BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
Section 1. Section 40-4-7.3 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1999, Chapter 299, Section 1) is amended to read:
"40-4-7.3. ACCRUAL OF INTEREST--DELINQUENT CHILD AND SPOUSAL SUPPORT.--
A. Interest shall accrue on delinquent child support at the rate of four percent and spousal
support at the rate set forth in Section 56-8-4 NMSA 1978 in effect when the support payment
becomes due and shall accrue from the date the support is delinquent until the date the support
is paid [or consolidated in a judgment].
B. Interest shall accrue on a consolidated judgment for delinquent child support at the rate
[provided in Section 56-8-4 NMSA 1978 in effect] of four percent when the consolidated judgment
is entered until the judgment is satisfied.
C. Unless the order, judgment, decree or wage withholding order specifies a due date other
than the first day of the month, support shall be due on the first day of each month and,
if not paid by that date, shall be delinquent.
D. In calculation of support arrears, payments of support shall be first applied to the
current support obligation, next to any delinquent support, next to any consolidated judgment
of delinquent support, next to any accrued interest on delinquent support and next to any
interest accrued on a consolidated judgment of delinquent support.
E. The human services department shall have the authority to forgive accrued interest
on delinquent child support assigned to the state not otherwise specified in an order,
judgment, decree or income withholding order if, in the judgment of the secretary of human
services, forgiveness will likely result in the collection of more child support, spousal
support or other support and will likely result in the satisfaction of the judgment, decree
or wage withholding order. This authority shall include the ability to authorize the return
of suspended licenses.
F. The human services department may adopt rules and regulations as necessary to implement the provisions of the Support Enforcement Act."
Section 2. Section 40-11-7 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1986, Chapter 47, Section 7) is amended to read:
"40-11-7. DETERMINATION OF FATHER AND CHILD RELATIONSHIP--WHO MAY BRING ACTION--WHEN ACTION MAY BE BROUGHT.--
A. Any interested party may bring an action for the purpose of determining the existence or nonexistence
of the parent and child relationship within twelve years of the birth of the child.
B. If the interested party does not bring an action within the twelve-year statute of limitations, the
interested party must show good cause.
[B.] C. If an action under this section is brought before the birth of the child, all proceedings shall
be stayed until after the birth, except service of process and the taking of depositions to
perpetuate testimony."
Section 3. Section 40-11-15 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1986, Chapter 47, Section 15, as amended) is amended to read:
"40-11-15. JUDGMENT OR ORDER.-->
A. The judgment or order of the court determining the existence or nonexistence of the parent and child
relationship is determinative for all purposes.
B. If the judgment or order of the court is at variance with the child's birth certificate, the court
shall order that a new birth certificate be issued.
C. The judgment or order may contain any other provision directed against or on behalf of the appropriate
party to the proceeding concerning the duty of past and future support, the custody and guardianship
of the child, visitation with the child, the furnishing of bond or other security for the payment of
the judgment or any other matter within the jurisdiction of the court. Pursuant to the provisions of
Section 40-11-23 NMSA 1978, the judgment or order may direct the father to pay the reasonable expenses
of the mother's pregnancy, birth and confinement. The court shall order child support retroactive to the
date of the child's birth pursuant to the provisions of Sections 40-11-23 and 40-4-11 through 40-4-11.3
NMSA 1978; provided that, in deciding whether or how long to order retroactive support, the court
shall consider:
(1) whether the alleged or presumed father has absconded or could not be located; and
(2) whether equitable defenses are applicable.
D. A determination of parentage and adjudication of support is binding on:
(1) a signatory on an acknowledgment of paternity;
(2) a nonresident party subject to the court's jurisdiction pursuant to Section 40-6A-201 NMSA 1978; and
(3) the child, if:
(a) the determination was based on an acknowledgment of paternity and the acknowledgment
is consistent with the results of genetic testing;
(b) the child was a party or was represented in the proceeding by a guardian ad litem;
(c) there is a stipulation or admission in the final order that the parties are the parents
of the child; or
(d) in a proceeding to dissolve a marriage or establish support, a final order expressly identified
the child as a "child of the marriage", "issue of the marriage", "child of the parties" or similar
words that indicate the parties are the parents of the child and, if applicable, the court had
personal jurisdiction over any nonresident party pursuant to Section 40-6A-201 NMSA 1978.
