Champion v. Secretary of State

761 N.W.2d 747, 281 Mich. App. 307
CourtMichigan Court of Appeals
DecidedOctober 16, 2008
DocketDocket 277337
StatusPublished
Cited by14 cases

This text of 761 N.W.2d 747 (Champion v. Secretary of State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Champion v. Secretary of State, 761 N.W.2d 747, 281 Mich. App. 307 (Mich. Ct. App. 2008).

Opinion

*309 Murphy, J.

Plaintiff appeals as of right the trial court’s order granting summary disposition in favor of defendant in this action arising out of plaintiffs repeated unsuccessful attempts to renew his driver’s license without reporting his social security number on the renewal application. Plaintiff, citing his right to freely exercise his religious beliefs, 1 refused to furnish his social security number as demanded by defendant pursuant to the requirements of MCL 257.307(l)(a). On appeal, plaintiff raises numerous constitutional and statutory issues. We affirm.

This Court reviews de novo a trial court’s ruling on a motion for summary disposition. Kreiner v Fischer, 471 Mich 109, 129; 683 NW2d 611 (2004). Issues of statutory construction and questions of constitutional law are likewise reviewed de novo on appeal. Feyz v Mercy Mem Hosp, 475 Mich 663, 672; 719 NW2d 1 (2006); Wayne Co v Hathcock, 471 Mich 445, 455; 684 NW2d 765 (2004).

In his complaint, plaintiff alleged that defendant, by refusing to allow him to renew his license without submitting his social security number and by rejecting the religious grounds given for his stance, knowingly and willfully violated Const 1963, art 1, § 4 (freedom of worship and religious belief), violated Const 1963, art 1, § 2 (equal protection), 2 and violated MCL 257.307(13). In his *310 prayer for relief, plaintiff requested renewal of his license without fee, cost, or payment, retroactive renewal to the expiration date of his last license, the drafting of a standard form by defendant, in accordance with MCL 257.307(13), for use by individuals who, for religious reasons, do not want to divulge their social security numbers in the license application and renewal process, and money damages in the amount of $10 million. Plaintiff also sought a declaratory ruling that the state engaged in unconstitutional activity by entering into a contract with the federal government pursuant to which the state receives federal child support enforcement funds in exchange for compliance with federal law dictating the procurement of social security numbers on license applications in violation of religious freedoms. This last assertion was founded on principles arising from the Tenth Amendment and the Spending Clause, art I, § 8, of the United States Constitution. 3

MCL 257.307(l)(a) mandates that an application for an operator’s or chauffeur’s license contain the following:

The applicant’s full legal name, date of birth, residence address, height, sex, eye color, signature,... intent to make an anatomical gift, other information required or permitted on the license under this chapter, and, only to the extent required to comply with federal law, the applicant’s social security number.... [Emphasis added.]

To qualify for various federal welfare funds, states must certify that they will operate a child support *311 enforcement program that conforms to Title IV-D of the Social Security Act, as amended by the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, PL 104-193, which we shall refer to as the Child Support and Establishment of Paternity Act (CSEPA), 42 USC 651 et seq., and that they will do so pursuant to an approved detailed plan. Blessing v Freestone, 520 US 329, 333; 117 S Ct 1353; 137 L Ed 2d 569 (1997). The states must collect overdue support payments, establish comprehensive systems to establish paternity, locate absent parents, and help families obtain support orders. Id. at 333-334. Pursuant to 42 USC 654(20), “[a] State plan for child and spousal support must... provide, to the extent required by [42 USC 666], that the State . .. shall have in effect all of the laws to improve child support enforcement effectiveness which are referred to in that section[.]” 42 USC 666(a) provides in relevant part:

In order to satisfy [42 USC 654(20)(A)], each State must have in effect laws requiring the use of the following procedures, consistent with this section and with regulations of the Secretary, to increase the effectiveness of the program which the State administers under this part:
(13) Recording of social security numbers in certain family matters. — Procedures requiring that the social security number of—
(A) any applicant for a professional license, driver’s license, occupational license, recreational license, or marriage license be recorded on the application^]
For purposes of subparagraph (A), if a State allows the use of a number other than the social security number to be *312 used on the face of the document while the social security number is kept on file at the agency, the State shall so advise any applicants. [Emphasis added.]

Because there is no dispute that Michigan operates a child support enforcement program that meets the requirements of the CSEPA and Michigan receives federal funding because of its participation, 42 USC 654(20) mandates that Michigan comply with 42 USC 666(a)(13)(A). 4 We also note that the final paragraph of 42 USC 666(a)(13) that refers to the use of a number other than a social security number does not create an exception to the recording requirement in § 666(a)(13)(A). See Lewis v Idaho Dep’t of Transportation, 143 Idaho 418, 423 n 4; 146 P3d 684 (Idaho App, 2006) (applicant’s social security number need not be recorded on the license itself, but it still must be reported or furnished by the applicant for purposes of having the information in the department file).

We first address plaintiffs arguments under former MCL 257.307(13). At the time of the license renewal efforts and the filing of the complaint, MCL 257.307(13) provided:

A requirement under this section to include a social security number on [a driver’s license] application does not apply to an applicant who demonstrates he or she is exempt under law from obtaining a social security number or to an applicant who for religious convictions is exempt under law from disclosure of his or her social security number under *313 these circumstances. The secretary of state shall inform the applicant of this possible exemption. [2004 PA 362 (emphasis added).]

Pursuant to 2008 PA 7, subsection 13 was amended, deleting the religious-conviction exemption, and it now simply provides that “[a] requirement under this section to include a social security number on an application does not apply to an applicant who demonstrates he or she is exempt under law from obtaining a social security number.”

Former MCL 257.307(13) required that the applicant be “exempt under law,” which necessarily directs attention to a law other than § 307(13). In

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
761 N.W.2d 747, 281 Mich. App. 307, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/champion-v-secretary-of-state-michctapp-2008.