AUGUSTA – Earlier this year, a Maine businessman found out the hard way that the government is serious about collecting child support payments. He had to pay more than $37,000 in overdue child support payments before he could get a passport.

“It’s another tool we have to go after unpaid child support,” said Stephen Hussey, director of state support enforcement efforts. “We have collected over $200,000 using the passport provisions so far this year.”

Last year, as part of the federal Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, the threshold for denying a passport was lowered to $2,500 in past-due child support and the computer matching systems between the states and federal government were improved. In all of 2006, the state says it recovered nearly $97,000 as a result of the passport provision. That jumped to more than $215,000 through last month.

“We think there will be another increase come next July, when federal law will require a passport to cross into Canada,” said Barbara Van Burgel, director of the state Office of Integrated Access and Support. “There are a lot of people that cross the border every day.”

Hussey agreed but was not sure how much more would be recovered. He said it is hard to estimate how many of those who owe back child support will also need to have a passport. But he is convinced there will be a significant number blocked from getting or renewing their passports next year.

“They come from every different [stratum] and group,” he said. “There are people who are seeking to travel on vacation trips, there are some that are seeking employment opportunities overseas, there are people that are traveling to meet family members or going to a wedding. I don’t think it’s any one group that will be affected. It’s anyone that travels.”

Hussey said there is a lot of regular cross-border traffic, with many families having members on both sides of the U.S.-Canada border. He says the passport requirement will “catch” those who are trying to avoid their child support obligations.

Many people are already complaining about the new law and its impact, said state Rep. Jeremy Fischer, D-Presque Isle, the House chairman of the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee. He said while some have complained about getting caught in the passport rule child support net, the biggest concern is the cost of a passport. It costs $97 for anyone 16 or older to obtain a passport.

“But I don’t think anyone would defend someone that is not paying their child support,” he said.

Hussey said even after his long career dealing with the child support issue, he is still surprised at the lengths some parents go to avoid paying child support. He said the passport rule is another tool, among many, to make sure children get the support they deserve.

“We received a lump sum payment of over $30,000 from someone that wanted to go moose hunting,” he said. “It is really interesting what is important to some people.”

Hussey said failure to pay child support can block a person from getting a business or professional license, as well as a hunting license. He said another effective tool is the law that allows both state and federal income tax refunds to be seized to meet child support obligations.

In 2006, the child support enforcement unit facilitated the collection of more than $111 million from parents in Maine who owed child support.

Fischer said the state budget would be in “bad shape” if state dollars had to be used to provide support for children that should be provided by their parents.

“We as a state have used a lot of different ways – and innovative ways – to make people pay,” he said. “It would cause a hole in TANF [Temporary Assistance to Needy Families] and other programs if we didn’t have those collections going on.”

Fischer said there are enough budget headaches facing his committee, and he would like to see all child support payments collected on time.