Section 3.443 - Child support referees(1)(a) The presiding judge of a judicial district may appoint one or more persons as child support referee.(b) A child support referee appointed under this section:(A) Must be qualified by training and experience in handling child support and parentage matters; and(B) Serves at the pleasure of the presiding judge.(c) The compensation of a child support referee appointed under this section shall be paid from moneys available for that purpose, including funds provided under Title IV-D of the Social Security Act.(2) The presiding judge may direct that any child support or parentage case that is eligible to receive funding under Title IV-D of the Social Security Act, including any matters for contempt of court brought under ORS chapter 33 or arrest or bench warrants issued in those contempt cases, be processed or heard in the first instance by a child support referee in the manner provided for the processing and hearing of such cases by the court. At the conclusion of a hearing or, if no hearing is held, as soon as practicable upon issuing an order, the child support referee shall transmit to the court a child support order, including any findings of the child support referee.(3) A child support referee's order becomes effective upon entry and is not appealable under ORS 19.205 or any other statute.(4)(a) Notwithstanding subsection (3) of this section, the circuit court shall hold a hearing de novo on any matter heard by the child support referee if no later than 10 days following the date of the child support referee's order:(A) A party requests a rehearing; or(B) The circuit court, on its own motion, orders the rehearing.(b) Notice of a rehearing under this subsection must be served on all parties of record in the matter.(c) The circuit court shall conduct the rehearing no later than 45 days following the date the rehearing is requested.(d) The circuit court conducting the rehearing may admit any evidence considered by the child support referee or any other evidence presented to the court.(5)(a) Except when a rehearing has been ordered under subsection (4) of this section, the clerk or the court administrator shall: (A) Enter the child support referee order in the register of the circuit court;(B) Note in the register whether the order creates a judgment lien under ORS 18.150; and(C) If the clerk or the court administrator notes in the register that the order creates a judgment lien, make the notations in the lien record required under ORS 18.075.(b) Upon entry in the register, the child support referee's order shall have all the force, effect and attributes of a judgment of the circuit court, including creation of a judgment lien under ORS chapter 18 and enforceability by contempt proceedings and pursuant to ORS 18.252 to 18.993.Added by 2022 Ch. 69, § 1