Minnesota Statutes 518A.74 – Publication of Names of Delinquent Child Support Obligors
Subdivision 1.Making names public.
At least once each year, the commissioner of human services, in consultation with the attorney general, may publish a list of the names and other identifying information of no more than 25 persons who (1) are child support obligors, (2) are at least $10,000 in arrears, (3) are not in compliance with a written payment agreement regarding both current support and arrearages approved by the court, a child support magistrate, or the public authority, (4) cannot currently be located by the public authority for the purposes of enforcing a support order, and (5) have not made a support payment except tax intercept payments, in the preceding 12 months.
Terms Used In Minnesota Statutes 518A.74
- children: includes children by birth or adoption;
(9) "day" comprises the time from midnight to the next midnight;
(10) "fiscal year" means the year by or for which accounts are reckoned;
(11) "hereafter" means a reference to the time after the time when the law containing such word takes effect;
(12) "heretofore" means a reference to the time previous to the time when the law containing such word takes effect;
(13) "judicial sale" means a sale conducted by an officer or person authorized for the purpose by some competent tribunal;
(14) "minor" means an individual under the age of 18 years;
(15) "money" means lawful money of the United States;
(16) "night time" means the time from sunset to sunrise;
(17) "non compos mentis" refers to an individual of unsound mind;
(18) "notary" means a notary public;
(19) "now" in any provision of a law referring to other laws in force, or to persons in office, or to any facts or circumstances as existing, relates to the laws in force, or to the persons in office, or to the facts or circumstances existing, respectively, on the effective date of such provision;
(20) "verified" when used in reference to writings, means supported by oath or affirmation. See Minnesota Statutes 645.45
- Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
- Person: may extend and be applied to bodies politic and corporate, and to partnerships and other unincorporated associations. See Minnesota Statutes 645.44
- Tax: means any fee, charge, exaction, or assessment imposed by a governmental entity on an individual, person, entity, transaction, good, service, or other thing. See Minnesota Statutes 645.44
Identifying information may include the obligor’s name, last known address, amount owed, date of birth, photograph, the number of children for whom support is owed, and any additional information about the obligor that would assist in identifying or locating the obligor. The commissioner and attorney general may use posters, media presentations, electronic technology, and other means that the commissioner and attorney general determine are appropriate for dissemination of the information, including publication on the Internet. The commissioner and attorney general may make any or all of the identifying information regarding these persons public. Information regarding an obligor who meets the criteria in this subdivision will only be made public subsequent to that person‘s selection by the commissioner and attorney general.
Before making public the name of the obligor, the Department of Human Services shall send a notice to the obligor’s last known address which states the department’s intention to make public information on the obligor. The notice must also provide an opportunity to have the obligor’s name removed from the list by paying the arrearage or by entering into an agreement to pay the arrearage, or by providing information to the public authority that there is good cause not to make the information public. The notice must include the final date when the payment or agreement can be accepted.
The Department of Human Services shall obtain the written consent of the obligee to make the name of the obligor public.
Subd. 2.Names published in error.
If the commissioner makes public a name under subdivision 1 which is in error, the commissioner must also offer to publish a printed retraction and a public apology acknowledging that the name was made public in error. If the person whose name was made public in error elects the public retraction and apology, the retraction and apology must appear in the same medium and the same format as the original notice with the name listed in error. In addition to the right of a public retraction and apology, a person whose name was made public in error has a civil action for damages caused by the error.