Chapter 3121: COLLECTION AND DISBURSEMENT OF CHILD SUPPORT

3121.01 Collection and disbursement of child support definitions.

As used in this chapter:

(A) "Court child support order," "court support order," and "personal earnings" have the same meanings as in section 3119.01 of the Revised Code.

(B) "Default" means any failure to pay under a support order that is an amount greater than or equal to the amount of support payable under the support order for one month.

(C) "Financial institution" means a bank, savings and loan association, or credit union, or a regulated investment company or mutual fund.

(D) "Income" means any form of monetary payment, including personal earnings; workers' compensation payments; unemployment compensation benefits to the extent permitted by, and in accordance with, sections 3121.07 and 4141.284 of the Revised Code, and federal law governing the department of job and family services; pensions; annuities; allowances; private or governmental retirement benefits; disability or sick pay; insurance proceeds; lottery prize awards; federal, state, or local government benefits to the extent that the benefits can be withheld or deducted under the law governing the benefits; any form of trust fund or endowment; lump sum payments, including a one-time pay supplement of one hundred fifty dollars or more paid under section 124.183 of the Revised Code; and any other payment in money.

(E) "Payor" means any person or entity that pays or distributes income to an obligor, including an obligor if the obligor is self-employed; an employer; an employer paying an obligor's workers' compensation benefits; the public employees retirement board; the governing entity of a municipal retirement system; the board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund; the state teachers retirement board; the school employees retirement board; the state highway patrol retirement board; a provider, as defined in section 3305.01 of the Revised Code; the bureau of workers' compensation; or any other person or entity other than the department of job and family services with respect to unemployment compensation benefits paid pursuant to Chapter 4141. of the Revised Code.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.01

Effective Date: 06-26-2003 .

3121.02 Ensuring that withholding or deduction from income or assets of obligor is available.

In any action in which a support order is issued or modified, one of the following shall apply, as appropriate, to ensure that withholding or deduction from the income or assets of the obligor is available from the commencement of the support order for the collection of the support and any arrearages that occur:

(A) The court, with respect to a court support order, or the child support enforcement agency, with respect to an administrative child support order, shall require the withholding or deduction of income or assets of the obligor under section 3121.03 of the Revised Code.

(B) The court, with respect to a court support order, shall issue another type of court order under division (C) or (D) of section 3121.03 of the Revised Code or section 3121.04, 3121.05, 3121.06, or 3121.12 of the Revised Code.

(C) The agency, with respect to an administrative child support order, shall issue an administrative order, or request that the court issue a court order, under division (C) or (D) of section 3121.03 of the Revised Code or section 3121.12 of the Revised Code.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.02

Effective Date: 03-22-2001 .

3121.03 Withholding or deduction from income or assets of obligor.

If a court or child support enforcement agency that issued or modified a support order, or the agency administering the support order, is required by the Revised Code to issue one or more withholding or deduction notices described in this section or other orders described in this section, the court or agency shall issue one or more of the following types of notices or orders, as appropriate, for payment of the support and also, if required by the Revised Code or the court, to pay any arrearages:

(A)

(1) If the court or the child support enforcement agency determines that the obligor is receiving income from a payor, the court or agency shall require the payor to do all of the following:

(a) Withhold from the obligor's income a specified amount for support in satisfaction of the support order and begin the withholding no later than fourteen business days following the date the notice is mailed or transmitted to the payor under section 3121.035, 3123.021, or 3123.06 of the Revised Code and division (A)(2) of this section or, if the payor is an employer, no later than the first pay period that occurs after fourteen business days following the date the notice is mailed or transmitted;

(b) Send the amount withheld to the office of child support in the department of job and family services pursuant to section 3121.43 of the Revised Code immediately but not later than seven business days after the date the obligor is paid;

(c) Continue the withholding at intervals specified in the notice until further notice from the court or child support enforcement agency.

To the extent possible, the amount specified to be withheld shall satisfy the amount ordered for support in the support order plus any arrearages owed by the obligor under any prior support order that pertained to the same child or spouse, notwithstanding any applicable limitations of sections 2329.66, 2329.70, 2716.02, 2716.041, and 2716.05 of the Revised Code. However, in no case shall the sum of the amount to be withheld and any fee withheld by the payor as a charge for its services exceed the maximum amount permitted under section 303(b) of the "Consumer Credit Protection Act," 15 U.S.C. 1673(b).

(2) A court or agency that imposes an income withholding requirement shall, within the applicable time specified in section 3119.80, 3119.81, 3121.035, 3123.021, or 3123.06 of the Revised Code, send to the obligor's payor by regular mail or via secure federally managed data transmission interface a notice that contains all of the information applicable to withholding notices set forth in section 3121.037 of the Revised Code. The notice is final and is enforceable by the court.

(B)

(1) If the court or child support enforcement agency determines that the obligor has funds that are not exempt under the laws of this state or the United States from execution, attachment, or other legal process and are on deposit in an account in a financial institution under the jurisdiction of the court that issued the court support order, or in the case of an administrative child support order, under the jurisdiction of the common pleas court of the county in which the agency that issued or is administering the order is located, the court or agency may require any financial institution in which the obligor's funds are on deposit to do all of the following:

(a) Deduct from the obligor's account a specified amount for support in satisfaction of the support order and begin the deduction no later than fourteen business days following the date the notice was mailed or transmitted to the financial institution under section 3121.035 or 3123.06 of the Revised Code and division (B)(2) of this section;

(b) Send the amount deducted to the office of child support in the department of job and family services pursuant to section 3121.43 of the Revised Code immediately but not later than seven business days after the date the latest deduction was made;

(c) Provide the date on which the amount was deducted;

(d) Continue the deduction at intervals specified in the notice until further notice from the court or child support enforcement agency.

To the extent possible, the amount to be deducted shall satisfy the amount ordered for support in the support order plus any arrearages that may be owed by the obligor under any prior support order that pertained to the same child or spouse, notwithstanding the limitations of sections 2329.66, 2329.70, and 2716.13 of the Revised Code.

(2) A court or agency that imposes a deduction requirement shall, within the applicable period of time specified in section 3119.80, 3119.81, 3121.035, or 3123.06 of the Revised Code, send to the financial institution by regular mail or via secure federally managed data transmission interface a notice that contains all of the information applicable to deduction notices set forth in section 3121.037 of the Revised Code. The notice is final and is enforceable by the court.

(C) With respect to any court support order it issues, a court may issue an order requiring the obligor to enter into a cash bond with the court. The court shall issue the order as part of the court support order or, if the court support order has previously been issued, as a separate order. The cash bond shall be in a sum fixed by the court at not less than five hundred nor more than ten thousand dollars, conditioned that the obligor will make payment as previously ordered and will pay any arrearages under any prior court support order that pertained to the same child or spouse.

The order, along with an additional order requiring the obligor to immediately notify the child support enforcement agency, in writing, if the obligor begins to receive income from a payor, shall be attached to and served on the obligor at the same time as service of the court support order or, if the court support order has previously been issued, as soon as possible after the issuance of the order under this section. The additional order requiring notice by the obligor shall state all of the following:

(1) That when the obligor begins to receive income from a payor the obligor may request that the court cancel its bond order and instead issue a notice requiring the withholding of an amount from income for support in accordance with this section;

(2) That when the obligor begins to receive income from a payor the court will proceed to collect on the bond if the court determines that payments due under the court support order have not been made and that the amount that has not been paid is at least equal to the support owed for one month under the court support order and will issue a notice requiring the withholding of an amount from income for support in accordance with this section. The notice required of the obligor shall include a description of the nature of any new employment, the name and business address of any new employer, and any other information reasonably required by the court.

The court shall not order an obligor to post a cash bond under this section unless the court determines that the obligor has the ability to do so.

A child support enforcement agency may not issue a cash bond order. If a child support enforcement agency is required to issue a withholding or deduction notice under this section with respect to a court support order but the agency determines that no withholding or deduction notice would be appropriate, the agency may request that the court issue a cash bond order under this section, and upon the request, the court may issue the order.

(D)

(1) If the obligor under a court support order is unemployed, has no income, and does not have an account at any financial institution, or on request of a child support enforcement agency under division (D)(1) or (2) of this section, the court shall issue an order requiring the obligor, if able to engage in employment, to seek employment or participate in a work activity to which a recipient of assistance under Title IV-A of the "Social Security Act," 49 Stat. 620 (1935), 42 U.S.C.A. 301, as amended, may be assigned as specified in section 407(d) of the "Social Security Act," 42 U.S.C.A. 607(d), as amended. The court shall include in the order requirements that the obligor register with OhioMeansJobs and to notify the child support enforcement agency on obtaining employment, obtaining any income, or obtaining ownership of any asset with a value of five hundred dollars or more. The court may issue the order regardless of whether the obligee to whom the obligor owes support is a recipient of assistance under Title IV-A of the "Social Security Act." The court shall issue the order as part of a court support order or, if a court support order has previously been issued, as a separate order. If a child support enforcement agency is required to issue a withholding or deduction notice under this section with respect to a court support order but determines that no withholding or deduction notice would be appropriate, the agency may request that the court issue a court order under division (D)(1) of this section, and, on the request, the court may issue the order.

(2) If the obligor under an administrative child support order is unemployed, has no income, and does not have an account at any financial institution, the agency shall issue an administrative order requiring the obligor, if able to engage in employment, to seek employment or participate in a work activity to which a recipient of assistance under Title IV-A of the "Social Security Act," 49 Stat. 620 (1935), 42 U.S.C.A. 301, as amended, may be assigned as specified in section 407(d) of the "Social Security Act," 42 U.S.C.A. 607(d), as amended. The agency shall include in the order requirements that the obligor register with OhioMeansJobs and to notify the agency on obtaining employment or income, or ownership of any asset with a value of five hundred dollars or more. The agency may issue the order regardless of whether the obligee to whom the obligor owes support is a recipient of assistance under Title IV-A of the "Social Security Act." If an obligor fails to comply with an administrative order issued pursuant to division (D)(2) of this section, the agency shall submit a request to a court for the court to issue an order under division (D)(1) of this section.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.03

Amended by 131st General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 64, §101.01, eff. 9/29/2015.

Amended by 128th General AssemblyFile No.9, HB 1, §101.01, eff. 10/16/2009.

Effective Date: 12-13-2002; 03-21-2005

3121.031 Determining employment status of obligor, obligor's social security number, name and business address of obligor's employer, and other information.

