Source: http://www.legis.state.wv.us/WVCODE/code.cfm?chap=48&art=15&section=203
Timestamp: 2017-04-29 21:46:01
Document Index: 265990881

Matched Legal Cases: ['ART 1', '§48', '§48', '§48', 'art 2', '§48', '§48', '§48', '§48', '§48', '§48', '§48', 'ART 3', '§48', '§48', '§48', 'ART 4', '§48', '§48']

Chapter 48 | Article 48 - 15
13 - GUIDELINES FOR CHILD SUPPORT 14 - REMEDIES FOR THE ENFORCEMENT 15 - ENFORCEMENT OF SUPPORT ORDER 48 - 15 - 101 48 - 15 - 102 48 - 15 - 103 48 - 15 - 104 48 - 15 - 201 48 - 15 - 202 48 - 15 - 203 48 - 15 - 204 48 - 15 - 205 48 - 15 - 206 48 - 15 - 207 48 - 15 - 208 48 - 15 - 209 48 - 15 - 301 48 - 15 - 302 48 - 15 - 303 48 - 15 - 304 48 - 15 - 401 48 - 15 - 402 16 - UNIFORM INTERSTATE FAMILY SUP
WVC 48 - 15 - ARTICLE 15. ENFORCEMENT OF SUPPORT ORDER THROUGH ACTION AGAINST
WVC 48 - 15 - 101 PART 1. DEFINITIONS.
For purposes of this article, the words or terms defined in
this article, and any variation of those words or terms required by
the context, have the meanings ascribed to them. These definitions
are applicable unless a different meaning clearly appears from the
WVC 48 - 15 - 102 §48-15-102. Action against a license defined.
"Action against a license" means action taken by the bureau
for child support enforcement to cause the denial, nonrenewal,
suspension or restriction of a license applied for or held by: (A)
A support obligor owing overdue support; or (B) a person who has
failed to comply with subpoenas or warrants relating to paternity
or child support proceedings.
WVC 48 - 15 - 103 §48-15-103. Application defined.
"Application" means a request to have a license issued, a
request for a renewal of an existing license or a request to change
the status of an existing license.
WVC 48 - 15 - 104 §48-15-104. License defined.
"License" means a license, permit, certificate of
registration, registration, credential, stamp or other indicia that
evidences a personal privilege entitling a person to do an act that
he or she would otherwise not be entitled to do, or evidences a
special privilege to pursue a profession, trade, occupation,
business or vocation.
WVC 48 - 15 - 201 Part 2. Action Against License.
The following licenses are subject to an action against a
license as provided for in this article:
(1) A business registration certificate issued under article
twelve, chapter eleven of this code authorizing a person to
transact business in the State of West Virginia;
(2) A permit or license issued under chapter seventeen-b of
this code authorizing a person to drive a motor vehicle;
(3) A commercial driver's license issued under chapter
seventeen-e of this code authorizing a person to drive a class of
(4) A permit, license or stamp issued under article two or
two-b, chapter twenty of this code regulating a person's activities
for wildlife management purposes, authorizing a person to serve as
an outfitter or guide or authorizing a person to hunt or fish;
(5) A license or registration issued under chapter thirty of
this code authorizing a person to practice or engage in a
(6) A license issued under article twelve, chapter forty-seven
of this code authorizing a person to transact business as a real
estate broker or real estate salesperson;
(7) A license or certification issued under article fourteen,
chapter thirty-seven of this code authorizing a person to transact
business as a real estate appraiser;
(8) A license issued under article twelve, chapter
thirty-three of this code authorizing a person to transact
insurance business as an agent, broker or solicitor;
(9) A registration made under article two, chapter thirty-two
of this code authorizing a person to transact securities business
as a broker-dealer, agent or investment advisor;
(10) A license issued under article twenty-two, chapter
twenty-nine of this code authorizing a person to transact business
as a lottery sales agent;
(11) A license issued under article thirty-two or thirty-four,
chapter sixteen of this code authorizing persons to pursue a trade
or vocation in asbestos abatement or radon mitigation;
(12) A license issued under article eleven, chapter twenty-one
of this code authorizing a person to act as a contractor;
(13) A license issued under article two-c, chapter nineteen of
this code authorizing a person to act as an auctioneer; and
(14) A license, permit or certificate issued under chapter
nineteen of this code authorizing a person to sell, market or
distribute agricultural products or livestock.
WVC 48 - 15 - 202 §48-15-202. Persons subject to notice of action against license.
The bureau for child support enforcement shall send a written
notice of an action against a license to a person who:
(1) Owes overdue child support, if the child support arrearage
equals or exceeds the amount of child support payable for six
(2) Has failed for a period of six months to pay medical
support ordered under article 12-101, et seq., of this code; or (3) Has failed, after appropriate notice, to comply with
subpoenas or warrants relating to paternity or child support
WVC 48 - 15 - 203 §48-15-203. Exhaustion of other statutory enforcement methods.
