PRINTER'S NO. 2764

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA


HOUSE BILL

No. 2163 Session of 1978


        INTRODUCED BY SCIRICA, BERSON, YOHN, RHODES AND GREENLEAF,
           MARCH 15, 1978

        REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, MARCH 15, 1978

                                     AN ACT

     1  To provide for the civil enforcement of certain rights and
     2     responsibilities of members of the family, including the
     3     rights of children born out of wedlock; to provide for the
     4     enforcement of support, including attachment of property and
     5     earnings; to set forth the duties of the court in matters
     6     pertaining to the family and the support of its members and
     7     to provide procedures therefor; to provide for the
     8     determining of support for the family; to determine paternity
     9     of children born out of wedlock; to provide for the recovery
    10     of public moneys expended for care and assistance from the
    11     property and estates of certain persons; repealing and saving
    12     from repeal certain acts.

    13                         TABLE OF CONTENTS
    14  Chapter 1.  General Provisions
    15     Section  101.  Short title.
    16     Section  102.  Purposes.
    17     Section  103.  Definitions.
    18  Chapter 2.  Rights and Responsibilities of Individuals
    19     Section  201.  Rights and duties.
    20  Chapter 3.  Power and Duties of the Court
    21     Section  301.  Civil proceedings.
    22     Section  302.  Contempt proceedings.
    23     Section  303.  Domestic relations division.