In any action in which a court support order is issued or modified, the court issuing or modifying the order shall conduct a hearing, prior to or at the time of the issuance of the order, to determine the employment status of the obligor, the obligor's social security number, the name and business address of the obligor's employer, and any other information necessary to enable the court or a child support enforcement agency to issue any withholding or deduction notice described in section 3121.03 of the Revised Code or for the court to issue a court order described in division (C) or (D) of section 3121.03 of the Revised Code. The court, prior to the hearing, shall give the obligor notice of the hearing. The notice shall include the date on which it is given and notice that the obligor is subject to withholding of a specified amount from income if employed and to one or more other types of withholding or deduction requirements described in section 3121.03 of the Revised Code or one or more types of court orders described in division (C) or (D) of section 3121.03 of the Revised Code and that the obligor may present evidence and testimony at the hearing to prove that any of the requirements are not proper because of a mistake of fact.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.031

Effective Date: 03-22-2001 .

3121.032 Including withholding or deduction requirements or other appropriate requirements in notices and orders.

A court or child support enforcement agency that issues or modifies a support order shall determine the withholding or deduction requirements or other appropriate requirements applicable to the obligor under the support order in accordance with sections 3121.03, 3121.04 to 3121.08, and 3121.12 of the Revised Code and include the requirements in the withholding or deduction notices described in section 3121.03 of the Revised Code or in the orders described in sections 3121.03, 3121.04 to 3121.08, and 3121.12 of the Revised Code.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.032

Effective Date: 03-22-2001 .

3121.033 Aggregate amount withheld or deducted to satisfy amount ordered for support.

If a court or child support enforcement agency is required to issue one or more notices or orders described in section 3121.03 of the Revised Code, the court or agency to the extent possible shall issue a sufficient number of the notices or orders to provide that the aggregate amount withheld or deducted under those notices or orders satisfies the amount ordered for support in the support order plus any arrearages owed by the obligor under any prior support order that pertained to the same child or spouse, notwithstanding the limitations of sections 2329.66, 2329.70, 2716.02, 2716.041, 2713.05, 2716.13, and 4123.67 of the Revised Code. However, in no case shall the aggregate amount withheld pursuant to a withholding notice described in section 3121.03 of the Revised Code and any fees withheld pursuant to the notice as a charge for services exceed the maximum amount permitted under section 303(b) of the "Consumer Credit Protection Act," 15 U.S.C. 1673(b).

Cite as R.C. § 3121.033

Effective Date: 03-22-2001 .

3121.034 Priority of withholding or deduction requirement for support.

(A) Except for deductions from lump sum payments made in accordance with section 3121.0311 of the Revised Code, a withholding or deduction requirement contained in a withholding or deduction notice described in section 3121.03 of the Revised Code has priority over any order of attachment, any order in aid of execution, and any other legal process issued under state law against the same earnings, payments, or account.

(B) When two or more withholding notices are received by a payor, the payor shall comply with all of the requirements contained in the notices to the extent that the total amount withheld from the obligor's income does not exceed the maximum amount permitted under section 303(b) of the "Consumer Credit Protection Act," 15 U.S.C. 1673(b), withhold amounts in accordance with the allocation set forth in divisions (B)(1) and (2) of this section, notify each court or child support enforcement agency that issued one of the notices of the allocation, and give priority to amounts designated in each notice as current support in the following manner:

(1) If the total of the amounts designated in the notices as current support exceeds the amount available for withholding under section 303(b) of the "Consumer Credit Protection Act," 15 U.S.C. 1673(b), the payor shall allocate to each notice an amount for current support equal to the amount designated in that notice as current support multiplied by a fraction in which the numerator is the amount of income available for withholding and the denominator is the total amount designated in all of the notices as current support.

(2) If the total of the amounts designated in the notices as current support does not exceed the amount available for withholding under section 303(b) of the "Consumer Credit Protection Act," 15 U.S.C. 1673(b), the payor shall pay all of the amounts designated as current support in the notices and shall allocate to each notice an amount for past-due support equal to the amount designated in that notice as past-due support multiplied by a fraction in which the numerator is the amount of income remaining available for withholding after the payment of current support and the denominator is the total amount designated in all of the notices as past-due support.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.034

Effective Date: 03-22-2001; 2006 SB7 06-30-2006 .

3121.035 Notices and orders sent to persons required to comply.

Within fifteen days after an obligor under a support order is located following issuance or modification of the support order, the court or child support enforcement agency that issued or modified the support order, or the agency, pursuant to an agreement with the court with respect to a court support order, shall do either of the following:

(A) If a withholding or deduction notice described in section 3121.03 of the Revised Code is appropriate, send the notice by regular mail or via secure federally managed data transmission interface to each person required to comply with it;

(B) If an order described in section 3121.03, 3121.04 to 3121.08, or 3121.12 of the Revised Code is appropriate, issue and send the appropriate order.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.035

Amended by 128th General AssemblyFile No.9, HB 1, §101.01, eff. 10/16/2009.

Effective Date: 12-13-2002 .

3121.036 Attaching additional notice to obligor to provide certain information.

(A) A court or agency that sends a withholding or deduction notice under section 3121.03 of the Revised Code to an obligor shall attach to the notice an additional notice requiring the obligor to immediately notify the child support enforcement agency administering the support order, in writing, of the following:

(1) In the case of a withholding notice:

(a) Any change in the obligor's income source and of the availability of any other sources of income that can be the subject of withholding or deduction;

(b) The nature of any new employment or income source and the name, business address, and telephone number of the new employer or income source;

(c) Any other information reasonably required by the court or agency.

(2) In the case of a deduction notice:

(a) Any change in the status of the account from which the support is being deducted or the opening of a new account with any financial institution, of the commencement of employment, including self-employment, or of the availability of any other sources of income that can be the subject of withholding or deduction;

(b) The nature of any new account opened at a financial institution and the name and business address of that financial institution;

(c) The nature of any new employment or income source and the name, business address, and telephone number of the new employer or income source;

(d) Any other information reasonably required by the court or agency.

(C) The additional notice required by this section shall specify that, on commencement of employment, the obligor may request that the court or child support enforcement agency cancel its deduction notice and instead issue a withholding notice to collect support amounts and that, on commencement of employment, the court or agency may cancel its deduction notice and instead issue a withholding notice to collect support amounts.

(D) The court or agency shall serve the additional notice required by this section on the obligor at the time of service of the support order or, if the support order has been issued previously, shall send the notice to the obligor by regular mail at the last known address at the time it sends the withholding notice to the payor or the deduction notice to a financial institution.

(E) No obligor shall fail to give the notice described in division (A)(1) of this section.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.036

Effective Date: 03-22-2001 .

3121.037 Contents of withholding or deduction notice.

(A) A withholding notice sent under section 3121.03 of the Revised Code shall contain all of the following:

(1) Notice of the amount to be withheld from the obligor's income and a statement that, notwithstanding that amount, the payor may not withhold an amount for support and other purposes, including the fee described in division (A)(12) of this section, that exceeds the maximum amounts permitted under section 303(b) of the "Consumer Credit Protection Act," 15 U.S.C. 1673(b) ;

(2) A statement that the payor is required to send the amount withheld to the office of child support immediately, but not later than seven business days, after the obligor is paid and is required to report to the agency the date the amount was withheld;

(3) A statement that the withholding shall be submitted to the state via electronic means if the employer employs more than fifty employees;

(4) A statement that the withholding is binding on the payor until further notice from the court or agency;

(5) A statement that if the payor is an employer, the payor is subject to a fine to be determined under the law of this state for discharging the obligor from employment, refusing to employ the obligor, or taking any disciplinary action against the obligor because of the withholding requirement;

(6) A statement that, if the payor fails to withhold in accordance with the notice, the payor is liable for the accumulated amount the payor should have withheld from the obligor's income;

(7) A statement that, except for deductions from lump sum payments made in accordance with section 3121.0311 of the Revised Code, the withholding in accordance with the notice has priority over any other legal process under the law of this state against the same income;

(8) The date on which the notice was mailed and a statement that the payor is required to implement the withholding no later than fourteen business days following the date the notice was mailed or, if the payor is an employer, no later than the first pay period that occurs after fourteen business days following the date the notice was mailed, and is required to continue the withholding at the intervals specified in the notice.

(9) A requirement that the payor do the following:

(a) Promptly notify the child support enforcement agency administering the support order, in writing, within ten business days after the date of any situation that occurs in which the payor ceases to pay income to the obligor in an amount sufficient to comply with the order, including termination of employment, layoff of the obligor from employment, any leave of absence of the obligor from employment without pay, termination of workers' compensation benefits, or termination of any pension, annuity, allowance, or retirement benefit;

(b) Provide the agency with the obligor's last known address and, with respect to a court support order and if known, notify the agency of any new employer or income source and the name, address, and telephone number of the new employer or income source.

(10) A requirement that, if the payor is an employer, the payor do both of the following:

(a) Identify in the notice given under division (A)(9) of this section any types of benefits other than personal earnings the obligor is receiving or is eligible to receive as a benefit of employment or as a result of the obligor's termination of employment, including, but not limited to, unemployment compensation, workers' compensation benefits, severance pay, sick leave, lump sum payments of retirement benefits or contributions, and bonuses or profit-sharing payments or distributions, and the amount of the benefits;

(b) Include in the notice the obligor's last known address and telephone number, date of birth, social security number, and case number and, if known, the name and business address of any new employer of the obligor.

(11) Subject to section 3121.0311 of the Revised Code, a requirement that, no later than the earlier of forty-five days before a lump sum payment is to be made or, if the obligor's right to the lump sum payment is determined less than forty-five days before it is to be made, the date on which that determination is made, the payor notify the child support enforcement agency administering the support order of any lump sum payment of any kind of one hundred fifty dollars or more that is to be paid to the obligor, hold each lump sum payment of one hundred fifty dollars or more for thirty days after the date on which it would otherwise be paid to the obligor and, on order of the court or agency that issued the support order, pay all or a specified amount of the lump sum payment to the office of child support;

(12) A statement that, in addition to the amount withheld for support, the payor may withhold a fee from the obligor's income as a charge for its services in complying with the notice and a specification of the amount that may be withheld.

