§2401. Distribution of proceeds
1. Pro rata distribution when insufficient funds received. The following provisions apply when a responsible parent is under orders of support for more than one family of children and at least one family of children is either a recipient of public assistance or a beneficiary under section 2103. For purposes of this subsection, a "family of children" consists of all blood-related and adopted children of the responsible parent that reside apart from any other children that the responsible parent is under a court or administrative order to support.
A. If the department fails to receive sufficient funds to meet the responsible parent's current support obligation to all of the children of all of the families, the department shall distribute pro rata the funds received so that each family of children receives the percentage of the funds received that represents that family's share of current support when calculated from the responsible parent's total current support obligation for all families. [PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. B, §2 (NEW); PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. E, §2 (AFF).]
B. If the responsible parent makes a designation or otherwise directs a distribution to the families of children, the department shall distribute the funds received as provided in paragraph A if the designation or other direction would result in a distribution not in compliance with paragraph A. [PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. B, §2 (NEW); PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. E, §2 (AFF).]
C. The department shall distribute the funds received as provided in paragraph A regardless of the source of the collection of the funds. [PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. B, §2 (NEW); PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. E, §2 (AFF).]
D. The department must be held harmless as to any claim of the responsible parent for its distribution of funds received as provided in paragraph A. [PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. B, §2 (NEW); PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. E, §2 (AFF).]
[PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. B, §2 (NEW); PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. E, §2 (AFF).]
2. Reduction of debt under section 2301. Any money realized by the department by proceedings under this article reduces the debt of a responsible parent under section 2301 and must be paid to the recipient of assistance for the express benefit of the dependent children to the extent permissible by federal law and regulations.
[PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. B, §2 (NEW); PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. E, §2 (AFF).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. B, §2 (NEW). PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. E, §2 (AFF).
Structure Maine Revised Statutes