S-0516.3/91       _______________________________________________

 

                                 SENATE BILL 5120

                  _______________________________________________

 

State of Washington              52nd Legislature             1991 Regular Session

 

By Senators Nelson, Rasmussen, Thorsness, Stratton, Saling, McCaslin, Hayner, Erwin, L. Smith, Newhouse, Amondson, Johnson, Bailey, Gaspard, Vognild, Matson, West, Owen, Bauer, Snyder, Roach and Oke.

 

Read first time January 21, 1991.  Referred to Committee on Law & Justice.Making adjustments to child support guidelines.


     AN ACT Relating to child support; amending RCW 26.19.010, 26.19.020, 26.19.060, 26.19.090, and 26.09.170; adding new sections to chapter 26.19 RCW; and repealing RCW 26.19.040.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

 

     Sec. 1.  RCW 26.19.010 and 1988 c 275 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

     Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter:

     (1) "Child support schedule" means the standards ((and economic table adopted by the commission)) as defined under subsection (2) of this section and the economic table provided in RCW 26.19.020;

     (2) "Standards" means the standards for determination of child support which have been adopted by the commission, as modified by the legislature;

     (3) "Economic table" means the child support table for the basic support obligation ((which has been adopted by the commission)) provided in RCW 26.19.020;

     (4) "Worksheets" means the forms ((adopted)) developed by the ((commission)) administrator for the courts for use in determining the amount of child support;

     (5) "Instructions" means the instructions ((adopted)) developed by the ((commission)) administrator for the courts for use in completing the worksheets;

     (6) "Commission" means the Washington state child support schedule commission established by RCW 26.19.030; ((and))

     (7) "Standard calculation" means the amount of child support which is owed as determined from the worksheets before any deviation is considered;

     (8) "Basic child support obligation" means the monthly obligation determined from the economic table based on the parties' combined monthly net income; and

     (9) "Transfer payment" means the court-ordered amount one parent is obligated to pay to the other parent for child support.

 

     Sec. 2.  RCW 26.19.020 and 1990 1st ex.s. c 2 s 19 are each amended to read as follows:

     ((If approved by a majority vote of the superior court judges of a county, the superior court may adopt by local court rule an economic table that shall be used by the superior court of that county, instead of the economic table adopted by the commission, to determine the appropriate amount of child support.  The economic table adopted by the superior court shall not vary by more than twenty-five percent from the economic table adopted by the commission and shall not vary the economic table for combined monthly net income of two thousand five hundred dollars or less.))

     The legislature adopts the following economic table:

                                  ECONOMIC TABLE

                    MONTHLY BASIC SUPPORT OBLIGATION PER CHILD

                         KEY:  A = AGE 0-11 B = AGE 12-18

 

COMBINED

MONTHLY                  ONE                           TWO

NET              CHILD                  CHILDREN

INCOME                 FAMILY                  FAMILY

--------------------------------------------------------------------              A         B                     A             B

--------------------------------------------------------------------

  0

 100

 200

 300               For income less than $600 the obligation

 400               is based upon the resources and living expenses

 500               of each household. Minimum support shall

                   not be less than $25 per child per month.

 

 600              133           164        103               127

 700              155           191        120               148

 800              177           218        137               170

 900              199           246        154               191  

1000              220           272        171               211

1100              242           299        188               232

1200              264           326        205               253

1300              285           352        221               274

1400              307           379        238               294

1500              327           404        254               313

1600              347           428        269               333

1700              367           453        285               352

1800              387           478        300               371

1900              407           503        316               390

2000              427           527        331               409

2100              447           552        347               429

2200              467           577        362               448

2300              487           601        378               467

2400              506           626        393               486

2500              526           650        408               505

2600              534           661        416               513

2700              542           670        421               520

2800              549           679        427               527

2900              556           686        431               533

3000              561           693        436               538

3100              566           699        439               543

3200              569           704        442               546

3300              573           708        445               549

3400              574           710        446               551

3500              575           711        447               552

3600              577           712        448               553

3700              578           713        449               554

3800              581           719        452               558

3900              596           736        463               572

4000              609           753        473               584

4100              623           770        484               599

4200              638           788        495               611

4300              651           805        506               625

4400              664           821        516               637

4500              677           836        525               649

4600              689           851        535               661

4700              701           856        545               673

4800              713           882        554               685

4900              726           897        564               697

5000              738           912        574               708

 