(B) A deduction notice sent under section 3121.03 of the Revised Code shall contain all of the following:

(1) Notice of the amount to be deducted from the obligor's account;

(2) A statement that the financial institution is required to send the amount deducted to the office of child support immediately, but not later than seven business days, after the date the last deduction was made and to report to the child support enforcement agency the date on which the amount was deducted;

(3) A statement that the deduction is binding on the financial institution until further notice from the court or agency;

(4) A statement that the deduction in accordance with the notice has priority over any other legal process under the law of this state against the same account;

(5) The date on which the notice was mailed and a statement that the financial institution is required to implement the deduction no later than fourteen business days following that date and to continue the deduction at the intervals specified in the notice;

(6) A requirement that the financial institution promptly notify the child support enforcement agency administering the support order, in writing, within ten days after the date of any termination of the account from which the deduction is being made and notify the agency, in writing, of the opening of a new account at that financial institution, the account number of the new account, the name of any other known financial institutions in which the obligor has any accounts, and the numbers of those accounts;

(7) A requirement that the financial institution include in all notices the obligor's last known mailing address, last known residence address, and social security number;

(8) A statement that, in addition to the amount deducted for support, the financial institution may deduct a fee from the obligor's account as a charge for its services in complying with the notice and a specification of the amount that may be deducted.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.037

Amended by 128th General AssemblyFile No.9, HB 1, §101.01, eff. 10/16/2009.

Effective Date: 03-22-2001; 2006 SB7 06-30-2006

3121.038 Limit on information included in withholding or deduction notice.

No withholding or deduction notice or other order described in section 3121.03 of the Revised Code shall contain any information other than the information specifically required by the Revised Code and any additional information that the issuing court or agency determines may be necessary to comply with the notice.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.038

Effective Date: 03-22-2001 .

3121.039 Prior orders and notices considered to be notices and orders under 2001 provisions.

(A) For purposes of Chapters 3119., 3121., 3123., and 3125. of the Revised Code, the following shall be considered a withholding or deduction notice issued under section 3121.03 of the Revised Code:

(1) A withholding or deduction order that was issued under division (D) of section 3113.21 of the Revised Code as that division existed prior to December 31, 1993, and that was not terminated on or after that date;

(2) A withholding or deduction notice that was issued under division (D) of section 3113.21 of the Revised Code as that division existed on and after December 31, 1993, and prior to the effective date of this section and that was not terminated on or after the effective date of this section;

(3) A withholding or deduction order that was issued under former section 3111.23 of the Revised Code as that section existed prior to December 31, 1993, and that was not terminated on or after that date;

(4) A withholding or deduction notice that was issued under former section 3111.23 of the Revised Code as that section existed on and after December 31, 1993, and prior to the effective date of this section and that was not terminated on or after the effective date of this section.

(B) For purposes of Chapters 3119., 3121., 3123., and 3125. of the Revised Code, the following shall be considered orders issued under section 3121.03, 3121.04, 3121.05, 3121.06, or 3121.12 of the Revised Code, as applicable:

(1) An order issued under division (D)(6) or (7) or (H) of section 3113.21 of the Revised Code as that section existed prior to January 1, 1998, and that was not terminated on or after that date;

(2) An order issued under division (D)(3) or (4) or (H) of section 3113.21 of the Revised Code as that division existed on and after January 1, 1998, and prior to the effective date of this section and that was not terminated on or after the effective date of this section;

(3) An order issued under former section 3111.231 of the Revised Code and that was not terminated on or after the effective date of this section.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.039

Effective Date: 03-22-2001 .

3121.0310 Adoption of standard forms for notices.

The department of job and family services shall adopt standard forms for support withholding and deduction notices described in section 3121.03 of the Revised Code, which shall be used regardless of the type or source of income. All courts and child support enforcement agencies shall use the forms in issuing withholding and deduction notices. The withholding and deduction requirements contained in the notices are final and enforceable by the court.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.0310

Effective Date: 03-22-2001; 03-21-2005 .

3121.0311 Notice to obligor's workers' compensation attorney regarding lump sum payment.

(A) If a lump sum payment referred to in division (A)(11) of section 3121.037 of the Revised Code consists of workers' compensation benefits and the obligor is represented by an attorney with respect to the obligor's workers' compensation claim, prior to issuing the notice to the child support enforcement agency required by that division, the administrator of workers' compensation, for claims involving state fund employers, or a self-insuring employer, for that employer's claims, shall notify the obligor and the obligor's attorney in writing that the obligor is subject to a support order and that the administrator or self-insuring employer, as appropriate, shall hold the lump sum payment for a period of thirty days after the administrator or self-insuring employer sends this written notice, pending receipt of the information referred to in division (B) of this section.

(B) The administrator or self-insuring employer, as appropriate, shall instruct the obligor's attorney in writing to file a copy of the fee agreement signed by the obligor, along with an affidavit signed by the attorney setting forth the amount of the attorney's fee with respect to the lump sum payment award to the obligor and the amount of all necessary expenses, along with documentation of those expenses, incurred by the attorney with respect to obtaining the lump sum award. The obligor's attorney shall file the fee agreement and attorney affidavit with the administrator or self-insuring employer, as appropriate, within thirty days after the date the administrator or self-insuring employer sends the notice required by division (A) of this section.

(C) Upon receipt of the fee agreement and attorney affidavit, the administrator or self-insuring employer, as appropriate, shall deduct from the lump sum payment the amount of the attorney's fee and necessary expenses and pay that amount directly to and solely in the name of the attorney within fourteen days after the fee agreement and attorney affidavit have been filed with the administrator or self-insuring employer.

(D) After deducting any attorney's fee and necessary expenses, if the lump sum payment is one hundred fifty dollars or more, the administrator or self-insuring employer, as appropriate, shall hold the balance of the lump sum award in accordance with division (A)(11) of section 3121.037 of the Revised Code.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.0311

Amended by 128th General AssemblyFile No.9, HB 1, §101.01, eff. 10/16/2009.

Effective Date: 2006 SB7 06-30-2006

3121.04 Cash bond given by obligor.

When a person who fails to comply with a withholding notice described in section 3121.03 of the Revised Code and issued to enforce a court support order derives income from self-employment or commission, is employed by an employer not subject to the jurisdiction of the court, or is in any other employment situation that makes issuance of a withholding notice impracticable, the court may require the person to enter into a cash bond to the court in a sum fixed by the court at not less than five hundred nor more than ten thousand dollars, conditioned that the person will make payment as previously ordered.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.04

Effective Date: 03-22-2001 .

3121.05 Obligor with no income or assets to give notice of change - default hearing.

When a court determines at a hearing conducted under section 3123.05 of the Revised Code, or a child support enforcement agency determines at a hearing under section 3123.04 of the Revised Code or pursuant to an investigation conducted under section 3123.02 of the Revised Code, that the obligor under the court support order in relation to which the hearing or investigation is conducted is unemployed and has no other source of income and no assets so that the application of sections 3121.03 and 3123.06 of the Revised Code would be impracticable, the court shall issue an order as described in division (D)(1) of section 3121.03 of the Revised Code and shall order the obligor to notify the child support enforcement agency in writing immediately of the receipt of any source of income or of the opening of an account in a financial institution, and to include in the notification a description of the nature of the employment or income source, the name, business address, and telephone number of the employer or income source, and any other information reasonably required by the court.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.05

Effective Date: 03-22-2001 .

3121.06 Obligor with no income or assets to give notice of change - modification hearing.

When a court determines, at a hearing conducted under section 3121.031 of the Revised Code with respect to a court support order being modified, that an obligor is unemployed, is not receiving workers' compensation payments, does not have an account in a financial institution, and has no other source of income and no assets so that the application of division (A), (B), or (C) of section 3121.03 of the Revised Code would be impracticable, the court shall issue an order as described in division (D)(1) of section 3121.03 of the Revised Code and shall order the obligor to notify the child support enforcement agency, in writing, immediately of the receipt of any source of income or of the opening of an account in a financial institution, and to include in the notification a description of the nature of the employment or income source, the name, business address, and telephone number of the employer or income source or the name, address, and telephone number of the financial institution, and any other information reasonably required by the court.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.06

Effective Date: 03-22-2001 .

3121.07 Unemployment compensation benefits withholding or deductions.

(A) If a child support enforcement agency discovers pursuant to an investigation conducted under section 3123.02 of the Revised Code that an obligor under a child support order that it is administering may be receiving unemployment compensation benefits or if a child support enforcement agency receives notice or otherwise discovers that an obligor under a child support order may be receiving unemployment compensation benefits, the agency promptly shall conduct an investigation to determine whether the obligor is receiving unemployment compensation benefits and to determine the amount of the benefits. The investigation shall be completed within ten days of the agency's discovery or receipt of the notice.

(B)

(1) Upon completion of an investigation conducted under division (A) of this section, if the agency finds that the obligor is receiving unemployment compensation benefits, it shall, in accordance with Chapter 3121. of the Revised Code and section 4141.284 of the Revised Code and federal law governing the department of job and family services, notify the department of job and family services to withhold or deduct an amount from the unemployment compensation benefits to pay child support obligations. Any deduction from a source in accordance with this section and section 4141.284 of the Revised Code is in addition to, and does not preclude, any withholding or deduction for purposes of child support under Chapters 3119., 3121., and 3123. of the Revised Code.

The agency may not impose the processing charge pursuant to section 3119.27 of the Revised Code with respect to amounts withheld or deducted from unemployment compensation pursuant to this section.

(2)

(a) The department of job and family services, in accordance with section 4141.284 of the Revised Code, shall deduct and withhold from unemployment compensation payable to the obligor, and pay to the appropriate child support enforcement entity, whichever of the following is applicable:

(i) Any amount required to be deducted and withheld from the unemployment compensation pursuant to legal process, as that term is defined in Title IV-D of the "Social Security Act," 88 Stat. 2351 (1975), 42 U.S.C. 651 et seq., as amended, and properly served on the director of job and family services, as described in section 4141.282 of the Revised Code;

(ii) When division (B)(2)(a)(i) of this section is inapplicable, an amount determined pursuant to an agreement submitted to the director under Title IV-D of the "Social Security Act," 88 Stat. 2351, 42 U.S.C. 651 et seq., as amended, by the state or local child support enforcement agency;

(iii) If neither division (B)(2)(a)(i) nor (ii) of this section is applicable, then the amount specified by the individual.

(b) The amount of unemployment compensation subject to being withheld pursuant to division (B)(2)(a) of this section is that amount that remains payable to the individual after application of any recoupment provisions for recovery of overpayments and after deductions that have been made under Chapter 4141. of the Revised Code for deductible income received by the individual. Effective for applications to establish unemployment compensation benefit rights filed after December 27, 1997, the amount withheld with respect to a week of unemployment benefits shall not exceed fifty per cent of the individual's weekly benefit amount as determined by the director.