E. Support judgments or orders ordinarily shall be for periodic payments, which may vary in amount. In the best
interest of the child, a lump-sum payment or the purchase of an annuity may be ordered in lieu of periodic
payments of support; provided, however, nothing in this section shall deprive a state agency of its right
to reimbursement from an appropriate party should the child be a past or future recipient of public assistance.
F. In determining the amount to be paid by a parent for support of the child, a court, child support hearing
officer or master shall make such determination in accordance with the provisions of the child support guidelines
of Section 40-4-11.1 NMSA 1978.
G. Bills for pregnancy, childbirth and genetic testing are admissible as evidence without requiring
third-party foundation testimony and constitute prima facie evidence of amounts incurred."
Section 4. Section 40-11-16 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1986, Chapter 47, Section 16, as amended) is amended to read:
"40-11-16. COSTS.--The court may order reasonable fees of counsel, experts and the child's guardian and other costs of
the action and pre-trial proceedings, including blood or genetic tests, to be paid by any party in proportions
and at times determined by the court pursuant to the provisions of Section 40-11-23 NMSA 1978. The court may
order the proportion of any indigent party to be paid from court funds."
Section 5. Section 40-11-23 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1986, Chapter 47, Section 23, as amended) is amended to read:
"40-11-23. LIMITATION.--
A. An action to determine a parent and child relationship under the Uniform Parentage Act shall be brought
no later than [three years after the child has reached the age of majority.
B. The action to establish paternity under that act shall be available for any child for whom a paternity
action was brought and dismissed on or after August 16, 1984 because of the application of a statute
of limitations of less than eighteen years] twelve years after the birth of the child.
C. If the interested party does not bring an action within the twelve-year statute of limitations, the
interested party must show good cause."
Section 6. Section 56-8-4 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1851-1852, p. 255, as amended) is amended to read:
"56-8-4. JUDGMENTS AND DECREES--BASIS OF COMPUTING INTEREST.--
A. Interest shall be allowed on judgments and decrees for the payment of money from entry and shall
be calculated at the rate of eight and [three-quarters] three- fourths percent per year, unless:
(1) the judgment is rendered on a written instrument having a different rate of interest,
in which case interest shall be computed at a rate no higher than specified in the instrument; [or]
(2) the judgment is based on tortious conduct, bad faith or intentional or willful acts,
in which case interest shall be computed at the rate of fifteen percent; or
(3) the judgment is based on unpaid child support, in which case interest shall be computed
at the rate of four percent.
B. Unless the judgment is based on unpaid child support, the court in its discretion may allow interest
of up to ten percent from the date the complaint is served upon the defendant after
considering among other things:
(1) if the plaintiff was the cause of unreasonable delay in the adjudication of the
plaintiff's claims; and
(2) if the defendant had previously made a reasonable and timely offer of settlement
to the plaintiff.
C. Nothing contained in this section shall affect the award of interest or the time from which
interest is computed as otherwise permitted by statute or common law.
D. The state and its political subdivisions are exempt from the provisions of this section except
as otherwise provided by statute or common law."
Section 7. A new section of the Support Enforcement Act is enacted to read:
"[NEW MATERIAL] UNPAID CHILD SUPPORT INTEREST ARREARS MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.--The department
shall designate an arrears management program starting on or after December 15, 2004 to provide amnesty
for child support arrears, pursuant to procedures adopted by the department. The arrears management program
shall not exceed more than twelve months and shall only be authorized thereafter every two years. The department
shall, before renewing the next arrears management program, provide to the interim welfare reform
oversight committee a report on the previous arrears management program."
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