§ 43-140. Problem-solving court program - Participation by obligors of state child support plan.

A.  In cases in which child support services under the state child support plan as provided in Section 237 of Title 56 of the Oklahoma Statutes are being provided for the benefit of the child, the administrative or district court may order the obligor to participate in the problem-solving court program of the Department of Human Services.  The problem-solving court program is an immediate and highly structured judicial intervention process for the obligor and requires completion of a participation agreement by the obligor and monitoring by the court.  A problem-solving court program differs in practice and design from the traditional adversarial prosecution and trial systems.  The problem-solving court program uses a team approach administered by the judge in cooperation with a child support state’s attorney and a child support court liaison who focuses on removing the obstacles causing the nonpayment of the obligor.  The obligors in this program shall be required to sign an agreement to participate in this program.  The court liaisons assess the needs of the obligor, develop a community referral network, make referrals, monitor the compliance of the obligor in the program, and provide status reports to the court.

B.  Participation in the problem-solving court program shall not act as a stay of federally mandated automated enforcement remedies.  The child support obligation of the obligor shall not be suspended or abated during participation in the program.

Added by Laws 2008, c. 407, § 15, eff. Nov. 1, 2008.