(c) Any deduction and withholding pursuant to division (B) of this section from unemployment compensation payable to an obligor is subject to, and shall be in accordance with, section 4141.284 of the Revised Code.

(C) The director shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to implement this section, which rules shall be consistent with section 4141.284 of the Revised Code and federal law governing the department.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.07

Effective Date: 10-31-2001 .

3121.08 Prisoner earnings.

(A) As used in this section, "prison," "prison term," and "jail" have the same meanings as in section 2929.01 of the Revised Code.

(B) Notwithstanding any other section of the Revised Code, including sections 5145.16 and 5147.30 of the Revised Code, twenty-five per cent of any money earned pursuant to section 5145.16 or 5147.30 of the Revised Code by a prisoner in a prison or jail who has a dependent child receiving assistance under Chapter 5107. of the Revised Code, shall be paid to the state department of job and family services.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.08

Effective Date: 03-22-2001 .

3121.09 Withholding support from payments due from the state to certain persons.

An obligee owed support under a support order, or a court or child support enforcement agency on behalf of the obligee, may maintain a proceeding under Chapter 3115., 3119., 3121., 3123., or 3125. of the Revised Code, or under the comparable law of another state or country, against the state to withhold support from payments owed or to be owed to one of the following individuals who is the obligor under the support order:

(A) An officer or employee of the state;

(B) An individual who is under contract with the state or is owed or to be owed money from the state, including an individual who is the sole shareholder of a corporation or the sole member of a limited liability company.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.09

Effective Date: 03-22-2001 .

3121.091 Service of notice of withholding support from payments due from the state to certain persons.

A withholding notice or other order issued pursuant to Chapter 3115., 3119., 3121., or 3123. of the Revised Code with respect to an obligor described in section 3121.09 of the Revised Code shall be served on one of the following:

(A) If the obligor is an officer or employee of the state, on the director of administrative services;

(B) If the obligor is an individual described in division (B) of section 3121.09 of the Revised Code, on the head of the state agency that is contracting with the obligor or that owes or will owe the obligor money.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.091

Effective Date: 03-22-2001; 03-21-2005 .

3121.11 Notice of lump sum payments.

When a child support enforcement agency receives notice that a lump sum payment of one hundred fifty dollars or more is to be paid to an obligor who is subject to a court support order, the agency shall notify the court of the receipt of the notice and its contents. The agency may notify the court if the notice specifies that a lump sum payment of less than one hundred fifty dollars is to be paid to the obligor.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.11

Effective Date: 03-22-2001 .

3121.12 Procedure concerning lump sum payment.

(A) On receipt of a notice that a lump sum payment of one hundred fifty dollars or more is to be paid to the obligor, the court, with respect to a court support order, or the child support enforcement agency, with respect to an administrative child support order, shall do either of the following:

(1) If the obligor is in default under the support order or has any arrearages under the support order, issue an order requiring the transmittal of the lump sum payment, or any portion of the lump sum payment sufficient to pay the arrearage in full, to the office of child support;

(2) If the obligor is not in default under the support order and does not have any arrearages under the support order, issue an order directing the person who gave the notice to the court or agency to immediately pay the full amount of the lump sum payment to the obligor.

(B) Any moneys received by the office of child support pursuant to division (A) of this section shall be distributed in accordance with rules adopted under section 3121.71 of the Revised Code.

(C) A court that issued an order prior to January 1, 1998, requiring an employer to withhold an amount from an obligor's personal earnings for the payment of support shall issue a supplemental order that does not change the original order or the related support order requiring the employer to do all of the following:

(1) No later than the earlier of forty-five days before a lump sum payment is to be made or, if the obligor's right to a lump sum payment is determined less than forty-five days before it is to be made, the date on which that determination is made, notify the child support enforcement agency of any lump sum payment of any kind of one hundred fifty dollars or more that is to be paid to the obligor;

(2) Hold the lump sum payment for thirty days after the date on which it would otherwise be paid to the obligor;

(3) On order of the court, pay any specified amount of the lump sum payment to the office of child support.

(D) An employer that knowingly fails to notify the child support enforcement agency in accordance with this section or section 3121.03 of the Revised Code of any lump sum payment to be made to an obligor is liable for any support payment not made to the obligee as a result of its knowing failure to give the notice.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.12

Effective Date: 03-22-2001; 10-01-2005 .

3121.14 Notice of change in source of income or accounts.

When a court has issued a court support order or a child support enforcement agency has issued an administrative child support order, when the issuing court or agency, or the agency administering the support order, has issued one or more notices containing one or more of the requirements described in section 3121.03 of the Revised Code or when a court or agency that issued the support order has issued one or more orders described in division (C) or (D) of that section, and when either the child support enforcement agency administering the support order receives a notification that pertains to a change in the source of income or status of accounts in a financial institution of the obligor or the agency administering the support order otherwise determines that the source of income or status of accounts in a financial institution of the obligor has changed, the agency administering the support order immediately shall conduct an investigation to determine the obligor's present source of income or assets, and the obligor's address and social security number and shall issue one or more notices described in section 3121.03 of the Revised Code that it determines are appropriate. If the agency determines that no notice of the type described in that section would be appropriate, the agency, with respect to a court support order, may request the court to issue a court order under division (C) or (D) of that section, and the agency may issue, with respect to an administrative child support order, an administrative order under division (D) of that section. On receipt of the request, the court, with respect to a court support order, may issue an order as described in division (C) or (D) of section 3121.03 of the Revised Code, and the agency, with respect to an administrative child support order, may issue an administrative order under division (D) of section 3121.03 of the Revised Code. The notices and court orders are final and are enforceable by the court. The notices shall be mailed within fifteen days after the obligor under the support order is located or within fifteen days after the default under the support order, whichever is applicable.

If the court or agency that issued the support order, or the agency administering the support order, previously has issued one or more notices containing one or more of the requirements described in section 3121.03 of the Revised Code, the court previously has issued one or more court orders described in division (C) or (D) of that section, or the agency has previously issued an order described under division (D) of that section and the agency administering the support order determines that any of the requirements or orders no longer are appropriate due to the change, the agency administering the support order immediately shall cancel any previously issued notice and cancel any previously issued administrative order under division (D) of section 3121.03 of the Revised Code that is no longer appropriate, and the court shall cancel any previously issued court order under division (C) or (D) of section 3121.03 of the Revised Code that no longer is appropriate, the agency shall send written notice of the cancellation by regular mail to the person who was required to comply with the withholding, deduction, or other requirement contained in the canceled notice or order, and the agency shall issue one or more new notices containing one or more requirements described in section 3121.03 of the Revised Code that it determines are appropriate. If the agency determines that no notice of the type described in that section would be appropriate, the agency, with respect to a court support order, may request the court to issue a court order under division (C) or (D) of that section, and the agency may issue, with respect to an administrative child support order, an administrative order under division (D) of that section. On receipt of the request, the court may issue an order as described in division (C) or (D) of section 3121.03 of the Revised Code, and the agency, with respect to an administrative child support order, may issue an administrative order under division (D) of section 3121.03 of the Revised Code. The notices and court orders are final and are enforceable by the court. The notices shall be mailed within fifteen days after the obligor under the support order is located or within fifteen days after the default under the support order, whichever is applicable

Cite as R.C. § 3121.14

Effective Date: 03-22-2001 .

3121.15 Issuing notice requiring withholding when obligor begins employment.

When a court or child support enforcement agency has issued one or more notices containing one or more of the requirements described in section 3121.03 of the Revised Code requiring withholding by a payor that is not an employer or requiring deduction by a financial institution, a court has issued one or more court orders described in division (C) or (D) of that section, or an agency has issued an administrative order under division (D) of that section and the agency administering the support order is informed that the obligor has commenced employment, that agency shall issue a notice requiring the withholding of an amount from the person's personal earnings for support, in accordance with section 3121.03 of the Revised Code. The notice is final and is enforceable by the court. Additionally, if the court or agency determines that payments due under the support order have not been made and that the amount that has not been paid is at least equal to the support owed for one month under the support order, the court shall proceed to collect on any cash bond and shall order it paid to the office of child support in the department of job and family services.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.15

Effective Date: 03-22-2001 .

3121.16 Notice is final and enforceable.

If a child support enforcement agency sends a notice imposing a withholding or deduction requirement or a court or agency sends an order imposing any other appropriate requirement to a person under section 3121.14 or 3121.15 of the Revised Code, the notice or order also shall be considered to have been issued under section 3121.03 of the Revised Code. The notice or order is final and is enforceable by the court.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.16

Effective Date: 03-22-2001 .

3121.18 Fees.

A payor ordered to withhold a specified amount from the income of an employee under a withholding notice described in section 3121.03 of the Revised Code may deduct from the income of the person, in addition to the amount withheld for purposes of support, a fee of the greater of two dollars or an amount not exceeding one per cent of the amount withheld as a charge for its services in complying with the withholding notice. A financial institution required to deduct funds from an account under a deduction notice described in section 3121.03 of the Revised Code may deduct from the account of the person, in addition to the amount deducted for purposes of support, a fee of the lesser of five dollars or an amount not exceeding the lowest rate it charges, if any, for a debit transaction in a similar account as a charge for its service in complying with the deduction notice.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.18

Effective Date: 03-22-2001 .

3121.19 Time for forwarding amount withheld or deducted.

(A) The entire amount withheld or deducted pursuant to a withholding or deduction notice described in section 3121.03 of the Revised Code shall be forwarded to the office of child support in the department of job and family services immediately, but not later than seven business days, after the withholding or deduction, as directed in the withholding or deduction notice.

(B) An employer who employs more than fifty employees shall submit the entire amount withheld pursuant to a withholding notice described in section 3121.03 of the Revised Code by electronic transfer to the office of child support in the department of job and family services immediately, but not later than seven business days, after the withholding, as directed in the withholding notice.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.19

Amended by 128th General AssemblyFile No.9, HB 1, §101.01, eff. 10/16/2009.

Effective Date: 03-22-2001 .

3121.20 Combining amounts to be forwarded.

(A) A payor or financial institution required to withhold or deduct a specified amount from the income or savings of more than one obligor under a withholding or deduction notice described in section 3121.03 of the Revised Code and to forward the amounts withheld or deducted to the office of child support may combine all of the amounts to be forwarded in one payment if the payment is accompanied by a list that clearly identifies all of the following:

(1) Each obligor covered by the payment ;

(2) Each child support case, numbered as provided on the withholding or deduction notice, that is covered by the payment;

(3) The portion of the payment attributable to each obligor and each case number.