     1     Section  304.  Consolidation.
     2  Chapter 4.  Duties of the Director and the Domestic Relations
     3              Division
     4     Section  401.  Processing support actions.
     5     Section  402.  Assistance to the court, other duties.
     6  Chapter 5.  Duties of District Attorney or Domestic Relations
     7              Division Attorney
     8     Section  501.  Presentation of complaints.
     9     Section  502.  Representation of plaintiff.
    10     Section  503.  Assignments to domestic relations staff.
    11  Chapter 6.  Determination of Support
    12     Section  601.  General provisions.
    13     Section  602.  Marital status of parents.
    14     Section  603.  Effective date of order.
    15     Section  604.  Determination of support order.
    16     Section  605.  Defendant living with family.
    17     Section  606.  Order of support.
    18     Section  607.  Voluntary payments.
    19  Chapter 7.  Costs and Fees
    20     Section  701.  Costs and fees.
    21     Section  702.  Counsel fees, costs and expenses.
    22  Chapter 8.  Support Proceedings
    23     Section  801.  Who may file.
    24     Section  802.  Commencement of actions.
    25     Section  803.  Venue.
    26  Chapter 9.  Enforcement; Wage Attachment
    27     Section  901.  Authority of court.
    28     Section  902.  Compelling attendance.
    29     Section  903.  Attachment proceedings.
    30     Section  904.  Wage attachment.
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     1     Section  905.  Counsel fees.
     2  Chapter 10.  Transfer of Jurisdiction and Court Order
     3     Section 1001.  Jurisdiction
     4     Section 1002.  Notice to transfer.
     5     Section 1003.  Transfer of jurisdiction or order.
     6  Chapter 11.  Intercounty Proceedings
     7     Section 1101.  Intercounty proceedings.
     8  Chapter 12.  Confidentiality
     9     Section 1201.  Confidential information; powers of courts.
    10  Chapter 13.  Relevancy to Other Acts
    11     Section 1301.  Support of persons in institutions and foster
    12                    homes.
    13  Chapter 14.  Repealer
    14     Section 1401.  General repealer.
    15     Section 1402.  Saving clause.
    16     Section 1403.  General construction.
    17     Section 1404.  Effective date.
    18     The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
    19  hereby enacts as follows:
    20                             CHAPTER 1
    21                         GENERAL PROVISIONS
    22  Section 101.  Short title.
    23     This act shall be known and may be cited as "Family Support
    24  Law."
    25  Section 102.  Purposes.
    26     For the purpose of preserving family life, promoting family
    27  responsibility and the resolution of problems of disunity and
    28  nonsupport in an atmosphere of good will and cooperation, the
    29  courts, as soon as feasible, shall revise local procedure and
    30  practices in desertion, nonsupport, and paternity actions so as
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     1  to exclusively utilize the civil procedures, remedies, and
     2  services provided in this act and the act of December 6, 1972
     3  (P.L.1365, No.291), known as the "Revised Uniform Reciprocal
     4  Enforcement of Support Act."
     5  Section 103.  Definitions.
     6     The following words and phrases, when used in this act shall
     7  have, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the
     8  meanings given to them in this section:
     9     "Amount."  Periodic payments as ordered by the court or as
    10  agreed to by the parties other than a lump sum order.
    11     "Child."  Any child including child born out of wedlock, who
    12  is:
    13         (1)  an unemancipated person under 18 years of age;
    14         (2)  a student in a fulltime educational program who has
    15     not reached his 23rd birthday; or
    16         (3)  a person mentally incompetent or physically
    17     disabled.
    18     "Complaint."  Any petition, information, affidavit or any
    19  other legal document used in instituting support proceedings.
    20     "Court."  The family court divisions of the Courts of Common
    21  Pleas of Allegheny and Philadelphia Counties and the courts of
    22  common pleas of every other judicial district.
    23     "Court working day."  A day in which the court is in session
    24  or in which the office of the domestic relations division is
    25  open.
    26     "Department."  The Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare.
    27     "Director."  The officer appointed by the court as director
    28  of the domestic relations division.
    29     "Domestic relations division."  That division hereinafter
    30  described, of the court, coming under the jurisdiction of the
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     1  courts and carrying certain responsibilities in connection with
     2  the enforcement of support and the solution of family problems.
     3     "Duty of support."  Any duty of support imposed or imposable
     4  by law or by any court order, decree or judgment, whether
     5  interlocutory or final, whether incidental to a proceeding for
     6  divorce, separation, separate maintenance and any proceeding for
     7  the establishment of paternity and support of a child born out
     8  of wedlock, or otherwise.
     9     "Emancipation."
    10         (1)  marriage of a child;
    11         (2)  self-supporting (the ability to perform employment
    12     at a supporting wage);
    13         (3)  release from parental control,
    14             (i)  the child's having a permanent residence away
    15         from the permanent residence of the party seeking
    16         support; (a residence at boarding school, camp, college
    17         or professional school is not to be deemed a residence
    18         away from the permanent residence of the party seeking
    19         support, unless the child's permanent residence when not
    20         attending boarding school, camp, college or professional
    21         school is not with the party seeking support);
    22             (ii)  release from legal subjection to parents and
    23         results from some juristic act or other conduct of the
    24         parent from which the extinguishment of parental rights
    25         and filial duties may be inferred;
    26         (4)  entry into the armed forces of the United States.
    27     "Family."  Spouses, children and parents.
    28     "Law."  Includes common law, statutory law, and case law.
    29     "Parent."  The father or mother of any child regardless of
    30  marital status.
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     1     "Spouse."  Either husband or wife.
     2     "Support."  Financial assistance.
     3                             CHAPTER 2
     4             RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF INDIVIDUALS
     5  Section 201.  Rights and duties.
     6         (1)  Each child shall be entitled to support from his
     7     parents as provided in Chapter 6 (relating to the
     8     determination of support).
     9         (2)  Each spouse shall be entitled to the support of the
    10     other spouse as provided in Chapter 6.
    11         (3)  The right to support shall obtain notwithstanding
    12     that the respondent lives in the same household with the
    13     person for whom support is sought as provided in Chapter 6.
    14                             CHAPTER 3
    15                   POWER AND DUTIES OF THE COURT
    16  Section 301.  Civil proceedings.
    17     The court shall have the power to hear and determine through
    18  civil action all matters embraced by the provisions of this act,
    19  and its decrees and orders shall be subject to appeal as
    20  provided by law. Cases may be instituted upon complaint of a
    21  person seeking support or by any private agency, public body,
    22  public agency, or person contributing to or paying the expenses
    23  for the care, maintenance, assistance, or aid of any person
    24  against any defendant having the duty of support of such person.
    25  Section 302.  Contempt proceedings.
    26     The court shall have the power to enforce its decrees by
    27  contempt proceedings as provided for in Chapter 9 (relating to
    28  enforcement; wage attachment).
    29  Section 303.  Domestic relations division.