------------------------------------------------------------------

COMBINED

MONTHLY           THREE           FOUR                  FIVE

NET    CHILDREN          CHILDREN              CHILDREN

INCOME            FAMILY         FAMILY                FAMILY

‑-‑-‑-‑-‑-‑-‑-‑-‑-‑-----------------------------------------------

                A B            A      B             A          B

‑-----------------------------------------------------------------

  0

 100

 200

 300              For income less than $600 the obligation

 400              is based upon the resources and living expenses

 500              of each household.  Minimum support shall

                  not be less than $25 per child per month.

 

 600           86        106        73        901          63        791

 700          100        124        85        105          74        911

 800          115        142        97        120          84        104

 900          129        159       109        135          95        118

1000          143        177       121        149         105        130

1100          157        194       133        164         116        143

1200          171        211       144        179         126        156

1300          185        228       156        193         136        168

1400          199        246       168        208         147        181

1500          212        262       179        221         156        193

1600          225        278       190        235         166        205

1700          238        294       201        248         175        217

1800          251        310       212        262         185        228

1900          264        326       223        275         194        240

2000          277        342       234        289         204        252

2100          289        358       245        303         213        264

2200          302        374       256        316         223        276

2300          315        390       267        330         233        288

2400          328        406       278        343         242        299

2500          341        421       288        356         251        311

2600          346        428       293        362         256        316

2700          351        435       298        368         259        321

2800          356        440       301        372         262        324

2900          360        445       305        376         266        328

3000          364        449       308        380         268        331

3100          367        453       310        383         270        334

3200          369        457       312        386         272        336

3300          371        459       314        388         273        339

3400          372        460       315        389         274        340

3500          373        461       316        390         275        341

3600          374        462       317        391         276        342

3700          375        463       318        392         277        343

3800          377        466       319        394         278        344

3900          386        477       326        404         284        352

4000          395        488       334        413         291        360

4100          404        500       341        422         298        368

4200          413        511       350        431         305        377

4300          422        522       357        441         311        385

4400          431        532       364        449         317        392

4500          438        542       371        458         323        400

4600          446        552       377        467         329        407

4700          455        562       384        475         335        414

4800          463        572       391        483         341        422

4900          470        581       398        491         347        429

5000          479        592       404        500         353        437

 

     When combined monthly income exceeds five thousand dollars per month, child support shall be determined by that amount from the table.  The judge, in his or her discretion, may order an additional amount to be paid in cases with unusual or extraordinary circumstances.

     The economic table shall remain in effect until revised by the legislature.

 

     Sec. 3.  RCW 26.19.060 and 1988 c 275 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:

     The child support schedule ((under RCW 26.19.040)) shall be published in the Washington State Register.  The ((commission)) administrator for the courts shall also request that the supreme court cause the child support schedule to be published in the official advance sheets of the supreme court of Washington.  The ((commission)) administrator for the courts shall also request that the Washington state bar association publish the child support schedule in the Washington state bar news.

 

     NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4.  A new section is added to chapter 26.19 RCW to read as follows:

     (1) A parent obligated to pay child support may file a motion for an accounting of how the support is being spent by the receiving parent.  The parent filing the motion must meet the following conditions prior to filing the motion:

     (a) The parent filing the motion must be obligated to pay at least fifty percent of the basic child support obligation for both parents;

     (b) If support is owed for one child, the parent must be obligated to pay at least three hundred dollars per month in child support; for two children, the parent must be obligated to pay at least five hundred twenty-five dollars per month in child support; for three or more children, the parent must be obligated to pay at least six hundred sixty dollars per month in child support; and

     (c) The parent must be current in all child support payments.

