Section 19-11-9.3. Suspension or denial of license for noncompliance with child support order; interagency agreements; report to General Assembly

   (a) As used in this Code section, the term:

   (1) "Agency" means the agency within the Department of Human Services which is responsible for enforcing orders for child support pursuant to this article.

   (2) "Applicant" means any person applying for issuance or renewal of a license.

   (3) "Certified list" means a list provided by the agency of the names of support obligors found to be not in compliance with an order for child support in a case being enforced under this article.

   (4) "Compliance with an order for child support" means, as set forth in a court order, administrative order, or contempt order for child support, the obligor is not more than 60 calendar days in arrears in making payments in full for current support, periodic payments on a support arrearage, or periodic payments on a reimbursement for public assistance.

   (5) "Delinquent obligor" means any obligor who is not in compliance with an order for child support and who appears on the agency's certified list.

   (6) "Department" means the Department of Human Services.

   (7) "License" means a certificate, permit, registration, or any other authorization issued by any licensing entity that allows a person to operate a motor vehicle or to engage in a profession, business, or occupation.

   (8) "Licensee" means any person holding a license.

   (9) "Licensing entity" means any state agency, department, or board of this state which issues or renews any license, certificate, permit, or registration to authorize a person to drive a motor vehicle, or to engage in a profession, business, or occupation including those under Article 3 of Chapter 7 of Title 2, the "Georgia Pesticide Use and Application Act of 1976"; Article 13 of Chapter 1 of Title 7, relating to mortgage lenders and mortgage brokers; Chapter 5 of Title 10, the "Georgia Uniform Securities Act of 2008," relating to securities salespersons and investment adviser representatives; Part 2 of Article 1 of Chapter 6 of Title 12, relating to foresters; Chapter 4 of Title 26, relating to pharmacists; Chapter 23 of Title 33, relating to insurance agents, counselors, and other personnel; Chapter 1 of Title 43, relating to professions and businesses; Chapter 39A of Title 43, relating to real estate appraisers; or Chapter 40 of Title 43, relating to real estate brokers and salespersons.

(b) The agency shall maintain a state-wide certified list of those persons included in any case enforced under this article for whom an order for child support has been rendered and who are not in compliance with that order. The certified list must be updated on a monthly basis. The agency shall submit to each licensing entity a certified list with the name, social security number, if known, date of birth, and last known address of each person on the list.

(c) On or before January 1, 1997, all licensing entities shall implement procedures to accept and process the list provided by the agency in accordance with this Code section.

(d) Promptly after receiving the certified list from the agency, all licensing entities shall determine whether an applicant or licensee is on the most recent certified list. If an applicant or licensee is on the certified list, the licensing entity shall immediately notify the agency. That notification shall include the applicant's or licensee's last known mailing address on file with the licensing entity.

(e) After receiving notice from a licensing entity of applicants or licensees who are on the certified list, the agency shall immediately notify those individuals as specified in subsection (f) of this Code section of the agency's intent to request that all pertinent licensing entities suspend all licenses or withhold issuance or renewal of any license.

(f) Notice for purposes of this Code section shall be initiated by the department. Notice to the delinquent obligor shall include the address and telephone number of the agency and shall inform the delinquent obligor of the agency's intent to submit the obligor's name to relevant licensing entities and to request that the licensing entities withhold issuance or renewal of the license, or suspend the license. Notice shall be sent by first-class mail and receipt by the delinquent obligor may be presumed if the mailing is not returned to the department within 30 days from the date of mailing. The notice must also inform the delinquent obligor of the following:

   (1) The delinquent obligor has 20 days from the date of mailing to come into compliance with the order or to reach an agreement to pay the delinquency with the agency. If an agreement cannot be reached within that time or if the delinquent obligor does not respond within that time, the agency will send notice to the licensing entities requesting that the licenses be suspended or the licensure applications be denied;

   (2) The obligor may request an administrative hearing and judicial review of that hearing under subsection (g) of this Code section. A request for a hearing must be made in writing and must be received by the agency within 20 days of service of notice; and

   (3) If the delinquent obligor requests a hearing within 20 days of service, the department shall stay all action pending the hearing and any appeals.

(g) If no response is received from the delinquent obligor by the department within 30 days from the date of mailing of the notice and the delinquent obligor is still shown as delinquent on the next month's list prepared pursuant to subsection (b) of this Code section, the department shall request one or more licensing entities to deny or suspend a license of the delinquent obligor. Each licensing entity shall notify the delinquent obligor by certified mail or statutory overnight delivery of the date that the license has been denied or suspended.