    30     (a)  In every judicial district of the Commonwealth, there
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     1  shall be established and maintained a domestic relations
     2  division or branch of the family court division of the court of
     3  common pleas, staffed and supervised by the court.
     4     (b)  The court shall appoint a director of the domestic
     5  relations division or branch of the family court division of the
     6  court of common pleas who shall be, in the opinion of the court,
     7  a competent and qualified person and have the power to appoint
     8  other supporting staff as it may deem necessary to effectively
     9  perform the work of the domestic relations division. The court
    10  shall have the power to suspend and remove all employees of the
    11  domestic relations division for cause and to require of any
    12  employee security for faithful performance.
    13     (c)  The compensation or salaries of such appointees shall be
    14  fixed by the judges of the court and their salaries together
    15  with necessary expenses incurred while in actual performance of
    16  duty shall be paid by the county. Such salaries shall be
    17  commensurate with their duties and shall be comparable with
    18  salaries paid employees in the State classified services having
    19  similar duties and responsibilities as set out in the current
    20  State classification and compensation plans.
    21     (d)  The domestic relations division may make full use of
    22  services from other agencies concerned with matters coming
    23  within the purview of the court under this act.
    24  Section 304.  Consolidation.
    25     The court shall have the right to consolidate with any
    26  support action any action filed for visitation, partial custody
    27  or custody.
    28                             CHAPTER 4
    29     DUTIES OF THE DIRECTOR AND THE DOMESTIC RELATIONS DIVISION
    30  Section 401.  Processing support actions.
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     1     It shall be the duty of the director, along with such
     2  assistants as may be necessary, to receive and process, in
     3  accordance with law and the rules of court, all complaints
     4  provided for under this act and under the  provisions of the act
     5  of December 6, 1972 (P.L.1365, No.291), known as the "Revised
     6  Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act."
     7  Section 402.  Assistance to the court, other duties.
     8     (a)  It shall be the duty of the director to make such
     9  investigation as may be necessary, and to furnish the court such
    10  information and assistance as the court may require, and to take
    11  charge of any defendant before or after any hearing, as may be
    12  directed by the court, and to collect and pay over to the proper
    13  persons, bodies, or agencies money received, and, in general, to
    14  do and perform such services as the court may direct.
    15     (b)  The director shall use all means available to locate
    16  respondents having the duty of support.
    17     (c)  As directed by the court, the director or his
    18  assistants, shall have full power and authority to detain any
    19  defendant or other person who fails to comply with an order of
    20  court or summons issued in any pending civil action for support
    21  pursuant to the provisions of this act directing such person to
    22  appear for any hearing or who is in substantial violation of the
    23  terms of an order of support. Such detention shall be made only
    24  upon a writ of attachment or written order of the court.
    25     (d)  The director shall keep an account of all orders made by
    26  the court and a record of all payments made thereunder and shall
    27  bring periodically to the attention of the court any default in
    28  compliance with the court's order. The director shall maintain
    29  administrative statistics of the number of orders entered and
    30  amounts paid on such orders, and shall make an annual report to
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     1  the court of the full activities of the domestic relations
     2  division.
     3     (e)  All case records shall be identified by the social
     4  security numbers of plaintiffs, recipients and defendants.
     5                             CHAPTER 5
     6                   DUTIES OF DISTRICT ATTORNEY OR
     7                DOMESTIC RELATIONS DIVISION ATTORNEY
     8  Section 501.  Presentation of complaints.
     9     The district attorney shall at all times furnish legal advice
    10  to the domestic relations director and aid in the enforcement of
    11  the duty of support and shall cooperate with the domestic
    12  relations division in the preparation and presentation of
    13  support complaints and ancillary petitions and writs and in any
    14  proceeding designed to obtain compliance with any order of court
    15  pursuant to this act or the "Revised Uniform Reciprocal
    16  Enforcement of Support Act."
    17  Section 502.  Representation of plaintiff.
    18     The district attorney, upon the request of the court, the
    19  director of the domestic relations division or a State or local
    20  public welfare official, shall represent any plaintiff and any
    21  minor child involved in any proceeding under this act.
    22  Section 503.  Assignments to domestic relations staff.
    23     The district attorney shall assign to the staff of the
    24  domestic relations division such assistant district attorneys as
    25  the court deems necessary and requests to carry out the support
    26  enforcement responsibilities assigned to him in this chapter and
    27  to aid in the effective operation of the domestic relations
    28  division.
    29                             CHAPTER 6
    30                      DETERMINATION OF SUPPORT
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     1  Section 601.  General provisions.
     2     If the court finds a duty of support to exist, it shall
     3  determine the amount thereof and order the defendant to furnish
     4  support in accordance with the provisions of this act, and it
     5  shall have the power and responsibility for the enforcement of
     6  such order.
     7  Section 602.  Marital status of parents.
     8     In entering an order for the support of a child, no
     9  distinction shall be made because of the marital status of the
    10  parents.
    11  Section 603.  Effective date of order.
    12     The effective date of an order of support may be the date of
    13  the filing of the petition for support or such date thereafter
    14  as shall be deemed consistent with the needs of the person
    15  requiring support as well as the financial ability of the person
    16  furnishing support.
    17  Section 604.  Determination of support order.
    18     (a)  In determining the amount of a support order, the court
    19  shall consider the standard of living of the family, the current
    20  income, earning power, needs and net resources, and earning
    21  capacity of the family members, basing the order on all of these
    22  factors.
    23     (b)  In determining the amount of a support order, no
    24  percentage limitation shall apply.
    25     (c)  A spouse seeking support shall not be entitled to such
    26  support if such spouse has acted in such manner as to give the
    27  other spouse grounds for divorce provided such other spouse
    28  must, in addition to having grounds for divorce, be the innocent
    29  and injured spouse.
    30  Section 605.  Defendant living with family.
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     1     A complaint for support filed against a defendant, who is
     2  living with the member of his family for whom support is sought,
     3  shall have the same force and effect as a complaint filed
     4  against a defendant separated from his family.
     5  Section 606.  Order of support.
     6     An order for the support of any person shall be made payable
     7  to such person as the court may direct or to the domestic
     8  relations division for transmittal to the plaintiff or person
     9  designated by the court or directly to a public body or private
    10  agency whenever the care, maintenance and assistance of such