     (2)(a) The motion for an accounting must be accompanied by an affidavit setting forth facts demonstrating that the parent receiving support is not spending a substantial portion of the child support for the direct or indirect benefit of the child. The motion, affidavit, and notice of hearing shall be served on the parent receiving support.  The only issue at the preliminary hearing on the motion shall be whether there is reasonable cause to believe that the support is directly or indirectly benefiting the child.

     (b) If the court determines at the preliminary hearing that the motion and affidavit establish reasonable cause to believe that a substantial portion of the support is not directly or indirectly benefiting the child the court may:  (i) Set a show cause hearing on the motion and affidavit; or (ii) order the parents to mediate the issue with a court commissioner, family court commissioner, or other appropriate person.  The court's order shall be in writing and shall set forth the facts which establish reasonable cause.  The parent receiving support may be required to produce at the show cause hearing such documentation as the court determines is necessary to resolve the issue and which is reasonably available to the parent.  The parent receiving support shall not be required to provide documentation for expenditures for more than six months prior to the time of the filing of the motion.

     (c) If the court determines at the preliminary hearing that the motion and affidavit do not establish reasonable cause to believe that a substantial portion of the support is directly or indirectly benefiting the child, the court shall order the parent filing the motion and affidavit to pay costs and statutory attorneys' fees to the parent receiving the support.

     The court may award reasonable attorneys' fees to the parent receiving support if the court determines that:

     (i) The motion was brought in bad faith, for harassment, or frivolously; or

     (ii) The motion was based on material statements of fact which were false.

     (3) If at the show cause hearing on the motion and affidavit the parent obligated to pay support demonstrates by a preponderance of the evidence that a substantial portion of the support is not directly or indirectly benefiting the child, the court shall enter an appropriate order directing the parent receiving the support to spend the child support to benefit the child.  The court may order the child support payments to be paid to a protective payee for the benefit of the child.  The only issue at the hearing on the motion shall be whether the parent receiving support is spending support to directly or indirectly benefit the child.

     (4) A motion and affidavit for an accounting of child support expenditures may not be filed more than once every twelve months.

 

     NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5.  A new section is added to chapter 26.19 RCW to read as follows:

     (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, monthly gross income for child support purposes shall include income from any source, including:  Salaries, wages, commissions, deferred compensation, bonuses, mandatory overtime,  dividends, interest, trust income, severance pay, annuities, capital gains, pension retirement benefits, social security retirement benefits, workers' compensation, unemployment benefits, and spousal maintenance that is actually received.

     (2) Monthly gross income for the preceding year for child support purposes shall include income from voluntary overtime pay above one hundred sixty-eight hours per month, income from employment in excess of forty hours per week to the extent derived from a second job, nonrecurring bonuses, contract-related cash benefits, gifts, and prizes, except to the extent that income from those sources exceeds the average income from those sources for the second and third years preceding the commencement of the action under chapter 26.09, 26.10, or 26.26 RCW.

     (3) The court shall deduct the following from gross income:  Federal and state income taxes, federal insurance contributions act deductions, mandatory pension plan payments, mandatory union or professional dues, court-ordered spousal maintenance to the extent actually paid, up to two thousand dollars per year in voluntary pension payments actually made if the contributions were made for the three consecutive years prior to the filing of the dissolution, and court-ordered payments of child support for children from other relationships to the extent actually paid.  All items excluded from income shall be disclosed in the worksheet.

     (4) The court may deduct normal business expenses and self-employment taxes for self-employed persons.  Justification shall be required for any business expense deduction about which there is disagreement.

     (5) The following resources shall be disclosed, shall not be included in gross income, and shall not be reason to deviate from the standard calculation:  Aid to families with dependent children, supplemental security income, general assistance, veterans aid and attendance allowance, and food stamps.

