(1) The department shall develop a schedule for the transition from receipt and disbursement of support and fees by offices of the friend of the court to centralized receipt and disbursement by the state disbursement unit. The schedule may provide for the transition to take place in stages so that, during the transition period, the SDU is responsible for the receipt and disbursement of the support and fee payments of less than all the payers and recipients of support whose cases are administered by a particular office of the friend of the court. In developing the schedule, the department shall consult with other state agencies and with local agencies.

    (2) In accordance with section 9 of the friend of the court act, 1982 PA 294, MCL 552.509, and the transition schedule developed under subsection (1), SDU receipt and disbursement applies to the case of a payer or recipient of support starting on the date specified in a notification to the office of the friend of the court, which administers the case, that the SDU is prepared to receive and disburse support and fees for the case or for a class of cases to which the case belongs. As of the date that SDU receipt and disbursement of support and fees applies to a particular support order, a provision in the order directing support and fees to be paid to an office of the friend of the court shall be considered to direct the payments to the SDU.