Maine Code § 22-17

Access to financial records of deposit accounts of individuals who owe overdue child support
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1. Definitions. For the purposes of this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the
following terms have the following meanings.
A. "Depositor" has the same meaning as used in Title 9-B, and includes "share account holders"
of credit unions. [PL 1995, c. 419, §28 (NEW).]
B. "Financial institution" means a trust company, savings bank, industrial bank, commercial bank,
savings and loan association or credit union organized under the laws of this State or otherwise
authorized to do business in this State. [PL 1995, c. 419, §28 (NEW).]
C. "Match" means an automated comparison by name and social security number of a list of
obligors provided to a financial institution by the department and a list of depositors of any financial
institution. [PL 1995, c. 419, §28 (NEW).]
D. "Obligor" means a person who owes overdue support. [PL 1995, c. 419, §28 (NEW).]
E. "Overdue support" means a debt of $500 or more for maintenance and support of a child or
children that has been owed for a least 60 days, if the obligor had prior notice of the debt and a
prior opportunity to contest the amount owed. "Overdue support" includes spousal support or
alimony being collected in conjunction with child support. [PL 1995, c. 419, §28 (NEW).]
[PL 1995, c. 419, §28 (NEW).]
2. Computer match. Upon written request from the commissioner to a financial institution in this
State with the technological capacity to perform a match, the financial institution shall perform a match
using the list of obligors' social security numbers provided by the department. The department is
responsible for making its computer data compatible with the data of the financial institution with which
a match is sought. The department's data, at a minimum, must include the full name and social security
number of and the amount of overdue support owed by each obligor. The department may not request
a financial institution to perform a match under this section more often than once every calendar quarter.
[PL 1997, c. 537, §53 (AMD); PL 1997, c. 537, §62 (AFF).]
3. Compilation of match list. After completing a match requested by the department under
subsection 2, a financial institution shall compile for the department a list of those depositors whose
social security numbers match the list of social security numbers of obligors provided by the
department. The list must contain the following information, if available to the financial institution
through its matching procedure, for each account identified:
A. The obligor's full name; [PL 1995, c. 419, §28 (NEW).]
B. The obligor's social security number; [PL 1995, c. 419, §28 (NEW).]
C. The financial institution account number; and [PL 1995, c. 419, §28 (NEW).]
D. The amount of deposits contained in the account, if available. [PL 1995, c. 419, §28 (NEW).]
[PL 1995, c. 419, §28 (NEW).]
4. Notice to department. A financial institution that has compiled a match list under subsection
3 shall send the list to the department at the address designated by the department.
[PL 1995, c. 419, §28 (NEW).]
5. Notice to customer. The financial institution may not provide notice in any form to a depositor
contained in a match list submitted to the department under subsection 4. Failure to provide notice to
a depositor does not constitute a violation of the financial institution's duty of good faith to its
customers.

[PL 1995, c. 419, §28 (NEW).]
6. Reasonable fee. To cover the costs of carrying out the requirements of this section, a financial
institution may assess a reasonable fee to the department not to exceed the actual costs incurred by the
financial institution.
[PL 1995, c. 419, §28 (NEW).]
7. Confidentiality. The list of obligors, with their social security numbers and the amount of the
overdue support provided by the department to a financial institution is confidential. The information
may be used only for the purpose of carrying out the requirements of this section. Knowing or
intentional use of the information, without authorization from the department, is a civil violation for
which a forfeiture not to exceed $1,000 may be adjudged.
[PL 1995, c. 419, §28 (NEW).]
8. Immunity from liability; hold harmless. A financial institution is immune from any liability
for its good faith actions to comply with this section. The department shall defend and hold harmless,
including compensation for attorney's fees, a financial institution that acts in good faith to carry out the
requirements of this section.
[PL 1995, c. 419, §28 (NEW).]
9. Rulemaking. The department shall adopt rules to carry out this section.
[PL 1995, c. 419, §28 (NEW).]
10. Repeal.
[PL 1997, c. 537, §54 (RP); PL 1997, c. 537, §62 (AFF).]

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