Title 43, Mississippi Code of 1972).

(4) If after investigation by the Department of Human Services or final disposition by the youth court or family court allegations of child abuse are found to be without foundation, the chancery court shall order the alleging party to pay all court costs and reasonable attorney's fees incurred by the defending party in responding to such allegation.

(5) The court may investigate, hear and make a determination in a custody action when a charge of abuse and/or neglect arises in the course of a custody action as provided in Section 43-21-151, and in such cases the court shall appoint a guardian ad litem for the child as provided under Section 43-21-121, who shall be an attorney. Unless the chancery court's jurisdiction has been terminated, all disposition orders in such cases for placement with the Department of Human Services shall be reviewed by the court or designated authority at least annually to determine if continued placement with the department is in the best interest of the child or public.

(6) (a) The duty of support of a child terminates upon the emancipation of the child. Emancipation shall be effective upon the occurrence of one (1) of the following:

(i) Attains the age of twenty-one (21) years, or

(ii) Marries, or

(iii) Enlists in the military and enters active duty with the U.S. Armed Forces or full-time employment with the National Guard or Reserve, or

(iv) Is convicted as an adult of a felony and sentenced to an adult correctional facility.

(b) However, the court may determine that emancipation has occurred and no prospective support obligation exists when the child:

(i) Discontinues full-time enrollment in school and obtains full-time employment prior to attaining the age of twenty-one (21) years, or

(ii) Voluntarily moves from the home of the custodial parent or guardian and establishes independent living arrangements and obtains full-time employment prior to attaining the age of twenty-one (21) years.

Such a determination shall not be made retroactive prior to the date of the hearing.

SECTION 7. Section 93-11-65, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

93-11-65. (1) (a) In addition to the right to proceed under Section 93-5-23, Mississippi Code of 1972, and in addition to the remedy of habeas corpus in proper cases, and other existing remedies, the chancery court of the proper county shall have jurisdiction to entertain suits for the custody, care, support and maintenance of minor children and to hear and determine all such matters, and shall, if need be, require bond, sureties or other guarantee to secure any order for periodic payments for the maintenance or support of a child. In the event a legally responsible parent has health insurance available to him or her through an employer or organization that may extend benefits to the dependents of such parent, any order of support issued against such parent may require him or her to exercise the option of additional coverage in favor of such children as he or she is legally responsible to support. Proceedings may be brought by or against a resident or nonresident of the State of Mississippi, whether or not having the actual custody of minor children, for the purpose of judicially determining the legal custody of a child. All actions herein authorized may be brought in the county where the child is actually residing, or in the county of the residence of the party who has actual custody, or of the residence of the defendant. Process shall be had upon the parties as provided by law for process in person or by publication, if they be nonresidents of the state or residents of another jurisdiction or are not found therein after diligent search and inquiry or are unknown after diligent search and inquiry; provided that the court or chancellor in vacation may fix a date in termtime or in vacation to which process may be returnable and shall have power to proceed in termtime or vacation. Provided, however, that if the court shall find that both parties are fit and proper persons to have custody of the children, and that either party is able to adequately provide for the care and maintenance of the children, and that it would be to the best interest and welfare of the children, then any such child who shall have reached his twelfth birthday shall have the privilege of choosing the parent with whom he shall live.

(b) An order of child support shall specify the sum to be paid weekly or otherwise. In addition to providing for support and education, the order shall also provide for the support of the child prior to the making of the order for child support, and such other expenses as the court may deem proper.

(c) The court may require the payment to be made to the custodial parent, or to some person or corporation to be designated by the court as trustee, but if the child or custodial parent is receiving public assistance, the Department of Human Services shall be made the trustee.

(d) The noncustodial parent's liabilities for past education and necessary support and maintenance and other expenses may be calculated from the date of the child's birth or such time as the court deems appropriate.

(2) Provided further, that where the proof shows that both parents have separate incomes or estates, the court may require that each parent contribute to the support and maintenance of the children in proportion to the relative financial ability of each.