(B) A payor who employs more than fifty employees and who is required to submit the withholding by electronic transfer pursuant to sections 3121.037 and 3121.19 of the Revised Code shall combine all of the amounts to be forwarded in one payment. The payment shall be accompanied by information that clearly identifies all of the following:

(1) Each obligor that is covered by the payment;

(2) Each child support case, numbered as provided on the withholding notice issued pursuant to section 3121.03 of the Revised Code, that is covered by the payment;

(3) The portion of the payment attributable to each obligor and each case number.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.20

Amended by 128th General AssemblyFile No.9, HB 1, §101.01, eff. 10/16/2009.

Effective Date: 03-22-2001 .

3121.21 Payor or financial institution - immunity.

A payor or financial institution shall not be subject to criminal or civil liability for compliance, in accordance with sections 3121.18 to 3121.20 of the Revised Code, with a withholding or deduction notice.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.21

Effective Date: 03-22-2001 .

3121.23 Service.

Except when a provision specifically authorizes or requires service other than as described in this section, service of any notice on any party, a financial institution, or payor, for purposes of Chapters 3119., 3121., 3123., and 3125. of the Revised Code, shall be made by ordinary first class mail directed to the addressee at the last known address or, in the case of a corporation, at its usual place of doing business. A notice shall be considered to have been served when it is mailed.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.23

Effective Date: 03-22-2001 .

3121.24 Parties must provide information to agency.

(A) Each party to a support order shall notify the child support enforcement agency administering the support order of the party's current mailing address, current residence address, current residence telephone number, and current driver's license number, at the time of the issuance or modification of the order. Until further notice of the court or agency, whichever issued the support order, each party shall notify the agency administering the support order of any change in information immediately after the change occurs. With respect to a court support order, any willful failure to comply with this section is contempt of court. No person shall fail to give the notice required by division (A) of this section.

(B) The parties affected by the support order shall inform the child support enforcement agency of any change of name or other change of conditions that may affect the administration of the order.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.24

Effective Date: 03-22-2001 .

3121.25 Notice of request for modification or filing action for enforcement.

If a party to a court support order requests a modification of the order or an obligee under a court support order or a person acting on behalf of an obligee files an action to enforce a court child support order, the court shall notify the child support enforcement agency that is administering the court child support order or that will administer the order of the request or the filing.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.25

Effective Date: 03-22-2001 .

3121.27 Including general statement in support orders.

(A) A court or child support enforcement agency shall include in any order for support it issues a general provision that states the following:

"All support under this order shall be withheld or deducted from the income or assets of the obligor pursuant to a withholding or deduction notice or appropriate order issued in accordance with Chapters 3119., 3121., 3123., and 3125. of the Revised Code or a withdrawal directive issued pursuant to sections 3123.24 to 3123.38 of the Revised Code and shall be forwarded to the obligee in accordance with Chapters 3119., 3121., 3123., and 3125. of the Revised Code."

(B) All support orders issued prior to March 22, 2001, shall be considered to contain the general provision described in this section and shall be enforced and modified in the same manner as a support order issued on or after that date.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.27

Effective Date: 12-13-2002 .

3121.28 Including statements concerning monthly payment in support orders.

In any action or proceeding in which a support order is issued or modified, the court or child support enforcement agency that issues or modifies the order shall include in the order, in addition to any provision required by the Revised Code, all of the following:

(A) A requirement that, regardless of the frequency or amount of support payments to be made under the order, the child support enforcement agency required to administer the order shall administer it on a monthly basis, in accordance with sections 3121.51 to 3121.54 of the Revised Code;

(B) A specification of the monthly amount due under the support order for purposes of its monthly administration, as determined under section 3121.52 of the Revised Code;

(C) A statement that payments under the order are to be made in the manner ordered by the court or agency, and that if the payments are to be made other than on a monthly basis, the required monthly administration by the agency does not affect the frequency or the amount of the support payments to be made under the order.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.28

Effective Date: 03-22-2001 .

3121.29 Including warning notice in support orders.

Each support order, or modification of a support order, shall contain a notice that states the following in boldface type and in all capital letters:

"Each party to this support order MUST notify the child support enforcement agency in writing of HIS OR HER current mailing address, current residence address, current residence telephone number, current driver's license number, and of any changes in that information. EACH PARTY MUST notify the agency of all changes until further notice from the court or agency, whichever issued the support order. If you are the obligor under a child support order and you fail to make the required notifications, you may be fineD UP TO $50 for a first offense, $100 for a second offense, and $500 for each subsequent offense. If YOU ARE AN OBLIGOR or obligee UNDER ANY SUPPORT ORDER issued by a court and you willfully fail to give the required notices, you may be found in contempt of court and be subjected to fines up to $1,000 and imprisonment for not more than 90 days.

If you are an obligor and you fail to give the required notices, you may not receive notice of the following enforcement actions against you: imposition of liens against your property; loss of your professional or occupational license, driver's license, or recreational license; withholding from your income; access restriction and deduction from your accounts in financial institutions; and any other action permitted by law to obtain money from you to satisfy your support obligation."

Cite as R.C. § 3121.29

Effective Date: 2000 SB180 03-22-2001 .

3121.30 Including obligor's date of birth and social security number in support orders.

A support order, or modification of a support order, shall contain the date of birth and social security number of the obligor.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.30

Effective Date: 03-22-2001 .

3121.33 Notices and orders final and enforceable by court.

The withholding or deduction notices and other orders issued under sections 3121.03, 3121.04 to 3121.06, and 3121.12 of the Revised Code, and the notices that require the obligor to notify the child support enforcement agency administering the support order of any change in the obligor's employment status or of any other change in the status of the obligor's assets, are final and enforceable by the court.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.33

Effective Date: 03-22-2001 .

3121.34 Complying with withholding or deduction notice without amending order.

A person required to comply with withholding or deduction notices described in section 3121.03 of the Revised Code shall determine the manner of withholding or deducting from the specific requirement included in the notices without the need for any amendment to the support order, and a person required to comply with an order described in sections 3121.03, 3121.04 to 3121.06, and 3121.12 of the Revised Code shall comply without the need for any amendment to the support order.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.34

Effective Date: 03-22-2001 .

3121.35 Court to have all powers necessary to enforce order.

A court that has authority to issue a court support order shall have all powers necessary to enforce the order and any administrative child support order and all other powers set forth in the Revised Code.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.35

Effective Date: 03-22-2001 .

3121.36 Authority to collect arrearage after termination of order.

The termination of a court support order or administrative child support order does not abate the power of any court or child support enforcement agency to collect any overdue and unpaid support or arrearage owed under the terminated support order or the power of the court to punish any person for a failure to comply with, or to pay any support as ordered in, the terminated support order. The termination does not abate the authority of the court or agency to issue any notice described in section 3121.03 of the Revised Code or to issue any applicable order as described in division (C) or (D) of section 3121.03 of the Revised Code to collect any overdue and unpaid support or arrearage owed under the terminated support order. If a notice is issued pursuant to section 3121.03 of the Revised Code to collect the overdue and unpaid support or arrearage, the amount withheld or deducted from the obligor's personal earnings, income, or accounts shall be at least equal to the amount that was withheld or deducted under the terminated child support order.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.36

Effective Date: 03-22-2001 .

3121.37 Contempt for failure to comply with administrative order.

If an obligor or any other person fails to comply with an administrative child support order, the agency that issued the order may request that the juvenile court or other court with jurisdiction under section 2101.022 or 2301.03 of the Revised Code of the county in which the agency is located find the obligor or other person in contempt pursuant to section 2705.02 of the Revised Code.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.37

Effective Date: 03-22-2001 .

3121.371 Contempt for failure to comply with withholding order.

If a child support enforcement agency sends a notice imposing a withholding or deduction requirement or any other appropriate requirement to a person described in section 3121.03 of the Revised Code and the payor or financial institution sent the withholding, deduction, or other appropriate notice fails to comply with the notice, the agency shall request that the court issue a court order requiring the payor or financial institution to comply immediately with the notice or be held in contempt of court. If the court issues the order and the payor or financial institution does not immediately comply with the notice, it is in contempt of court.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.371

Effective Date: 03-22-2001 .

3121.372 Contempt for failure to send notice.

The failure of a person to send any notice required by section 3121.03, 3121.036, 3121.05, 3121.06, or 3121.12 of the Revised Code shall be considered contempt of court.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.372

Effective Date: 03-22-2001 .

3121.373 Hearing - notice.

(A) As used in this section, "willfully" means voluntarily and intentionally with a specific intent to take an action or fail to take an action.

(B) When a child support enforcement agency seeks an order for contempt pursuant to section 3121.371 of the Revised Code against a payor that is an employer, the court may, on motion of the agency or on the court's own motion, hold a hearing to determine whether the payor has done either of the following:

(1) Willfully failed to comply with a withholding notice issued pursuant to section 3121.03 of the Revised Code;

(2) Failed three times within twelve consecutive months to comply with a withholding notice issued pursuant to section 3121.03 of the Revised Code.

(C) Not later than fourteen days before holding a hearing under division (B) of this section, the court shall serve notice on the payor that complies with court rules regarding service of summonses. The notice must contain all of the following:

(1) The date, time, and location of the hearing;

(2) A statement that if the court determines the payor has committed acts or omissions described in division (B) of this section, the court may order either or both of the penalties set forth in section 3121.382 of the Revised Code.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.373

Effective Date: 05-18-2005 .

3121.38 Liability of payor or financial institution.

A payor that fails to withhold an amount from an obligor's income for support in accordance with a withholding requirement included in a withholding notice issued under section 3121.03 of the Revised Code or a financial institution that fails to deduct funds from an obligor's account for support in accordance with a deduction requirement included in a deduction notice issued under section 3121.03 of the Revised Code is liable for the amount that was not withheld or deducted, except that a payor that is an employer whose normal pay and disbursement cycles make it impossible to comply with a withholding requirement contained in a withholding notice shall not be liable for the amount not withheld if the employer, as soon as possible after receipt of the withholding notice, provides the court or child support enforcement agency that issued the notice with written notice of the impossibility and the reasons for the impossibility.

A payor who is liable under this provision for an amount that was not withheld shall be ordered by the court to pay that amount to the office of child support in the department of job and family services, to be disbursed in accordance with the support order for the benefit of the child or spouse.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.38

Effective Date: 03-22-2001; 05-18-2005 .