     (6) The following income shall be disclosed, shall not be included in gross income, but may be a reason to deviate from the standard calculation:

     (a) Income of a new spouse or income of other adults in the household;

     (b) Child support received from other relationships; and

     (c) Income excluded from subsection (2) of this section.

     (7) (a) Children from relationships other than the relationship of the parties before the court shall not be counted for determining the number of children in the family for purposes of calculating the basic support obligation.  The court may not consider, for purposes of deviation in calculating the amount of child support payable, any children for whom the court has allowed a deduction from gross income for court-ordered child support payments.

     (b) The court may consider deviating from the presumptive basic support obligation when there are children from other relationships and the court has not allowed a deduction from gross income for payments of child support for those children pursuant to subsection (3) of this section.  Deviations under this section from the presumptive basic support obligation due shall be based on consideration of the total circumstances of both households.

     (8) The court shall consider deviating from the standard calculation if the child spends a significant amount of time with the parent who is obligated to pay child support.  In determining what constitutes a significant amount of time, the court shall consider the amount of time spent with each parent, as well as the income and expenses of both parents, the amount of the child support obligation, and the financial impact to both parents of the time spent with the parent obligated to pay child support.  The court shall not use this subsection to restrict either parent's contact or visitation with the child or children.

     (9) Additional reasons that may support a deviation from the standard calculation include: Possession of wealth, shared living arrangements, extraordinary debts that have not been voluntarily incurred, extraordinarily high income of a child, a significant disparity of the living costs of the parents due to conditions beyond their control, and special needs of disabled children.  A deviation may be supported by tax planning considerations only if the child would not receive a lesser economic benefit as a result of the tax planning.

     (10) The court shall enter findings which specify reasons for any deviations from the standard calculation made by the court.

     (11) Agreement of the parties is not by itself adequate reason for deviation from the standard calculation.

     (12) Neither parent's total child support obligation shall exceed fifty percent of net income unless good cause is shown.  Good cause may include possession of substantial wealth, children with day care expenses, special medical, educational, psychological needs, and larger families.

     (13) The court shall impute income to a parent when the parent is voluntarily underemployed or voluntarily unemployed.  The court shall determine whether the parent is voluntarily underemployed or voluntarily unemployed based upon that parent's work history.  A parent shall not be deemed voluntarily underemployed as long as that parent is gainfully employed on a full-time basis.  Income shall not be imputed for an unemployable parent.

 

     Sec. 6.  RCW 26.19.090 and 1990 1st ex.s. c 2 s 9 are each amended to read as follows:

     The child support schedule shall be advisory and not mandatory for postsecondary educational support.  When considering whether to order support for postsecondary educational expenses, the court shall determine whether the child is in fact dependent and is relying upon the parents for the reasonable necessities of life.  The court shall exercise its discretion when determining whether and for how long to award postsecondary educational support based upon consideration of factors that include but are not limited to the following: Age of the child; the child's needs; the expectations of the parties for their children when the parents were together; the child's prospects, desires, aptitudes, abilities or disabilities; the nature of the postsecondary education sought; and the parents' level of education, standard of living, and current and future resources.  Also to be considered are the amount and type of support that the child would have been afforded if the parents had stayed together.  The child must be enrolled in an accredited academic or vocational school, actively pursuing a course of study commensurate with the child's vocational goals, and must be in good academic standing as defined by the institution ((or)). The court-ordered postsecondary educational support may be automatically suspended during the period or periods the child fails to comply with these conditions. ((The court in its discretion may order that the payment be made directly to the parent who has been receiving the transfer payments, to the educational institution if feasible, or to the child.))  The court shall not order the payment of postsecondary educational expenses beyond the child's twenty-third birthday, except for exceptional circumstances, such as mental, physical, or emotional disabilities.  The court shall direct that the payments for postsecondary educational expenses be made directly to the educational institution if feasible.  If direct payments are not feasible, then the court in its discretion may order that the payment be made directly to the parent who has been receiving the transfer payments or to the child.