(3) Whenever the court has ordered a party to make periodic payments for the maintenance or support of a child, but no bond, sureties or other guarantee has been required to secure such payments, and whenever such payments as have become due remain unpaid for a period of at least thirty (30) days, the court may, upon petition of the person to whom such payments are owing, or such person's legal representative, enter an order requiring that bond, sureties or other security be given by the person obligated to make such payments, the amount and sufficiency of which shall be approved by the court. The obligor shall, as in other civil actions, be served with process and shall be entitled to a hearing in such case.

(4) When a charge of abuse or neglect of a child first arises in the course of a custody or maintenance action pending in the chancery court pursuant to this section, the chancery court may proceed with the investigation, hearing and determination of such abuse or neglect charge as a part of its hearing and determination of the custody or maintenance issue as between the parents, as provided in Section 43-21-151, notwithstanding the other provisions of the Youth Court Law. The proceedings in chancery court on the abuse or neglect charge shall be confidential in the same manner as provided in youth court proceedings, and the chancery court shall appoint a guardian ad litem in such cases, as provided under Section 43-21-121 for youth court proceedings, who shall be an attorney. Unless the chancery court's jurisdiction has been terminated, all disposition orders in such cases for placement with the Department of Human Services shall be reviewed by the court or designated authority at least annually to determine if continued placement with the department is in the best interest of the child or the public.

(5) Each party to a paternity or child support proceeding shall notify the other within five (5) days after any change of address. In addition, the noncustodial and custodial parent shall file and update, with the court and with the state case registry, information on that party's location and identity, including social security number, residential and mailing addresses, telephone numbers, photograph, driver's license number, and name, address and telephone number of the party's employer. This information shall be required upon entry of an order or within five (5) days of a change of address.

(6) In any case subsequently enforced by the Department of Human Services pursuant to Title IV-D of the Social Security Act, the court shall have continuing jurisdiction.

(7) In any subsequent child support enforcement action between the parties, upon sufficient showing that diligent effort has been made to ascertain the location of a party, due process requirements for notice and service of process shall be deemed to be met with respect to the party upon delivery of written notice to the most recent residential or employer address filed with the state case registry.

(8) (a) The duty of support of a child terminates upon the emancipation of the child. Emancipation shall be effective upon the occurrence of one (1) of the following:

(i) Attains the age of twenty-one (21) years, or

(ii) Marries, or

(iii) Enlists in the military and enters active duty with the U.S. Armed Forces or full-time employment with the National Guard or Reserve, or

(iv) Is convicted as an adult of a felony and sentenced to an adult correctional facility.

(b) However, the court may determine that emancipation has occurred and no prospective support obligation exists when the child:

(i) Discontinues full-time enrollment in school and obtains full-time employment prior to attaining the age of twenty-one (21) years, or

(ii) Voluntarily moves from the home of the custodial parent or guardian and establishes independent living arrangements and obtains full-time employment prior to attaining the age of twenty-one (21) years.

Such a determination shall not be made retroactive prior to the date of the hearing.

(9) In child support orders where the current child support obligation has terminated and there exists an arrearage for unpaid child support, then the amount that is currently ordered to be paid (current and arrearage obligation) shall continue to be paid by the obligor or withheld by the obligor's employer. Said payments shall be applied to the child support arrearage until paid in full without further order of the court.

SECTION 8. Section 93-9-11, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

93-9-11. The father's liabilities for a child born out of wedlock for past education and necessary support and maintenance and other expenses may be calculated from the date of the child's birth or as the court deems appropriate.

SECTION 9. Section 19-19-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

19-19-5. (1) It shall be the duty of every constable to keep and preserve the peace within his county, by faithfully aiding and assisting in executing the criminal laws of the state; to give information, without delay, to some justice court judge or other proper officer, of all riots, routs and unlawful assemblies, and of every violation of the penal laws which may come to his knowledge in any manner whatsoever; to execute and return all process, civil and criminal, lawfully directed to him, according to the command thereof; and to pay over all monies, when collected by him to the person lawfully authorized to receive the same. In addition, the constable shall also be authorized to serve process as directed to him by any county, chancery or circuit court. No constable shall receive any fee provided by law for making an arrest, or attending any trial, wherein the defendant has been arrested, or is being tried for any violation of the motor vehicle laws committed on any designated United States highway located within the district or county of the constable.