3121.381 Fining noncomplying payor or financial institution.

A court may fine a payor not more than two hundred dollars for failure to withhold income, as required under a withholding notice issued under section 3121.03 of the Revised Code, under a court support order or to notify the court or child support enforcement agency administering the court support order that a situation has occurred causing the payor to cease paying income in an amount sufficient to comply with the order to the obligor, or, in cases in which the obligor is an employer, the obligor is receiving or is eligible to receive a benefit of employment other than personal earnings.

The court may fine a financial institution not more than two hundred dollars for failure to deduct funds, as required by a deduction notice issued under section 3121.03 of the Revised Code, from an account under a court support order or to notify the court or child support enforcement agency administering the court support order of the termination of an account from which funds are being deducted or of the opening of a new account.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.381

Effective Date: 03-22-2001 .

3121.382 Issuing order upon finding of willful failure to comply with withholding notice.

(A) As used in this section, "willfully" means voluntarily and intentionally with a specific intent to take an action or fail to take an action.

(B) If, after a hearing conducted pursuant to section 3121.373 of the Revised Code, the court determines that a payor that is an employer has willfully failed to comply with a withholding notice issued pursuant to section 3121.03 of the Revised Code, or has failed three times within twelve consecutive months to comply with a withholding notice, the court may issue an order requiring one or both of the following:

(1) The payment of support by electronic transfer of funds from the bank account of the payor;

(2) A civil penalty, in addition to any other penalty permitted by law, of up to fifty per cent of the amount not withheld from the obligor's income or not timely forwarded to the office of child support in accordance with the withholding notice.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.382

Effective Date: 05-18-2005 .

3121.39 Employer not to take adverse action against employee subject to child support withholding.

No payor that is an employer may use a requirement to withhold personal earnings contained in a withholding notice issued under section 3121.03 of the Revised Code as a basis for a discharge of, or for any disciplinary action against, an employee, or as a basis for a refusal to employ a person.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.39

Effective Date: 03-22-2001 .

3121.43 Duties of office of child support.

Except as provided in sections 3125.27 to 3125.30 of the Revised Code, the office of child support in the department of job and family services shall be the sole agency of the state responsible for the collection of all support payments due under support orders and the disbursement of the payments to obligees. The office shall make collections and disbursements in compliance with section 5107.20 of the Revised Code and rules adopted pursuant to section 3121.71 of the Revised Code.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.43

Effective Date: 03-22-2001 .

3121.44 Support payments to be made to office of child support.

On issuing or modifying a support order, issuing any withholding or deduction notice described in section 3121.03 of the Revised Code, or issuing an order described in division (C) or (D) of that section, the court or child support enforcement agency shall require that support payments be made to the office of child support in the department of job and family services as trustee for remittance to the person entitled to receive payments, except as otherwise provided in sections 2151.49, 3113.07, and 3125.27 to 3125.30 of the Revised Code.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.44

Effective Date: 03-22-2001 .

3121.441 Direct spousal support payments.

(A) Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter, Chapters 3119., 3123., and 3125., and sections 3770.071 and 5107.20 of the Revised Code providing for the office of child support in the department of job and family services to collect, withhold, or deduct spousal support, when a court pursuant to section 3105.18 or 3105.65 of the Revised Code issues or modifies an order requiring an obligor to pay spousal support or grants or modifies a decree of dissolution of marriage incorporating a separation agreement that provides for spousal support, or at any time after the issuance, granting, or modification of an order or decree of that type, the court may permit the obligor to make the spousal support payments directly to the obligee instead of to the office if the obligee and the obligor have no minor children born as a result of their marriage and the obligee has not assigned the spousal support amounts to the department pursuant to section 5107.20 or 5160.38 of the Revised Code.

(B) A court that permits an obligor to make spousal support payments directly to the obligee pursuant to division (A) of this section shall order the obligor to make the spousal support payments as a check, as a money order, or in any other form that establishes a clear record of payment.

(C) If a court permits an obligor to make spousal support payments directly to an obligee pursuant to division (A) of this section and the obligor is in default in making any spousal support payment to the obligee, the court, upon motion of the obligee or on its own motion, may rescind the permission granted under that division. After the rescission, the court shall determine the amount of arrearages in the spousal support payments and order the obligor to make to the office of child support in the department of job and family services any spousal support payments that are in arrears and any future spousal support payments. Upon the issuance of the order of the court under this division, the provisions of this chapter, Chapters 3119., 3123., and 3125., and sections 3770.071 and 5107.20 of the Revised Code apply with respect to the collection, withholding, or deduction of the obligor's spousal support payments that are the subject of that order of the court.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.441

Amended by 130th General Assembly File No. 25, HB 59, §101.01, eff. 9/29/2013.

Effective Date: 01-25-2002 .

3121.45 Payments deemed to be gifts.

Any payment of money by the person responsible for the support payments under a support order to the person entitled to receive the support payments that is not made to the office of child support, or to the child support enforcement agency administering the support order under sections 3125.27 to 3125.30 of the Revised Code, shall not be considered a payment of support under the support order and, unless the payment is made to discharge an obligation other than support, shall be deemed to be a gift.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.45

Effective Date: 03-22-2001 .

3121.46 Order for payments to third person.

(A) When a support order is issued or modified, a withholding or deduction notice described in section 3121.03 of the Revised Code is issued, or an order described in division (C) or (D) of section 3121.03 of the Revised Code is issued, or at any time after the support order is issued or modified, the court may order the office of child support, or the child support enforcement agency may issue an order requiring the office, to transmit the payments or make them payable to any third person that is either agreed upon by the parties and approved by the court or appointed by the court, with respect to a support order, or is either agreed upon by the parties and approved by the agency or appointed by the agency, with respect to an administrative child support order. Third persons include, but are not limited to, a trustee, a custodian, the guardian of the estate of the child, the county department of job and family services, public children services agency, or any appropriate social agency.

(B) Any person named pursuant to this section is entitled to receive the support payments. The court may allow the person to receive a reasonable fee for services rendered pursuant to this section. The person shall make financial reports in connection with these services at the time and in the manner prescribed by the court or as required by law.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.46

Effective Date: 03-22-2001 .

3121.47 Application to child support enforcement agency for administration of order.

Any person entitled to receive support payments either personally or on behalf of another person, by reason of any support order that does not direct that payments be made to the office of child support, may apply to the appropriate child support enforcement agency for the administration of the order. On receipt of the application, the agency has authority to administer the order. The agency shall notify the obligor by any method of service authorized under the Civil Rules to make all support payments due after service of the notice on the obligor to the office. An obligor so notified by an agency shall make all subsequent payments to the office unless the court, on the obligor's application filed within thirty days after service of the notice on the obligor, orders the child support enforcement agency not to administer the support order.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.47

Effective Date: 03-22-2001 .

3121.48 Separate account for support payments received as trustee.

The office of child support shall administer a fund for the deposit of support payments it receives as trustee for remittance to the persons entitled to receive the support payments. The fund shall be in the custody of the treasurer of state, but shall not be part of the state treasury.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.48

Amended by 129th General AssemblyFile No.28, HB 153, §101.01, eff. 9/29/2011.

Effective Date: 03-22-2001 .

3121.49 Retention of interest.

The office of child support shall retain, and use solely for support enforcement activities, all interest earned on moneys in any support payment account it maintains.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.49

Effective Date: 03-22-2001 .

3121.50 Distributing amount forwarded to obligee.

On receipt of any amount forwarded from a payor or financial institution, the office of child support shall distribute the amount to the obligee within two business days of its receipt of the amount forwarded. Unless otherwise prohibited from doing so by a law of this state or the United States, the office may distribute the amount by means of electronic disbursement, and the obligee shall accept payment by means of electronic disbursement. The director of job and family services may adopt, revise, or amend rules under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to assist in the implementation of this section.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.50

Effective Date: 03-22-2001; 10-01-2005 .

3121.51 Administering orders on monthly basis.

A child support enforcement agency shall administer all support orders on a monthly basis.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.51

Effective Date: 03-22-2001 .

3121.52 Calculating monthly amount due where payments made on other basis.

A court or child support enforcement agency that issues or modifies a support order with support payments to be made other than on a monthly basis shall calculate a monthly amount due under the order, for purposes of its monthly administration, in the following manner:

(A) If the support order is to be paid weekly, multiply the weekly amount of support due under the order by fifty-two and divide the resulting annual amount by twelve;

(B) If the support order is to be paid biweekly, multiply the biweekly amount of support due under the order by twenty-six and divide the resulting annual amount by twelve;

(C) If the support order is to be paid periodically but is not to be paid weekly, biweekly, or monthly, multiply the periodic amount of support due by an appropriate number to obtain the annual amount of support due under the order and divide the annual amount of support due by twelve.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.52

Effective Date: 03-22-2001 .

3121.53 Payments made on other basis not to affect the frequency or the amount of the support payments.

If the payments under a support order are to be made other than on a monthly basis, the required monthly administration of the order by a child support enforcement agency shall not affect the frequency or the amount of the support payments to be made under the order.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.53

Effective Date: 03-22-2001 .

3121.54 Payment of support commencing on day other than first day of month.

With respect to support orders that require payment of support to commence on a day other than the first day of a month, the child support enforcement agency, for purposes of monthly administration, shall compute a pro rata amount due under the order for the first month of the period of payment, in the following manner:

(A) Determine an annual amount under section 3121.52 of the Revised Code;

(B) Divide the annual amount by one of the following to obtain the daily rate:

(1) If payment of support is required to commence in a leap year, three hundred sixty-six;

(2) If payment of support is required to commence in a year that is not a leap year, three hundred sixty-five.

(C) Multiply the daily rate by the number of days the order is in effect in the first month, including the date payment of support is required to commence and the last day of the first month.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.54

Effective Date: 03-22-2001 .

3121.56 Collecting administrative charge.

The office of child support shall collect the administrative charge imposed on the obligor under the support order pursuant to section 3119.27 of the Revised Code.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.56

Effective Date: 03-22-2001 .

3121.57 Applying administrative charge.

The office of child support is not required to apply an administrative charge included with a payment for current support payment toward any arrearages under the support order.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.57

Effective Date: 03-22-2001 .

3121.58 Separate arrearage account for unpaid charges.

If an obligor fails to make the payment required by division (B) of section 3119.28 of the Revised Code, the office of child support shall maintain a separate arrearage account of that amount for the obligor. The office shall not deduct the unpaid amount from any support payment due the obligee under the support order.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.58

Effective Date: 12-31-2002 .

