(a) General rule.--A petitioner may file a direct request seeking:

(1) Establishment or modification of a support order or determination of parentage of a child. In the proceeding, the determination of parentage of a child under the law of this State applies.

(2) Recognition and enforcement of a support order or support agreement. In the proceeding, sections 77A06 (relating to registration of convention support order), 77A07 (relating to contest of registered convention support order), 77A08 (relating to recognition and enforcement of registered convention support order), 77A09 (relating to partial enforcement), 77A10 (relating to foreign support agreement), 77A11 (relating to modification of convention child support order), 77A12 (relating to personal information) and 77A13 (relating to record in original language) apply.

(b) Requirements.--In a direct request for recognition and enforcement of a convention support order or foreign support agreement, the following apply:

(1) A security, bond or deposit may not be required to guarantee the payment of costs and expenses.

(2) An obligee or obligor that, in the issuing country, has benefited from free legal assistance is entitled to benefit, at least to the same extent, from any free legal assistance provided for by the law of this State under the same circumstances.

(c) (Reserved).

(d) Assistance.--A petitioner filing a direct request is not entitled to assistance from the department.

(e) Application of other laws.--This chapter does not prevent the application of laws of this State that provide simplified, more expeditious rules regarding a direct request for recognition and enforcement of a foreign support order or foreign support agreement.