49.853 Financial record matching program.

(1) Definitions. In this section:

(a) “Account" means a demand deposit account, checking or negotiable withdrawal order account, savings account, time deposit account or money market mutual fund account.

(am) “County child support agency" means the county child support agency under s. 59.53 (5).

(b) “Department" means the department of children and families.

(c) “Financial institution" means any of the following:

1. A depository institution, as defined in 12 USC 1813 (c).

2. An institution-affiliated party, as defined in 12 USC 1813 (u), of a depository institution under subd. 1.

3. A federal credit union or state credit union, as defined in 12 USC 1752.

4. An institution-affiliated party, as defined in 12 USC 1786 (r), of a credit union under subd. 3.

5. A benefit association, insurance company, safe deposit company, money market mutual fund or similar entity authorized to do business in this state.

6. A broker-dealer, as defined in s. 551.102 (4).

(d) “Obligor" has the meaning given in s. 49.854 (1) (d).

(dm) “Ownership interest" has the meaning specified by the department by rule.

(e) “Support" has the meaning given in s. 49.854 (1) (f).

(2) Financial record matching program and agreements. The department shall operate a financial record matching program under this section. The department shall promulgate rules specifying procedures under which the department shall enter into agreements with financial institutions doing business in this state to operate the financial record matching program under this section. The agreement shall require the financial institution to participate in the financial record matching program under this section by electing either the financial institution matching option under sub. (3) or the state matching option under sub. (4). The department shall reimburse a financial institution up to $125 per quarter for participating in the financial record matching program under this section.

(3) Financial institution matching option.

(a) If a financial institution with which the department has an agreement under sub. (2) elects to use the financial institution matching option under this subsection, the department shall provide a financial institution with information regarding delinquent obligors. The information shall be provided at least once each calendar quarter and shall include the obligor's name and social security number. The information shall be provided to the financial institution in the manner specified by rule or by agreement. To the extent feasible, the information required under this paragraph shall be provided to the financial institution by an automated data exchange.

(b) Each financial institution receiving information under par. (a) shall take actions necessary to determine whether any obligor has an ownership interest in an account maintained at the financial institution. If the financial institution determines that an obligor has an ownership interest in an account at the financial institution, the financial institution shall provide the department with a notice containing the obligor's name, address of record, social security number or other taxpayer identification number, and account information. The information regarding the obligor's account shall include the account number, the account type, the nature of the obligor's ownership interest in the account, and the balance of the account at the time that the record match is made. The notice under this paragraph shall be provided in the manner specified by rule or agreement. To the extent feasible, the notice required under this paragraph shall be provided to the department by an automated data exchange.

(c) The financial institution participating in the financial institution matching option under this subsection, and the employees, agents, officers and directors of the financial institution, may use the information provided by the department under par. (a) only for the purpose of matching records under par. (b). Neither the financial institution nor any employee, agent, officer or director of the financial institution may disclose or retain information provided under par. (a) concerning obligors who do not have an interest in an account maintained at the financial institution. Any person who violates this paragraph may be fined not less than $25 nor more than $500 or imprisoned in the county jail for not less than 10 days nor more than one year or both.

(4) State matching option.

(a) If a financial institution with which the department has an agreement under sub. (2) elects to use the state matching option under this subsection, the financial institution shall provide the department with information concerning all accounts maintained at the financial institution at least once each calendar quarter. For each account maintained at the financial institution, the financial institution shall notify the department of the name and social security number or other tax identification number of each person having an ownership interest in the account, together with a description of each person's interest. The information required under this paragraph shall be provided in the manner specified by rule or agreement. To the extent feasible, the notice required under this paragraph shall be provided to the department by an automated data exchange.

(b) The department shall take actions necessary to determine whether any obligor has an ownership interest in an account maintained at a financial institution providing information under par. (a). Upon the request of the department, the financial institution shall provide the department, for each obligor who matches information provided by the financial institution under par. (a), the obligor's address of record, the obligor's account number and account type and the balance of the account.

(c) The department may use the information provided by a financial institution under pars. (a) and (b) only for the purpose of matching records under par. (b). The department may not disclose or retain information received under pars. (a) and (b) concerning account holders who are not delinquent obligors.

(d) A financial institution participating in the state matching option under this subsection, and the employees, agents, officers and directors of the financial institution, may use any information that is provided by the department in requesting additional information under par. (b) only for the purpose of administering s. 49.22 or for the purpose of providing the additional information. Any person who violates this paragraph may be fined not less than $25 nor more than $500 or imprisoned in the county jail for not less than 10 days nor more than one year or both.

(5) Delegation. The department may delegate any powers and duties given to the department under this section to county child support agencies. The department may require financial institutions to provide county child support agencies with any notices that are required under this section to be provided to the department.

History: 1997 a. 191; 2001 a. 16; 2007 a. 20, 196.