(2) (a) During a constable's term of office, each constable shall attend and, to the extent to which he is physically able, participate in a curriculum having a duration of two (2) weeks which addresses the nature and scope of specific duties and responsibilities of a constable and which includes firearm use and safety training, to be established by the Board on Law Enforcement Officers Standards and Training in the field of law enforcement at the Mississippi Law Enforcement Officers' Training Academy or such other training programs that are approved by the Board on Law Enforcement Officers Standards and Training pursuant to Section 45-6-9. No physical fitness test shall be required to be successfully completed in order to complete the training program.

The board of supervisors of the county shall be responsible for paying, only one (1) time, the tuition, living and travel expenses incurred by any constable of that county in attendance at such training program or curriculum. If such constable does not attend and, to the extent to which he is physically able, participate in the entirety of the required program or curriculum, any further training which may be required by this section shall be completed at the expense of such constable. No constable shall be entitled to the receipt of any fees, costs or compensation authorized by law after the first twenty-four (24) months in office if he fails to attend the required training and, to the extent to which he is physically able, participate in the entirety of the appropriate program or curriculum. Any constable who does not complete the required training when required may execute and return civil process but thereafter shall not be paid any fees, costs or compensation for executing such process and shall not be allowed to exercise any law enforcement functions or to carry a firearm in the performance of his duties until he has completed such training.

(b) (i) The Board of Law Enforcement Officers Standards and Training shall develop a program of continuing education training for constables to attend consisting of eight (8) hours annually. The program shall be divided equally between firearms training and safety and instruction in both substantive and procedural law. The training program shall be conducted by the Mississippi Constables Association, and appropriate parts of the program may be conducted by members who have been certified by the board to conduct the training program. The cost of travel, tuition and living expenses in attending the continuing training shall be paid out of the Law Enforcement Officers Training Fund created in Section 45-6-15.

(ii) No constable elected prior to January 1, 2000, shall be required to comply with the continuing education requirements of this paragraph (b); however, any constable may elect to attend the annual training and shall be reimbursed therefor as provided in this paragraph (b).

(c) The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to a constable who has received a certificate from the Board on Law Enforcement Officers Standards and Training evidencing satisfaction of subsections (2) and (3) of Section 45-6-11, or who is exempt from the requirements of subsections (2) and (3) of Section 45-6-11 by the provisions of subsection (1) of Section 45-6-11.

SECTION 10. Section 43-19-37, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

43-19-37. (1) Failure of the absent parent to comply with an order of support for a period of thirty (30) days shall be directed to the court having jurisdiction of the matter for contempt proceedings or execution issued in the manner and form prescribed by statute.

(a) A prima facie case for contempt is established when a party authorized to receive support introduces evidence that an absent parent, who is or was required to pay support, has failed to do so. Upon this showing, the burden of proof shifts to the absent parent to show, in particular, an inability to pay or other defense by clear and convincing evidence.

(b) Any payments made by the absent parent directly to the recipient or applicant in violation of the court order shall not be deemed to be a support payment and shall not be credited to the court-ordered obligation of said absent parent.

(c) Should civil proceedings become ineffective in producing support in any case involving a legitimate child or a child wherein paternity has been established by law or acknowledged in writing, the case shall promptly be referred to the district attorney for prosecution as a violation of Section 97-5-3.

(2) Court orders of support in all cases brought under the provisions of Sections 43-19-31 through 43-19-53 shall specify that the payment of court costs shall be directed by the absent parent to the Mississippi Department of Human Services Central Receipting and Disbursement Unit for further disbursement in the manner as prescribed by Title IV-D of the federal Social Security Act. Attorney's fees * * * shall be paid directly to the Mississippi Department of Human Services Central Receipting and Disbursement Unit in cases instituted by the department, in a manner separate and distinct from the payment of child support. * * *

(3) Each application, petition, order or filing made under this section shall include the Social Security number(s) of the applicant or father, mother and child(ren), as applicable, in accordance with Section 93-11-64, Mississippi Code of 1972.

SECTION 11. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2001.