Florida Statutes
Part I - Social and Economic Assistance (Ss. 409.016-409.5093)
409.2598 - License suspension proceeding to enforce support order.


(1) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term:
(a) “License” means a license, permit, certificate, registration, franchise, or other form of written permission issued by a licensing agency to an individual which authorizes the individual to engage in an occupation, business, trade, or profession or to engage in a recreational activity, including hunting or fishing. Where the context permits, the term also includes an application for a new or renewal license.
(b) “Licensee” means an individual who has a license.
(c) “Licensing agency” means a department, commission, agency, district, county, municipality, or other subdivision of state or local government which issues licenses.

(2) NOTICE OF NONCOMPLIANCE AND INTENT TO SUSPEND LICENSE.—If a support order has not been complied with for at least 30 days, the Department of Revenue may commence a license suspension proceeding to enforce compliance with the support order by providing written notice to the obligor that states:
(a) That the obligor is not in compliance with the support order and whether the noncompliance is due to the obligor’s nonpayment of current support, delinquencies or arrears, or the failure to provide health care coverage or medical support.
(b) The kind of license that is subject to suspension.
(c) That the obligor may avoid license suspension by complying with the support order or entering into a written agreement with the department within 30 days after the mailing of the notice.
(d) If the obligor timely complies with the support order or a written agreement entered into with the department, the proceeding ends and the obligor’s license is not suspended.
(e) That the obligor may contest license suspension by filing a petition in circuit court within 30 days after the mailing of the notice of noncompliance.
(f) If the obligor timely files a petition in circuit court, that the license suspension proceeding is stayed pending a ruling by the court.
The notice shall be served on the obligor by regular mail sent to the obligor’s last address of record with the local depository or a more recent address if known, which may include the obligor’s mailing address as reflected by the records of the licensing agency.

(3) HEARING; STAY OF PROCEEDING.—The obligor may contest license suspension by filing a petition in circuit court within 30 days after the mailing of the notice of noncompliance and serving a copy of the petition on the Department of Revenue. If the obligor timely files a petition in circuit court, the license suspension proceeding is stayed pending a ruling by the court. The obligor may contest on the basis of a mistake of fact concerning the obligor’s compliance with the support order, the reasonableness of a payment agreement offered by the department, or the identity of the obligor. A timely petition to contest must be heard by the court within 15 days after the petition is filed. The court must enter an order ruling on the matter within 10 days after the hearing, and a copy of the order must be served on the parties.
(4) COMPLIANCE; REINSTATEMENT.—
(a) If the obligor complies with the support order or a written agreement entered into with the department after a proceeding is commenced but before the obligor’s license is suspended, the proceeding shall cease and the obligor’s license may not be suspended. If the obligor subsequently does not comply with the support order, the department may commence a new proceeding or proceed as provided in paragraph (c) if the obligor enters into a written agreement and does not comply with the agreement.
(b) If the obligor complies with the support order or a written agreement entered into with the department after the obligor’s license is suspended, the department shall provide the obligor with a reinstatement notice and the licensing agency shall reinstate the obligor’s license at no additional charge to the obligor.
(c) If the obligor enters into a written agreement with the department and does not comply with the agreement, the department shall notify the licensing agency to suspend the obligor’s license unless the obligor notifies the department that the obligor can no longer comply with the written agreement. If the obligor notifies the department of the inability to comply with the written agreement, the obligor shall provide full disclosure to the department of the obligor’s income, assets, and employment. If after full disclosure the written agreement cannot be renegotiated, the department or the obligor may file a petition in circuit court to determine the matter.
(d) A licensing agency shall promptly reinstate the obligor’s license upon receipt of a court order for reinstatement.
(e) Notwithstanding any other statutory provision, a notice from the court or the department shall reinstate to the obligor all licenses established in chapter 379 that were valid at the time of suspension.

(5) NOTICE TO LICENSING AGENCY; SUSPENSION.—
(a) The Department of Revenue shall notify the licensing agency to suspend the obligor’s license when:
1. Thirty or more days have elapsed after a proceeding has been commenced and the obligor has not complied with the support order or a written agreement entered into with the department or filed a timely petition to contest license suspension in circuit court;
2. The obligor enters into a written agreement with the department and does not comply with the agreement, unless the obligor notifies the department that the obligor can no longer comply with the agreement; or
3. The department is ordered to do so by the circuit court.

(b) Upon notice by the department or the circuit court, the licensing agency shall suspend the obligor’s license and may only reinstate the license upon further notice by the department or the court.

(6) ENFORCEMENT OF SUBPOENAS.—A license may be suspended under this section to enforce compliance with a subpoena, order to appear, order to show cause, or similar order in a child support or paternity proceeding by using the same procedures as those used for enforcing compliance with a support order.
(7) MULTIPLE LICENSES.—The Department of Revenue may combine a proceeding under this section with a proceeding to suspend a driver license under s. 61.13016. A proceeding to suspend a license under this section may apply to one or more of the obligor’s licenses.
History.—s. 9, ch. 93-208; s. 4, ch. 95-222; s. 95, ch. 96-175; s. 1021, ch. 97-103; s. 59, ch. 97-170; s. 29, ch. 98-166; s. 36, ch. 99-289; s. 21, ch. 2000-160; s. 19, ch. 2000-364; s. 44, ch. 2001-158; s. 993, ch. 2002-387; s. 18, ch. 2004-334; s. 33, ch. 2005-39; s. 57, ch. 2009-21; s. 29, ch. 2015-4.