(h) All delinquent obligors subject to the sanctions imposed in this Code section shall have the right to a hearing before an administrative law judge of the Office of State Administrative Hearings pursuant to Article 2 of Chapter 13 of Title 50. A delinquent obligor who requests a hearing within the time prescribed in subsection (f) of this Code section shall have the right to a hearing. The hearing shall be conducted as provided in Article 2 of Chapter 13 of Title 50 within 45 days after such demand is received. The only issues at the hearing will be the following:

   (1) Whether there is an order for child support being enforced pursuant to this article;

   (2) Whether the licensee or applicant is the obligor covered by that order;

   (3) Whether the support obligor is or is not in compliance with the order for child support;

   (4) Whether the support obligor shall be entitled to pay past due child support in periodic payments; and

   (5) Whether the support obligor has been able and willing to comply with such order for support.

With respect to the issues listed in this subsection, evidence relating to the ability and willingness of an obligor to comply with such order for support shall be considered in making the decision to either suspend a license or deny the issuance or renewal of a license under this Code section. The administrative law judge shall be authorized to enter into an agreement or enter an order requiring such periodic payments and, in each event, the administrative law judge shall be authorized to issue a release for the obligor to obtain each license or licenses. Such an agreement will not act to modify an existing child support order, but rather only affects the payment of the arrearage.

(i) The decision at the hearing shall be subject to appeal and judicial review pursuant to Article 2 of Chapter 13 of Title 50 but only as to those issues referred to in subsection (h) of this Code section. Notwithstanding any hearing requirements for suspension and denials within each licensing entity, the hearing and appeal procedures outlined in this Code section shall be the only hearing required to suspend a license or deny the issuance or renewal of a license under this Code section.

(j) The department shall prescribe release forms for use by the agency. When the obligor is determined to be in compliance with an order for child support or is determined to be not in compliance with such order but has been determined in a hearing pursuant to subsection (h) of this Code section to be unable to comply with the order or to be not willfully out of compliance with such order, the agency shall mail to the delinquent obligor and the appropriate licensing entity a notice of release stating such determination. The receipt of a notice of release shall serve to notify the delinquent obligor and the licensing entity that, for the purpose of this Code section, he or she is in compliance with an order for child support, and the licensing entity shall promptly thereafter issue or reinstate the license, unless the agency, pursuant to subsection (b) of this Code section, certifies subsequent to the issuance of a notice of release that the delinquent obligor is once again not in compliance with an order for child support.

(k) Any payments received by the department on behalf of a child support recipient under this Code section shall be forwarded to such recipient within 15 days after any such payment is received by the department.

(l) The department may enter into interagency agreements with state agencies that have responsibility for the administration of licensing entities as necessary to implement this Code section. Those agreements shall provide for the receipt by other state agencies and boards of federal funds to cover that portion of costs allowable under federal law and regulation and incurred by state agencies and boards in implementing this Code section.

(m) In furtherance of the public policy of increasing child support enforcement and collections, on or before January 1, 1998, the department shall make a report to the General Assembly and the Governor based on data collected by the boards and the department in a format prescribed by the department. The report shall contain all of the following:

   (1) The number of delinquent obligors certified by the agency under this Code section;

   (2) The number of delinquent obligors who also were applicants for issuance or renewal of a license or licensees subject to this Code section;

   (3) The number of new licenses and renewals that were denied subject to this Code section and the number of new licenses issued and renewals granted following a licensing entity's receipt of releases;

   (4) The number of licenses suspended subject to this Code section, and the number of licenses reissued following the licensing entity's receipt of releases; and

   (5) The amount of revenue collected by the department after sending notices pursuant to this Code section.

(n) Any licensing entity receiving an inquiry as to the license status of an applicant who has had an application for issuance or renewal of a license denied under this Code section shall respond only that the license was suspended or the licensure application was denied pursuant to this Code section.

(o) The department shall, and the licensing entities as appropriate may, adopt regulations necessary to implement this Code section.

Code 1981, § 19-11-9.3, enacted by Ga. L. 1996, p. 453, § 7; Ga. L. 1999, p. 81, § 19; Ga. L. 1999, p. 329, § 5; Ga. L. 2000, p. 1589, § 3; Ga. L. 2004, p. 631, § 19; Ga. L. 2008, p. 381, § 10/SB 358; Ga. L. 2009, p. 453, § 2-2/HB 228.