3121.59 Disposing of fines paid for failure to give notice of changes.

A fine imposed pursuant to division (B) of section 3121.99 of the Revised Code shall be paid to the office of child support in the department of job and family services or, pursuant to section 3125.29 of the Revised Code, to the child support enforcement agency. The amount of the fine that does not exceed the amount of arrearage under the child support order shall be disbursed in accordance with the child support order. The amount of the fine that exceeds the amount of the arrearage shall be considered program income .

Cite as R.C. § 3121.59

Effective Date: 03-22-2001; 03-21-2005 .

3121.60 [Repealed].

Cite as R.C. § 3121.60

Effective Date: 03-21-2005 .

3121.63 [Repealed].

Cite as R.C. § 3121.63

Effective Date: 03-21-2005 .

3121.64 Quarterly distributions of administrative charges to county agencies.

On receipt of administrative charges under section 3121.56 of the Revised Code, the office of child support shall determine the charge amounts collected from obligors under support orders being administered by the child support enforcement agency in each county and distribute monthly to each agency an amount equal to the charges attributable to the agency.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.64

Effective Date: 03-22-2001; 03-21-2005 .

3121.65 Restriction on use of administrative charges.

No administrative charge amounts collected shall be used by the office of child support or a child support enforcement agency for any purpose other than the provision of funds for support enforcement activities.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.65

Effective Date: 03-22-2001 .

3121.67 Contracting with public or private entities to perform duties.

The office of child support may enter into contracts with public entities or private vendors for the collection of amounts due under support orders or for the performance of other administrative duties of the office. The office may contract with a public or private entity for the collection of arrearages owed under any child support order for which a court or a child support enforcement agency has found the obligor in default pursuant to a final and enforceable order issued pursuant to sections 3123.01 to 3123.07 of the Revised Code. Each contract shall comply with the rules adopted pursuant to section 3121.71 of the Revised Code.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.67

Effective Date: 12-13-2002 .

3121.69 Using facsimile signature.

In order to comply with its collection and disbursement responsibilities, the office of child support may require the director of each child support enforcement agency to authorize the office to use that director's facsimile signature if the office determines the signature's use is necessary. An agency director shall not be subject to civil or criminal liability for any damage or injury to persons or property that result from the use of the facsimile signature by the state.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.69

Effective Date: 03-22-2001 .

3121.71 Administrative rules.

The director of job and family services, pursuant to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, shall adopt rules that do all of the following:

(A) Govern collection and disbursement of child support amounts in compliance with Title IV-D of the "Social Security Act," 88 Stat. 2351 (1975), 42 U.S.C. 651 et seq., as amended, and any regulations adopted under the act;

(B) Govern the method of sending administrative charge amounts to child support enforcement agencies;

(C) Assist in the implementation of separate accounts for support payments received by the division;

(D) Govern the process of entering into and the provisions of contracts described in section 3121.67 of the Revised Code.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.71

Effective Date: 03-22-2001 .

3121.74 Account information access agreements - financial data matching program.

The office of child support in the department of job and family services shall enter into account information access agreements with financial institutions doing business in this state and with financial institutions doing business in other states. The office may join an alliance of states for the purpose of participating in the financial data matching program, as defined in section 666(A)(17) of Title 42 of the United States Code, and entering into agreements with financial institutions doing business in this state. In the case of financial institutions doing business in other states, the office shall enter into an agreement with the federal office of child support enforcement for the purpose of participating in the financial institution data matching program. The agreements shall provide the office access to account information specified in this section for the purposes of establishing, modifying, or enforcing support orders. The agreements shall specify the manner in which the information is to be provided and shall require that the office be afforded access to the following information each calendar quarter concerning all obligors in default under support orders being administered by child support enforcement agencies in this state who maintain an account with the financial institution:

(A) The obligor's name;

(B) The obligor's address;

(C) The obligor's social security number or taxpayer identification number;

(D) Whether another person has an ownership interest in the account, including a list of all persons having an ownership interest in the account as reflected on the signature card or similar document on file with the financial institution;

(E) The type of account maintained by the obligor, such as a savings, checking, or money market mutual fund account;

(F) Any other information agreed to by the parties

Cite as R.C. § 3121.74

Effective Date: 03-22-2001 .

3121.75 Deducting fee for each withdrawal.

A financial institution that responds to a request or provides information to the office of child support pursuant to an account information access agreement shall deduct a fee of five dollars for each withdrawal the financial institution makes from an obligor's account on receipt of a withdrawal directive under section 3123.37 of the Revised Code.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.75

Effective Date: 03-22-2001 .

3121.76 Confidentiality requirements.

Information obtained from a financial institution pursuant to an account information access agreement is not a public record for the purposes of section 149.43 of the Revised Code. No person or government entity that obtains information concerning an account holder from a financial institution pursuant to an agreement shall disclose the information for purposes other than the establishment, modification, or enforcement of a support order.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.76

Effective Date: 03-22-2001 .

3121.77 Financial institutions or personnel - immunity.

Financial institutions or their officers, directors, and employees shall not be subject to criminal or civil liability for disclosing or releasing information concerning an account holder to the office of child support pursuant to an account information access agreement, or for any other action taken in good faith to comply with an account information access agreement, regardless of whether the action was specifically authorized or described in the agreement.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.77

Effective Date: 03-22-2001 .

3121.78 Administrative rules concerning account information agreements.

The director of job and family services shall adopt rules pursuant to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code that govern the provisions of an agreement required pursuant to section 3121.74 of the Revised Code and the procedure for entering into an agreement.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.78

Effective Date: 03-22-2001 .

3121.81 Case registry of support orders.

The office of child support in the department of job and family services shall establish and maintain a case registry of all support orders being administered or otherwise handled by a child support enforcement agency.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.81

Effective Date: 03-22-2001 .

3121.82 Information included in case registry.

The case registry shall include all of the following information:

(A) The name, social security number, driver's license number, other identification number, residence telephone number, and date of birth of each obligor and obligee under a support order;

(B) Payment information including the periodic support amount due, arrearages, penalties for late payment, fees, amounts collected, and amounts distributed under a support order;

(C) Liens imposed on real and personal property to recover arrearages under a support order;

(D) With respect to a child support order, the name and birthdate of each child subject to the order;

(E) Information obtained pursuant to an agreement under section 3121.74 of the Revised Code;

(F) Any other information required by the director of job and family services pursuant to rules adopted under section 3121.86 of the Revised Code.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.82

Effective Date: 03-22-2001 .

3121.83 Maintenance of case registry.

The case registry shall be maintained as part of the automated system created pursuant to section 3125.07 of the Revised Code and shall be accessed through the system. The office of child support and each child support enforcement agency shall monitor and update the registry, and each agency shall enter the information described in section 3121.82 of the Revised Code in the registry in accordance with rules adopted pursuant to section 3121.86 of the Revised Code.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.83

Effective Date: 03-22-2001 .

3121.84 Comparing information.

(A) The office of child support shall make comparisons of the information in the case registry with the information maintained by the department of job and family services pursuant to sections 3111.64 and 3121.894 of the Revised Code. The office shall make the comparisons in the manner and in the time intervals required by the rules adopted pursuant to section 3121.86 of the Revised Code. The office shall make reports of information in the registry to other entities of the state, the federal government, and other states as required by those rules.

(B) The office shall make comparisons of information in the case registry with information maintained by the department pursuant to sections 3111.64 and 3121.894 of the Revised Code and provide information in the case registry to other entities of the state, the federal government, and other states consistent with Title IV-D of the "Social Security Act," 88 Stat. 2351 (1975), 42 U.S.C. 651 et seq., as amended, and any federal regulations adopted under the act.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.84

Effective Date: 03-22-2001 .

3121.85 Duties of agencies and office of child support to update and maintain information.

Each child support enforcement agency shall enter information into the case registry and maintain and update that information consistent with Title IV-D of the "Social Security Act," 88 Stat. 2351 (1975), 42 U.S.C. 651 et seq., as amended and any federal regulations adopted under the act. The office of child support and each child support enforcement agency shall monitor the registry consistent with Title IV-D of the "Social Security Act," as amended, and any federal regulations adopted under the act.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.85

Effective Date: 03-22-2001 .

3121.86 Administrative rules for case registry.

The director of job and family services shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code that do both of the following:

(A) Establish procedures governing actions required by sections 3121.84 and 3121.85 of the Revised Code;

(B) Designate any additional information that must be placed in the case registry consistent with Title IV-D of the "Social Security Act," 42 U.S.C. 651 et seq., as amended, and any federal regulations adopted under the act.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.86

Effective Date: 03-22-2001 .

3121.89 Employee and employer defined.

As used in sections 3121.891 to 3121.8911 of the Revised Code:

(A) "Contractor" means an individual who provides services to an employer as an independent contractor for compensation that is reported as income other than wages and who is an individual, the sole shareholder of a corporation, or the sole member of a limited liability company. "Contractor" does not include any of the following:

(1) An individual performing intelligence or counterintelligence functions for a state agency if the head of the agency has determined that reporting pursuant to this section could endanger the safety of the individual or compromise an ongoing investigation or intelligence mission;

(2) A professionally licensed person who is providing services to the employer under that license;

(3) An individual who will receive for the services provided under the contract compensation of less than two thousand five hundred dollars per year or a greater amount that the director of job and family services establishes by rule adopted under section 3121.896 of the Revised Code.

(B) "Employee" means an individual who is employed to provide services to an employer for compensation that is reported as income from wages. "Employee" does not include an individual performing intelligence or counterintelligence functions for a state agency, if the head of the agency has determined that reporting pursuant to this section could endanger the safety of the employee or compromise an ongoing investigation or intelligence mission.

(C) "Employer" means any person or governmental entity other than the federal government for which an individual performs any service, of whatever nature, as the employee or contractor of such person, except that:

(1) If the person for whom the individual performs services does not have control of the payment of compensation for the services, "employer" means the person having control of the payment of the compensation.

(2) In the case of a person paying compensation on behalf of a nonresident alien individual, foreign partnership, or foreign corporation not engaged in trade or business within the United States, "employer" means the person paying the compensation.

(3) In the case of compensation paid to a contractor, "employer" does not include any person or entity that lacks a federal employer identification number.

(D) "Newly hired employee" means either of the following:

(1) An employee who has not previously been employed by the employer;

(2) An employee who was previously employed by an employer but has been separated from that prior employment for at least sixty consecutive days.