Structure Florida Statutes

Florida Statutes

Title XXX - Social Welfare

Chapter 409 - Social and Economic Assistance

Part I - Social and Economic Assistance (Ss. 409.016-409.5093)

409.016 - Definitions.

409.017 - Revenue Maximization Act; legislative intent; revenue maximization program.

409.031 - State agency for administering social service funds.

409.1415 - Parenting partnerships for children in out-of-home care; resources.

409.145 - Care of children; “reasonable and prudent parent” standard.

409.1451 - The Road-to-Independence Program.

409.14515 - Independent living preparation.

409.1452 - Collaboration with State University System, Florida College System, and Department of Education to assist children and young adults who have been or are in foster care or are experiencing homelessness; documentation regarding eligibility f...

409.1454 - Motor vehicle insurance and driver licenses for children in care and certified unaccompanied homeless youth.

409.146 - Children and families client and management information system.

409.1464 - Responsible Fatherhood Initiative.

409.1465 - Grants to address the needs of fathers.

409.1467 - Mentorship for at-risk male students.

409.147 - Children’s initiatives.

409.153 - Implementation of Healthy Families Florida program.

409.165 - Alternate care for children.

409.166 - Children within the child welfare system; adoption assistance program.

409.1662 - Children within the child welfare system; adoption incentive program.

409.1664 - Adoption benefits for qualifying adoptive employees of state agencies, veterans, servicemembers, and law enforcement officers.

409.1666 - Annual adoption achievement awards.

409.167 - Statewide adoption exchange; establishment; responsibilities; registration requirements; rules.

409.16742 - Shared family care residential services program for substance-exposed newborns.

409.1676 - Comprehensive residential group care services to children who have extraordinary needs.

409.1678 - Specialized residential options for children who are victims of commercial sexual exploitation.

409.1679 - Additional requirements; reimbursement methodology.

409.16791 - Ongoing study of commercial sexual exploitation of children.

409.175 - Licensure of family foster homes, residential child-caring agencies, and child-placing agencies; public records exemption.

409.1754 - Commercial sexual exploitation of children; screening and assessment; training; multidisciplinary staffings; service plans.

409.1755 - One Church, One Child of Florida Corporation Act; creation; duties.

409.1757 - Persons not required to be refingerprinted or rescreened.

409.176 - Registration of residential child-caring agencies and family foster homes.

409.179 - Family-friendly workplace initiative.

409.212 - Optional supplementation.

409.221 - Consumer-directed care program.

409.2355 - Programs for prosecution of males over age 21 who commit certain offenses involving girls under age 16.

409.2551 - Legislative intent.

409.2554 - Definitions; ss. 409.2551-409.2598.

409.2557 - State agency for administering child support enforcement program.

409.25575 - Support enforcement; privatization.

409.2558 - Support distribution and disbursement.

409.2559 - State disbursement unit.

409.256 - Administrative proceeding to establish paternity or paternity and child support; order to appear for genetic testing.

409.2561 - Support obligations when public assistance is paid; assignment of rights; subrogation; medical and health insurance information.

409.2563 - Administrative establishment of child support obligations.

409.25633 - Title IV-D Standard Parenting Time Plans.

409.25635 - Determination and collection of noncovered medical expenses.

409.2564 - Actions for support.

409.25641 - Procedures for processing interstate enforcement requests.

409.2565 - Publication of delinquent obligors.

409.25656 - Garnishment.

409.25657 - Requirements for financial institutions.

409.25658 - Use of unclaimed property for past due support.

409.25659 - Insurance claim data exchange.

409.25661 - Public records exemption for insurance claim data exchange information.

409.2567 - Services to individuals not otherwise eligible.

409.2569 - Continuation of support services for recipients of public assistance when benefits are terminated.

409.257 - Service of process.

409.2571 - Court and witness fees; bond.

409.2572 - Cooperation.

409.2574 - Income deduction enforcement in Title IV-D cases.

409.2575 - Liens on motor vehicles and vessels.

409.2576 - State Directory of New Hires.

409.2577 - Parent locator service.

409.2578 - Access to employment information; administrative fine.

409.2579 - Safeguarding Title IV-D case file information.

409.2581 - Use of clearing accounts and revolving funds.

409.2584 - Interest on obligations due; waiver.

409.259 - Filing fees in Title IV-D cases; electronic filing of pleadings, returns of service, and other papers.

409.2594 - Record requirements.

409.2597 - Retention of actions.

409.2598 - License suspension proceeding to enforce support order.

409.2599 - Data processing services; interagency agreement.

409.25995 - State Title IV-D agency; contracts.

409.25996 - Organizations that assist noncustodial parents.

409.2673 - Shared county and state health care program for low-income persons.

409.26731 - Certification of local funds as state match for federally funded services.

409.285 - Opportunity for hearing and appeal.

409.352 - Licensing requirements for physicians, osteopathic physicians, and chiropractic physicians employed by the department.

409.401 - Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children.

409.402 - Financial responsibility for child.

409.403 - Definitions; Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children.

409.404 - Agreements between party state officers and agencies.

409.405 - Court placement of delinquent children.

409.406 - Interstate Compact on Adoption and Medical Assistance.

409.407 - Interstate agreements between the Department of Children and Families and agencies of other states.

409.408 - Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children.

409.409 - Effect of existing compact provisions.

409.4101 - Rulemaking authority.

409.441 - Runaway youth programs and centers.

409.508 - Low-income home energy assistance program.

409.509 - Definitions; weatherization of low-income residences.

409.5091 - Department responsible for weatherizing agencies; energy assessment.

409.5093 - Replacement agency.