In the case of overdue child support or noncompliance with a
medical support order, notice of an action against a license shall
be served only if other statutory enforcement methods to collect
the support arrearage have been exhausted or are not available.
WVC 48 - 15 - 204 §48-15-204. Service of notice of action against a license.
The bureau shall send a notice of action against a license by
regular mail and by certified mail, return receipt requested, to
the person's last-known address or place of business or employment. Simultaneous certified and regular mailing of the written notice
shall constitute effective service unless the United States Postal
Service returns the mail to the bureau for child support
enforcement within the thirty-day response period marked "moved,
unable to forward," "addressee not known," "no such number/street,"
"insufficient address," or "forwarding order expired." If the
certified mail is returned for any other reason without the return
of the regular mail, the regular mail service shall constitute
effective service. If the mail is addressed to the person at his
or her place of business or employment, with postal instructions to
deliver to addressee only, service will be deemed effective only if
the signature on the return receipt appears to be that of the
person. Acceptance of the certified mail notice signed by the
person, the person's attorney, or a competent member of the
person's household above the age of sixteen shall be deemed
WVC 48 - 15 - 206 §48-15-206. Notice of consequences of failure to comply.
The notice shall advise the person that further failure to
comply may result in an action against licenses held by the person,
and that any pending application for a license may be denied,
renewal of a license may be refused, or an existing license may be
suspended or restricted unless, within thirty days of the date of
the notice, the person pays the full amount of the child support
arrearage or the medical support arrearage, makes a request for a
meeting with a representative of the bureau for child support
enforcement to arrange a payment plan or to otherwise arrange
compliance with existing support orders, or makes a request for a
court hearing to the bureau for child support enforcement. An
action against a license shall be terminated if the person pays the
full amount of the child support arrearage or medical support
arrearage, or provides proof that health insurance for the child
has been obtained as required by a medical support order or enters
into a written plan with the bureau for child support enforcement
for the payment of current payments and payment on the arrearage.
WVC 48 - 15 - 207 §48-15-207. Failure to act in response to notice; entry of order.
If the person fails to take one of the actions described in
section 15-206 within thirty days of the date of the notice and
there is proof that service on the person was effective, the bureau
for child support enforcement shall file a certification with the
court setting forth the person's noncompliance with the support
order or failure to comply with a subpoena or warrant and the
person's failure to respond to the written notice of the potential
action against his or her license. If the court is satisfied that
service of the notice on the person was effective as set forth in
this section, it shall, without need for further due process or
hearing, enter an order suspending or restricting any licenses held
by the person. Upon the entry of the order, the bureau for child
support enforcement shall forward a copy to the person and to any
appropriate agencies responsible for the issuance of a license.
WVC 48 - 15 - 208 §48-15-208. Request and petition for hearing.
If the person requests a hearing, the bureau for child support
enforcement shall file a petition for a hearing before the family
court. The hearing shall occur within forty-two days of the
receipt of the person's request. If, prior to the hearing, the
person pays the full amount of the child support arrearage or
medical support arrearage or provides health insurance as ordered,
the action against a license shall be terminated. No action
against a license shall be initiated if the bureau for child
support enforcement has received notice that the person has pending
a motion to modify the child support order if that motion was filed
prior to the date that the notice of the action against the license
was sent by the bureau for child support enforcement. The court
shall consider the bureau for child support enforcement's petition
to deny, refuse to renew, suspend or restrict a license in
accordance with section 15-209.
WVC 48 - 15 - 209 §48-15-209. Hearing on denial, nonrenewal, suspension or
restriction of license.
(a) The court shall order a licensing authority to deny,
refuse to renew, suspend or restrict a license if it finds that:
(1) All appropriate enforcement methods have been exhausted or
(2) The person is the holder of a license or has an
application pending for a license;
(3) The requisite amount of child support or medical support
arrearage exists or health insurance for the child has not been
provided as ordered, or the person has failed to comply with a
subpoena or warrant relating to a paternity or child support
(4) No motion to modify the child support order, filed prior
to the date that the notice was sent by the bureau for child
support enforcement, is pending before the court; and
(5) There is no equitable reason, such as involuntary
unemployment, disability, or compliance with a court-ordered plan
for the periodic payment of the child support arrearage amount, for
the person's noncompliance with the child support order.
(b) If the court is satisfied that the conditions described in
subsection (a) of this section exist, it shall first consider
suspending or restricting a driver's license prior to professional
license. If the person fails to appear at the hearing after being
properly served with notice, the court shall order the suspension of all licenses held by the person.