(E) "Professionally licensed person" has the same meaning as in section 2925.01 of the Revised Code.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.89

Amended by 130th General Assembly File No. 25, HB 59, §101.01, eff. 9/29/2013.

Effective Date: 03-22-2001; 03-21-2005

3121.891 Duty to make a new hire report.

(A) Except as provided in division (B) or (C) of this section, every employer shall make a new hire report to the department of job and family services regarding a newly hired employee or a contractor of a person who resides, works, or will be assigned to work in this state to whom the employer anticipates paying compensation.

(B) An employer with employees or contractors in two or more states that transmits new hire reports magnetically or electronically may make the new hire report to another state if the employer does both of the following:

(1) Notifies the Ohio department of job and family services and the United States secretary of health and human services in writing that the employer has designated another state as the state to which the employer will transmit the report;

(2) Transmits the report to that state in compliance with federal law.

(C) The department may by rule exempt employers from making new hire reports on any classification of contractors if the department determines that exempting the employer will assist the administration of the new hire reporting requirement.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.891

Amended by 130th General Assembly File No. 25, HB 59, §101.01, eff. 9/29/2013.

Effective Date: 03-22-2001; 03-21-2005

3121.892 Information included in new hire report.

(A) An employer shall include all of the following in each new hire report:

(1) For each employee, the employee's name, address, date of birth, social security number, and date of hire ;

(2) For each contractor, the contractor's name, address, social security or tax identification number, the date payments begin, and the length of time the contractor will be performing services for the employer;

(3) The employer's name, address, and identification number.

(B) The department of job and family services may by rule require that additional information, specified in the rule, be included in each new hire report.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.892

Amended by 130th General Assembly File No. 25, HB 59, §101.01, eff. 9/29/2013.

Effective Date: 03-22-2001; 03-21-2005

3121.893 Methods for making new hire report.

An employer shall make a new hire report for each newly hired employee or contractor in a manner prescribed by the department of job and family services. The department may require that the report include or consist of the submission of a copy of the United States internal revenue service form W-4 (employee's withholding allowance certificate) for the employee, a form provided by the department, or any other hiring document or data storage device or mechanism the department authorizes. An employer may make the new hire report by mail, fax, magnetic or electronic means, or other means the department authorizes. If an employer makes a new hire report by mail, the date of making the report is the postmark date if the report is mailed in the United States with first class postage and is addressed as the department authorizes. An employer shall make the new hire report not later than twenty days after the date on which the employer hires an employee or the date on which the employer engages or re-engages the contractor or the contractor resumes providing services under the contract.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.893

Amended by 130th General Assembly File No. 25, HB 59, §101.01, eff. 9/29/2013.

Effective Date: 03-22-2001; 03-21-2005

3121.894 New hires directory.

The department of job and family services shall, within five days of receipt from an employer, enter the information described in divisions (A)(1) and (3) of section 3121.892 of the Revised Code into the new hires directory, which shall be part of or accessible to the automated data processing system required pursuant to section 3125.07 of the Revised Code.

The department of job and family services may specify by rule the extent to which the information described in division (A)(2) of section 3121.892 of the Revised Code is to be entered into the new hires directory or any other appropriate directory. The department shall enter the information in accordance with the rule.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.894

Effective Date: 03-22-2001; 03-21-2005 .

3121.895 Comparing social security numbers in new hire report with case registry.

The department of job and family services shall make comparisons of the social security numbers obtained pursuant to division (A)(1) of section 3121.892 of the Revised Code and the social security numbers appearing in the case registry maintained pursuant to sections 3121.81 to 3121.86 of the Revised Code. Not later than the business day after information is entered into the directory, if the comparison conducted by the department results in a match, the department shall notify the child support enforcement agency administering the support order.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.895

Effective Date: 03-22-2001; 03-21-2005 .

3121.896 Director of jobs and family services to determine use of information - increase of payment to contractor.

The director of job and family services shall by rule establish the manner in which information concerning any person identified in division (A)(2) of section 3121.892 of the Revised Code shall be used to enforce any support obligations of that person.

The director of job and family services may adopt a rule increasing above the amount established in division (A)(3) of section 3121.89 of the Revised Code the amount of compensation that an employer may annually pay to a contractor under a contract without being required to make a new hire report in relation to that contractor.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.896

Effective Date: 03-21-2005 .

3121.897 New hire information furnished to national directory of new hires.

Within three business days after information on persons identified in division (A)(1) of section 3121.892 of the Revised Code is entered into the new hires directory, the department of job and family services shall furnish the information to the national directory of new hires. The department shall furnish to the national directory of new hires on a quarterly basis such information contained in the records of the department as is required by state and federal law.

To the extent it determines appropriate, the department also may furnish to the national directory of new hires information on persons identified in division (A)(2) of section 3121.892 of the Revised Code.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.897

Effective Date: 03-22-2001; 03-21-2005 .

3121.898 Using new hire reports.

The department of job and family services shall use the new hire reports it receives for any of the following purposes set forth in 42 U.S.C. 653a, as amended, including:

(A) To locate individuals for the purposes of establishing paternity and for establishing, modifying, and enforcing child support orders.

(B) As used in this division, "state agency" means every department, bureau, board, commission, office, or other organized body established by the constitution or laws of this state for the exercise of state government; every entity of county government that is subject to the rules of a state agency; and every contractual agent of a state agency.

To make available to any state agency responsible for administering any of the following programs for purposes of verifying program eligibility:

(1) Any Title IV-A program as defined in section 5101.80 of the Revised Code;

(2) The medicaid program ;

(3) The unemployment compensation program authorized by Chapter 4141. of the Revised Code;

(4) The supplemental nutrition assistance program authorized by section 5101.54 of the Revised Code;

(5) Any other program authorized in 42 U.S.C. 1320b-7(b), as amended.

(C) The administration of the employment security program under the director of job and family services.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.898

Amended by 130th General Assembly File No. 25, HB 59, §101.01, eff. 9/29/2013.

Amended by 128th General AssemblyFile No.9, HB 1, §101.01, eff. 10/16/2009.

Effective Date: 12-23-2003; 03-21-2005

3121.899 Disclosure of new hire reports.

(A) The new hire reports filed with the department of job and family services pursuant to section 3121.891 of the Revised Code shall not be considered public records for purposes of section 149.43 of the Revised Code. The director of job and family services may adopt rules under section 3125.51 of the Revised Code governing access to, and use and disclosure of, information contained in the new hire reports.

(B) The department of job and family services may disclose information in the new hire reports to all of the following:

(1) Any child support enforcement agency and any agent under contract with a child support enforcement agency for the purposes listed in division (A) of section 3121.898 of the Revised Code;

(2) Any county department of job and family services and any agent under contract with a county department of job and family services for the purposes listed in division (B) of section 3121.898 of the Revised Code;

(3) Employees of the department of job and family services and any agent under contract with the department of job and family services for the purposes listed in divisions (B) and (C) of section 3121.898 of the Revised Code;

(4) The administrator of workers' compensation for the purpose of administering the workers' compensation system pursuant to Chapters 4121., 4123., 4127., and 4131. of the Revised Code;

(5) To state agencies operating employment security and workers compensation programs for the purpose of administering those programs, pursuant to division (D) of section 3121.898 of the Revised Code.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.899

Effective Date: 12-23-2003; 03-21-2005 .

3121.8910 Fee for failing to make new hire report.

An employer that fails to make a new hire report shall be liable to the department of job and family services for a civil penalty of twenty-five dollars for each failure to make a report.

If the failure to make a new hire report is the result of a conspiracy between the employer and the employee not to supply the report or to supply a false or incomplete report, the employer shall be liable for a civil penalty of five hundred dollars for each such failure.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.8910

Effective Date: 03-22-2001; 03-21-2005 .

3121.8911 Administrative rules for new hire report.

The director of job and family services shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to implement sections 3121.89 to 3121.8910 of the Revised Code.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.8911

Effective Date: 03-22-2001 .

3121.91 Interstate cooperation.

The department of job and family services may request the assistance of other states in enforcing support orders issued by the courts and child support enforcement agencies of this state consistent with Title IV-D of the "Social Security Act," 88 Stat. 2351 (1975), 42 U.S.C. 651 et seq., as amended. When support orders issued in other states are being enforced in this state pursuant to Chapters 3115., 3119., 3121., 3123., and 3125. of the Revised Code, the following shall apply:

(A) The department shall use the forms required pursuant to Title IV-D of the "Social Security Act," 88 Stat. 2351 (1975), 42 U.S.C. 651 et seq., as amended.

(B) Except as provided by Chapter 3115. of the Revised Code, a support order issued in a state other than this state that is being administratively enforced in this state pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 666(a)(14)(A) shall not be considered to be transferred to the caseload of any child support enforcement agency of this state or to the department.

The department shall maintain records of the number of requests for assistance received in this state for enforcement of support cases issued by other states, the number of support cases issued by another state under which support was actually collected in this state, and the amount of support collected.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.91

Effective Date: 03-22-2001 .

3121.92 International cooperation.

The department of job and family services may enter into an agreement with a foreign country for the establishment of and enforcement of support orders issued under the laws of that country if that country, as part of the agreement, agrees to enforce support orders issued under the laws of this state. The department must provide services under the program of support enforcement established pursuant to this section to a foreign country with which the department has an agreement under this section and to a foreign country declared to be a foreign reciprocating country under Title IV-D of the "Social Security Act," 88 Stat. 2351 (1975), 42 U.S.C. 651 et seq., as amended, that requests the services. The department shall provide the services without imposing an application fee or any other cost on the foreign country or the obligee requesting the services. The department may impose the application fee or other costs on the obligor under the support order. The director of job and family services shall adopt rules pursuant to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code governing the procedure for entering into a contract pursuant to this section, the provisions of the contract, and the provision of support enforcement services, which rules shall be consistent with Title IV-D of the "Social Security Act," 88 Stat. 2351 (1975), 42 U.S.C. 651 et seq., as amended, and regulations adopted under the act.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.92

Effective Date: 03-22-2001 .

3121.99 Penalty.

(A) Whoever violates section 3121.76 of the Revised Code shall be fined no more than five hundred dollars, or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.

(B) An obligor who violates section 3121.036 or 3121.24 of the Revised Code shall be fined not more than fifty dollars for a first offense, not more than one hundred dollars for a second offense, and not more than five hundred dollars for each subsequent offense.

(C) An employer that violates section 3121.39 of the Revised Code with respect to a court support order may be fined not more than five hundred dollars.

Cite as R.C. § 3121.99

Effective Date: 03-22-2001 .