    11  person is provided for by such public body or public or private
    12  agency.
    13  Section 607.  Voluntary payments.
    14     The court may, in its discretion, after hearing, dismiss a
    15  complaint if the defendant is voluntarily paying and is willing
    16  to continue to pay an amount greater than the court determines
    17  it would award.
    18                             CHAPTER 7
    19                           COSTS AND FEES
    20  Section 701.  Costs and fees.
    21     No fees or costs for filing any complaint shall be required
    22  to be paid in advance. When it appears to the court that either
    23  of the parties in an action is financially able to pay costs and
    24  fees, the court, in its discretion, can impose such costs and
    25  fees.
    26  Section 702.  Counsel fees, costs and expenses.
    27     The court, in its discretion, may award reasonable counsel
    28  fees, costs and expenses. This section shall not apply when a
    29  public agency is a party to the action.
    30                             CHAPTER 8
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     1                        SUPPORT PROCEEDINGS
     2  Section 801.  Who may file.
     3     A complaint may be filed by any person, including a minor
     4  spouse, to whom a duty of support is owing. It shall be filed on
     5  behalf of a minor child by a person having the physical care or
     6  custody of the minor without appointment as guardian ad litem.
     7  It may be filed by any public body or public private agency
     8  having any interest in the care, maintenance or assistance of
     9  any person to whom a duty of support is owing.
    10  Section 802.  Commencement of actions.
    11     (a)  A support action under this act shall be commenced by
    12  the filing in the domestic relations division of a verified
    13  complaint which shall state substantially the following:
    14         (1)  The name and address of plaintiff and social
    15     security account number.
    16         (2)  The name and last known address of defendant and
    17     social security account number.
    18         (3)  The date and place of marriage, if married, or if
    19     not married, the date and place of birth of each child born
    20     out-of-wedlock.
    21         (4)  The names, dates of birth and residence of any
    22     children.
    23         (5)  Date and circumstances of separation or failure to
    24     support.
    25         (6)  Usual occupation, employment and earnings of
    26     plaintiff and defendant.
    27         (7)  Amount of public aid, if any.
    28         (8)  The complaint may contain any information available
    29     to aid in the location or identification of a defendant
    30     including, but without limitation, by enumeration, a
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     1     photograph of the defendant, a description of any
     2     distinguishing marks on his person, other names and aliases
     3     by which he has been or is known, his financial status,
     4     fingerprints, etc.
     5         (9)  Any order of support in any other proceedings and
     6     amount of arrearages, if any.
     7     (b)  Every complaint for support shall contain an order
     8  directing the defendant to appear for hearing at a time and
     9  place specified in the order.
    10     (c)  Every complaint for support and order to appear may be
    11  served on the defendant in any one of the following manners:
    12         (1)  In accordance with the Rules of Civil Procedure
    13     relating to an action in equity; or
    14         (2)  by sending two copies of the complaint, one by
    15     registered mail, deliver to addressee only, return receipt
    16     requested, and one by ordinary mail to the defendant at
    17     his/her last known address, with residence or business.
    18         (3)  If service is not accomplished by registered mail as
    19     provided in paragraph (2), and there is no personal
    20     appearance by the defendant, then service must be
    21     accomplished as in paragraph (1) or as may be authorized by
    22     court.
    23         (4)  No responsive pleadings are required.
    24         (5)  Notices to defend or plead are not required.
    25  Section 803.  Venue.
    26     An action against an individual may be brought in and only
    27  in:
    28         (1)  the county in which the obligor resides;
    29         (2)  the county in which the obligor is regularly
    30     employed; or
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     1         (3)  the county where the last marital domicile was
     2     located and the obligee currently resides.
     3                             CHAPTER 9
     4                   ENFORCEMENT - WAGE ATTACHMENT
     5  Section 901.  Authority of court.
     6     (a)  The court, upon receiving information, either through
     7  written application, or at any hearing, that there is failure to
     8  comply with any order of the court, may issue attachment
     9  proceedings, directed to the sheriff or other proper officer of
    10  the county, directing that the person named be brought before
    11  the court at such time as the court may direct.
    12     (b)  Any person who is found, after hearing, to have
    13  willfully failed to comply with any order of the court may be
    14  adjudged in contempt of court and may be punished by the court
    15  by commitment to the county prison or house of correction until
    16  compliance with said order, but in no case for a period
    17  exceeding six months, and the court in its order shall state the
    18  condition upon which fulfillment will result in the release of
    19  such person.
    20  Section 902.  Compelling attendance.
    21     At all stages of proceedings provided under this act, the
    22  court may compel the attendance, by attachment process directed
    23  to the sheriff or other proper officer of the county, directing
    24  and commanding that the person named as having failed to appear
    25  be brought before the court at such time as the court may
    26  direct, at which time the court may adjudge such person in
    27  contempt of court, and, in its discretion, may commit such
    28  person to the county prison for a period not exceeding six
    29  months.
    30  Section 903.  Attachment proceedings.
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     1     If, at any state of the proceedings under this act, when it
     2  is believed that the respondent is about to leave the
     3  jurisdiction, at the discretion of the court, an attachment may
     4  be issued by the court directed to the sheriff or other proper
     5  officer of the county, directing and commanding that the person
     6  named be brought before the court at such time as the court may
     7  direct, at which time the court may direct that the person named
     8  give security by one or more sureties to appear when directed by
     9  the court or to comply with any order of the court.
    10  Section 904.  Wage attachment.
    11     On the motion of the plaintiff or on the motion of the court,
    12  the court may issue an order attaching the wages, salary or
    13  commissions of the defendant, to the defendant's employer, at
    14  any stage of the proceeding after the entry of an order, in the
    15  following manner:
    16         (1)  A certified copy of the order of support shall be
    17     served on the employer, whether a corporation, the United
    18     States, the Commonwealth, or any political subdivision,
    19     association, company, firm or individual, and shall be served
    20     by certified mail or by any adult person or in any other
    21     manner provided by law.
    22         (2)  Such certified copy of the order shall contain an
    23     order directing the employer to make a full answer, within
    24     ten days after service of the order, of the amount of wages,
    25     salary, or commissions of the defendant, and further
    26     directing the employer to make no payment to the defendant
    27     over 50% of the amount due him until further order of court.
    28         (3)  The court shall determine the amount of wages,
    29     salary or commission which shall be regularly paid by the
    30     employer to the domestic relations division and shall so
    19780H2163B2764                 - 15 -

