Section 5. Title 23 is amended by adding a section to read:
§ 4355. Denial or suspension of license to engage in
remunerative employment.
(a) General rule.--Where the domestic relations section has been unable to attach the income of an obligor pursuant to section 4348 (relating to attachment of income) and the obligor owes support in an amount equal to or greater than three months of the monthly support obligation, the court shall issue an order directing any licensing authority to:
(1) prohibit the issuance or renewal of a license of the
obligor; or
(2) require the suspension of the license of the
obligor.
(b) Notice to obligor.--
(1) Prior to the issuance of an order to suspend,
nonrenew or deny a license, the court shall send written
notice to the obligor. The notice shall specify:
(i) The amount of arrears owed.
(ii) How, when and where the notice can be
contested.
(iii) That the grounds for contesting the notice
shall be limited to mistakes of fact. Mistakes of fact
shall be limited to errors in the amount of arrears owed
or mistaken identity of the obligor.
(iv) That an order to the licensing authority to
automatically suspend, nonrenew or deny the license will
occur in all cases 30 days after issuance of the notice
unless the arrearage is paid or a periodic payment
schedule is approved by the court.
(2) If the obligor is a member of the bar and has an
attorney's license issued by the Supreme Court of
Pennsylvania, the court shall send written notice to the
disciplinary board of the Supreme Court so that appropriate
action may be taken.
(c) Order.--
(1) Thirty days after the issuance of the notice, if the
obligor has not paid the arrearage or entered into a court-
approved periodic payment schedule, the court shall cause an
order to be issued to the licensing authority to suspend or
deny the issuance or renewal of a license. Upon receipt, the
licensing authority shall immediately comply with the order.
(2) An order providing for a periodic payment schedule
shall also provide that failure to comply with the schedule
shall result in the immediate suspension, nonrenewal or
denial of the obligor's license.
(3) To contest the order, the obligor must appear before
the domestic relations section not later than ten days after
issuance of the order. The grounds for contesting shall be
limited to mistakes of fact. If, as determined by the
domestic relations section, a mistake of fact has occurred,
the action shall be modified accordingly within ten days.
(d) Reinstatement or issuance of license.--Where the court has issued an order pursuant to subsection (c) and the obligor has satisfied the arrearage, the court shall order the licensing authority to reinstate or issue the license to the obligor. Upon receipt of the order, the licensing authority shall reinstate or issue the license immediately, provided that the obligor meets any and all other requirements for issuance or reinstatement.
(e) Definitions.--As used in this section, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection:
"License." A license, certificate, permit or other authorization to engage in a profession, trade or business in this Commonwealth or a political subdivision or agency thereof.
"Licensing authority." Any entity of the Commonwealth, political subdivision or agency thereof which issues a license.