[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 15, Volume 1]
[Revised as of January 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 15CFR15.24]

[Page 169-170]
 
                  TITLE 15--COMMERCE AND FOREIGN TRADE
 
PART 15--LEGAL PROCEEDINGS--Table of Contents
 
  Subpart C--Involuntary Child and Spousal Support Allotments of NOAA 
                             Corps Officers
 
Sec. 15.24  Policy.

    (a) It is the policy of the Department of Commerce to require 
Commissioned Officers of the NOAA Corps on active duty to make 
involuntary allotments from pay and allowances as payment of child, or 
child and spousal, support payments when the officer has failed to make 
periodic payments under a support order in a total amount equal to the 
support payable for two months or longer. Failure to make such payments 
shall be established by notice from an authorized person to the 
designated official. Such notice shall specify the name and address of 
the person to whom the allotment is payable. The amount of the allotment 
shall be the amount necessary to comply with the support order. If 
requested, the allotment may include arrearages as well as amounts for 
current support, except that the amount of the allotment, together with 
any other amounts withheld for support from the officer as a percentage 
of pay, shall not exceed the limits prescribed in section 303 (b) and 
(c) of the Consumer Credit Protection Act (15 U.S.C. 1673). An allotment 
under this subpart shall be adjusted or discontinued upon notice from an 
authorized person.
    (b) Notwithstanding the above, no action shall be taken to require 
an allotment from the pay and allowances of any officer until such 
officer has had a consultation with an attorney from the Office of the 
Assistant General Counsel for Administration, in person, to discuss the 
legal and other factors involved with respect to the officer's support 
obligation and his/her failure to make payments. Where it has not been 
possible, despite continuing good faith efforts to arrange such a 
consultation, the allotment shall start the first pay period beginning 
after 30 days have

[[Page 170]]

elapsed since the notice required in paragraph (d)(1) of Sec. 15.25 is 
given to the affected officer.

[53 FR 15548, May 2, 1988. Redesignated and amended at 62 FR 19669, 
19670, Apr. 23, 1997]