     1     notify the employer.
     2         (4)  Thereafter, it shall be the duty of the employer to
     3     pay such amount regularly to the domestic relations division
     4     and upon failure so to pay shall be in contempt and subject
     5     to the court's order as now provided in proceedings against
     6     the defendant in this chapter. The employer is authorized to
     7     deduct 2% of the amount paid under the order from the wages
     8     of the defendant for clerical work and expenses involved in
     9     complying therewith.
    10         (5)  Such attachment shall continue until discharged by
    11     order of the court.
    12         (6)  An employer shall not use such attachment of wages,
    13     salary or commissions as a basis, in whole or in part, for
    14     the discharge of an employee or for any disciplinary action
    15     against any employee.
    16         (7)  Compliance by an employer with an order of
    17     attachment of wages, salary or commissions operates as a
    18     discharge of the employer's liability to the employee as to
    19     that portion of the employee's earnings so affected.
    20  Section 905.  Counsel fees.
    21     In attachment or contempt proceedings, the court may, in its
    22  discretion, award reasonable counsel fees if it is determined
    23  that there has been a flagrant and willful failure to comply
    24  with an order of support.
    25                             CHAPTER 10
    26              TRANSFER OF JURISDICTION AND COURT ORDER
    27  Section 1001.  Jurisdiction.
    28     The court making the order shall at all times maintain
    29  jurisdiction of the case for the purpose of enforcement of the
    30  order and for the purpose of increasing, decreasing, modifying
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     1  or rescinding such order, without limiting the right of a
     2  plaintiff to institute additional proceedings for support in any
     3  county wherein the defendant resides or where his property is
     4  situated.
     5  Section 1002.  Notice to transfer.
     6     On motion of any party, if any party has subsequently
     7  established residence in a county other than the county where
     8  the order has been originally entered and no party objects
     9  within 20 days after notice of the requested transfer, the order
    10  may be transferred to any county of new residence of any of the
    11  parties for the purposes as set forth in section 1001 (relating
    12  to jurisdiction).
    13  Section 1003.  Transfer of jurisdiction or order.
    14     (a)  If a support order has been ordered transferred to
    15  another county, in accordance with section 1002 (relating to
    16  notice to transfer), such order shall be entered in the new
    17  county upon the forwarding of three certified copies of the
    18  order of support and arrearages which have accrued thereunder,
    19  along with verified information as to defendant's address. The
    20  court to which such support order is so certified shall accept
    21  such order and register same.
    22     (b)  Within ten days after receipt of such certification, the
    23  court shall notify defendant by registered mail or any other
    24  means of service as provided by law of the registration of said
    25  court order.
    26     (c)  Said registered court order from another county shall be
    27  treated in the same manner as a support order issued in the
    28  county to which the order was transferred. It shall have the
    29  same effect and is subject to the same procedures, defenses and
    30  proceedings for revision, vacating or staying and may be
    19780H2163B2764                 - 17 -

