§ 50-39. Qualifications of child support hearing officer. - North Carolina Statutes

§50‑39.  Qualifications of child support hearing officer.

(a)        Qualifications. – Aclerk or assistant clerk of superior court or a magistrate, to be designatedand serve as a child support hearing officer, shall satisfy each of thefollowing qualifications:

(1)        Be at least 21 yearsof age and not older than 70 years of age, and have a high school degree or itsequivalent.

(2)        Be qualified bytraining and temperament to be effective in relating to parties in childsupport cases and in conducting hearings fairly and efficiently.

(3)        Be certified by theAdministrative Office of the Courts as having completed the training requiredby subsection (b).

(4)        Establish that hehas one of the following qualifications;

a.         Election orappointment as the clerk of superior court; or

b.         Three yearsexperience as an assistant clerk of superior court working in child support orrelated matters; or

c.         Six years experienceas an assistant clerk of superior court; or

d.         Four yearsexperience as a magistrate whose duties have included, in substantial part, thedisposition of civil matters; or

e.         Pursuant to G.S. 7A‑171.1,five to seven years eligibility for pay as a magistrate; or

f.          Three yearsexperience working in the field of child support enforcement or a relatedfield.

(b)        Training Required.– Before a clerk or assistant clerk or a magistrate may conduct hearings as achild support hearing officer he must satisfactorily complete a course ofinstruction in the conduct of such hearings established by the AdministrativeOffice of the Courts. The Administrative Office of the Courts shall establish acourse in the conduct of such hearings. The Administrative Office of the Courtsmay contract with qualified educational organizations to conduct the course ofinstruction and must reimburse the clerks or magistrates attending for traveland subsistence incurred in taking such training. (1985 (Reg. Sess., 1986), c.993, s. 1.)