(c) If the court finds that a license suspension will result
in a significant hardship to the person, to the person's legal
dependents under eighteen years of age living in the person's
household, to the person's employees, or to persons, businesses or
entities to whom the person provides goods or services, the court
may allow the person to pay a percentage of the past-due child
support amount as an initial payment, and establish a payment
schedule to satisfy the remainder of the arrearage within one year,
and require that the person comply with any current child support
obligation. If the person agrees to this arrangement, no
suspension or restriction of any licenses shall be ordered. Compliance with the payment agreement shall be monitored by the
(d) If a person has good cause for not complying with the
payment agreement within the time permitted, the person shall
immediately file a motion with the court and the bureau for child
support enforcement requesting an extension of the payment plan. The court may extend the payment plan if it is satisfied that the
person has made a good faith effort to comply with the plan and is
unable to satisfy the full amount of past-due support within the
time permitted due to circumstances beyond the person's control. If the person fails to comply with the court-ordered payment
schedule, the court shall, upon receipt of a certification of
noncompliance from the bureau for child support enforcement, and without further hearing, order the immediate suspension or
restriction of all licenses held by the person.
WVC 48 - 15 - 301 PART 3. ENFORCEMENT OF ORDER
(a) The bureau for child support enforcement shall provide the
licensing authority with a copy of the order requiring the denial,
nonrenewal, suspension or restriction of a license.
(b) Upon receipt of an order requiring the suspension or
restriction of a license for nonpayment of child support, the
licensing authority shall immediately notify the applicant or
licensee of the effective date of the denial, nonrenewal,
suspension or limitation, which shall be twenty days after the date
of the notice, direct any licensee to refrain from engaging in the
activity associated with the license, surrender any license as
required by law, and inform the applicant or licensee that the
license shall not be approved, renewed or reinstated until the
court or bureau for child support enforcement certifies compliance
with court orders for the payment of current child support and
(c) The bureau for child support enforcement, in association
with the affected licensing authorities, may develop electronic or
magnetic tape data transfers to notify licensing authorities of
denials, nonrenewals, suspensions and reinstatements.
(d) No liability shall be imposed on a licensing authority for suspending or restricting a license if the action is in response to
a court order issued in accordance with this article.
(e) Licensing authorities shall not have jurisdiction to
modify, remand, reverse, vacate or stay a court order to deny, not
renew, suspend or restrict a license for nonpayment of child
WVC 48 - 15 - 302 §48-15-302. Denial, nonrenewal, suspension or restriction
continues until further order or issuance of
The denial, nonrenewal, suspension or restriction of a license
ordered by the court shall continue until the bureau for child
support enforcement files with the licensing authority either a
court order restoring the license or a bureau for child support
enforcement certification attesting to compliance with court orders
for the payment of current child support and arrearage.
WVC 48 - 15 - 303 §48-15-303. License applicant to certify information regarding
(a) Each licensing authority shall require license applicants
to certify on the license application form, under penalty of false
swearing, that the applicant does not have a child support
obligation, the applicant does have such an obligation but any
arrearage amount does not equal or exceed the amount of child
support payable for six months, or the applicant is not the subject
of a child-support related subpoena or warrant. The application
form shall state that making a false statement may subject the
license holder to disciplinary action including, but not limited
to, immediate revocation or suspension of the license.
(b) A license shall not be granted to any person who applies
for a license if there is an arrearage equal to or exceeding the
amount of child support payable for six months or if it is
determined that the applicant has failed to comply with a warrant
or subpoena in a paternity or child support proceeding.
WVC 48 - 15 - 304 §48-15-304. Procedure where license to practice law may be
subject to denial, suspension or restriction.
If a person who has been admitted to the practice of law in
this state by order of the supreme court of appeals is determined
to be in default under a support order or has failed to comply with
a subpoena or warrant in a paternity or child support proceeding,
such that his or her other licenses are subject to suspension or
restriction under this article, the bureau for child support
enforcement may send a notice listing the name and social security
number or other identification number to the lawyer disciplinary
board established by the supreme court of appeals. The Legislature
hereby requests the supreme court of appeals to promptly adopt
rules pursuant to its constitutional authority to govern the
practice of law that would include as attorney misconduct for which
an attorney may be disciplined, situations in which a person
licensed to practice law in West Virginia has been determined to be
in default under a support order or has failed to comply with a
subpoena or warrant in a paternity or child support proceeding.
WVC 48 - 15 - 401 PART 4. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.
The provisions of this article apply to all orders issued
before or after the enactment of this article. All child support,
medical support and health insurance provisions in existence on or
before the effective date of this article shall be included in
determining whether a case is eligible for enforcement. This
article applies to all child support obligations ordered by any
state, territory or district of the United States that are being
enforced by the bureau for child support enforcement, that are
payable directly to the obligee, or have been registered in this
state in accordance with the uniform interstate family support act.
WVC 48 - 15 - 402 §48-15-402. Effect of determination as to authority of federal
government to require denials, suspensions or
restrictions of licenses.
The provisions of this article have been enacted to conform to
the mandates of the federal "Personal Responsibility and Work
Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996." If a court of competent
jurisdiction should determine, or if it is otherwise determined
that the federal government lacked authority to mandate the license
denials, nonrenewals, suspensions or restrictions contemplated by
this article, then the provisions of this article shall be null and
§48 - 31 - 311 - (New Code)