     1  enforced in like manner.
     2                             CHAPTER 11
     3                      INTERCOUNTY PROCEEDINGS
     4  Section 1101.  Intercounty proceedings.
     5     If the plaintiff proceeds under this act and venue lies in
     6  accordance with the provisions of section 803 (relating to
     7  venue), the provisions of the "Revised Uniform Reciprocal
     8  Enforcement of Support Act" shall not apply to such proceedings.
     9                             CHAPTER 12
    10                          CONFIDENTIALITY
    11  Section 1201.  Confidential information; powers of courts.
    12     In order to promote trust and confidence and to provide a
    13  maximum of service in the most economical manner, all
    14  information obtained by or for a court or by or for enforcement
    15  officials in connection with this act shall be held confidential
    16  and shall be used only for the purpose of this act. Any question
    17  as to confidentiality shall be resolved by the court.
    18                             CHAPTER 13
    19                      RELEVANCY TO OTHER ACTS
    20  Section 1301.  Support of persons in institutions and foster
    21                 homes.
    22     Support of persons living in public or private institutions
    23  or receiving foster home care, who are entitled to support under
    24  this act, shall be determined by the court under the provisions
    25  of the acts pertaining to such care and institutionalization.
    26                             CHAPTER 14
    27                              REPEALER
    28  Section 1401.  General repealer.
    29     All acts and parts of acts are repealed insofar as they are
    30  inconsistent herewith.
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     1  Section 1402.  Saving clause.
     2     This act shall not repeal or modify any of the provisions of
     3  the following acts:
     4     The act of May 24, 1923 (P.L.446, No.238), entitled "An act
     5  authorizing the sale of real estate held by entireties by
     6  husband and wife when an order of support has been secured
     7  against the husband who has neglected to comply with the same,
     8  or whose whereabouts is unknown, or who has absented himself
     9  from this Commonwealth; prescribing the procedure to be
    10  followed; permitting husband and wife to testify; providing for
    11  the disposition of the proceeds of such sale; and granting a
    12  divorced woman the same rights under this act as a wife."
    13     The act of June 24, 1937 (P.L.2045, No.397), known as "The
    14  Support Law."
    15     The act of December 6, 1972 (P.L.1365, No.291), known as the
    16  "Revised Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act."
    17  Section 1403.  General construction.
    18     The provisions of this act, so far as they are the same as
    19  those of existing laws, are intended as a continuation of such
    20  laws and not as new enactments. The provisions of this act shall
    21  not affect any court order or decree entered, act done,
    22  liability incurred, or right accrued or vested, or affect any
    23  suit pending, or to be instituted, to enforce any right or
    24  penalty or punish any offense under the authority of such
    25  repealed laws.
    26  Section 1404.  Effective date.
    27     This act shall take effect immediately.


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