MARVIN MANDEL, Governor

1311

Approved May 4, 1976.

CHAPTER 496
(House Bill 1366)

AN ACT concerning

Spousal and Child Support - Earnings Lien

FOR the purpose of providing [[for a lien]] that a court

may order a lien be placed on earnings of a party

defaulting in payment of court ordered child or
spousal support; specifying procedures for payments
under the lien; requiring notice of change of
address by the person for whom support has been
ordered; providing for termination of the lien;
prohibiting dismissal [[of]] or reprisals against an
employee because a lien has been ordered; defining
certain terms; and generally relating to earnings
liens for collection of spousal and child support.

BY adding to

Article 16 — Chancery

Section 5B

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1973 Replacement Volume and 1975 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That new Section 5B be and it is hereby added
to Article 16 — Chancery, of the Annotated Code of
Maryland (1973 Replacement Volume and 1975 Supplement) to
read as follows:

Article 16 - Chancery

(A)    (1) IN THIS SECTION THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE
THE MEANINGS INDICATED.

(2)    "EARNINGS" INCLUDES ANY FORM OF PERIODIC
PAYMENT TO AN INDIVIDUAL, INCLUDING ANNUITY, PENSION,
SOCIAL SECURITY, AND WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION PAYMENTS.

(3)    "EMPLOYER" MEANS ANY PERSON, INCLUDING
ANY PUBLIC ENTITY, MAKING PAYMENTS OF EARNINGS TO AN
INDIVIDUAL.

(B)    (1) IF A COURT HAS ORDERED A PERSON TO PAY
FOR THE SUPPORT OF A SPOUSE OR DEPENDENT CHILD AND THE
PERSON IS IN ARREARS, ON PETITION OF THE PERSON TO WHOM