I
111th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 610
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 16, 2009
Mr. Wexler (for himself, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Bishop of Georgia, Ms. Bordallo, Mr. Burton of Indiana, Mr. Crowley, Mr. Filner, Mr. Hastings of Florida, Mr. Lewis of Georgia, Mrs. Lowey, Mrs. Maloney, Mr. George Miller of California, Mr. Moore of Kansas, Mr. Nadler of New York, Mr. Payne, Mr. Sires, Ms. Watson, Mr. Weiner, and Ms. Woolsey) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
A BILL
To amend title 18, United States Code, to strengthen enforcement of spousal court-ordered property distributions, and for other purposes.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the
Jane’s
Law
.
Spousal obligations
In General
Chapter 11(A) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
Failure to pay legal spousal court-ordered property distribution
Offense
Whoever knowingly, travels in interstate or foreign commerce, with the intent to evade compliance with a court ordered property distribution as part of a separation or divorce settlement involving more than $5,000, with respect to a spouse or former spouse, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned for not more than two years or both.
Mandatory Restitution
Upon a conviction under this section, the court shall order restitution under section 3663A in an amount equal to the total unpaid property distribution.
Definition
The
term court ordered property distribution
means any amount
determined under a court order pursuant to the law of a State or of an Indian
tribe to be due from a spouse or former spouse as an equitable or other
distribution to a spouse or former spouse of assets in connection with a
separation or
divorce.
.
Conforming amendment to table of sections
The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 11(A) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new item:
228A. Failure to pay legal spousal obligations.
.