 

     NEW SECTION.  Sec. 7.  A new section is added to chapter 26.19 RCW to read as follows:

     When combined monthly net income is less than six hundred dollars, a support order not less than twenty-five dollars per month shall be entered for each parent, regardless of the number of children.  A parent's child support obligation shall not reduce his or her net income below the need standard for one person promulgated pursuant to RCW 74.04.770, except for the mandatory minimum payment of twenty-five dollars per month as required by this section or in cases where the court finds reasons for deviation under section 5(8) of this act.  This section shall not be construed to require monthly substantiation of income.

 

     NEW SECTION.  Sec. 8.  A new section is added to chapter 26.19 RCW to read as follows:

     (1) Day care, extraordinary health care, long-distance transportation costs, and special child-rearing expenses such as tuition are not included in the basic support obligation for each child.  These expenses shall be shared by the parents in the same proportion as the basic child support obligation and may be listed as a specific dollar amount or as a percentage amount subject to the verification requirements pursuant to subsection (2) of this section.

     (2) (a) If a sum certain is established for day care and is set forth in the decree, the parent making the transfer payment is entitled to proof of the amount paid for day care.  The parent making the transfer payment is responsible for the appropriate percentage of the actual amount paid, not to exceed the proper share of the amount as set forth in the decree.  The transfer payment for day care must be made in advance if the day care amount is set forth in the decree or is a regularly paid amount in a sum certain.  If an amount is not specified in the decree or a regular sum certain, reimbursement of day care expenses shall be treated in the same manner as reimbursement for transportation costs, extraordinary health care, and other extraordinary expenses.

     (b) For transportation costs, extraordinary health care costs, and other extraordinary expenses of the children specified in the decree, the parent paying these expenses shall be entitled to prompt reimbursement of the other parent's share of those expenses.  Proof of the expenditure shall be furnished to the parent from whom reimbursement is sought.  Reimbursement must be made promptly but not later than thirty days of receipt of proof of payment of these expenditures.

     (3) (a) If reimbursement is not made within the thirty-day period or is incomplete due to a nonsufficient fund check or other failure to pay, the parent seeking reimbursement may by motion obtain an order compelling payment with statutory interest.  If a parent requests proof of payment and it is not provided within thirty days the party may move to compel production of the documents.  The court shall award actual court costs and reasonable attorneys' fees to the prevailing party in every motion filed under this section except upon a showing of good cause for nonpayment.

     (b) Wage assignment orders may be obtained pursuant to chapter 26.18 RCW to collect court-ordered basic child support, day care, extraordinary health care, long-distance transportation costs, or other extraordinary expenses, attorneys' fees, court costs, or any other item ordered by the court.  A parent to whom basic child support, day care, extraordinary health care, long-distance transportation costs, or other extraordinary expenses are to be paid based on a percentage share of the costs, may by motion obtain a court order reducing the amounts owed to a sum certain and then enforce collection of that amount by a wage assignment order.

 

     Sec. 9.  RCW 26.09.170 and 1990 1st ex.s. c 2 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

     (1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (7) of RCW 26.09.070, the provisions of any decree respecting maintenance or support may be modified only as to installments accruing subsequent to the motion for modification and, except as otherwise provided in subsections (4), (5), and (8) of this section, only upon a showing of a substantial change of circumstances.  The provisions as to property disposition may not be revoked or modified, unless the court finds the existence of conditions that justify the reopening of a judgment under the laws of this state.

     (2) Unless otherwise agreed in writing or expressly provided in the decree the obligation to pay future maintenance is terminated upon the death of either party or the remarriage of the party receiving maintenance.

     (3) Unless otherwise agreed in writing or expressly provided in the decree, provisions for the support of a child are terminated by emancipation of the child or by the death of the parent obligated to support the child.

     (4) An order of child support may be modified one year or more after it has been entered without showing a substantial change of circumstances:

     (a) If the order in practice works a severe economic hardship on either party or the child;

     (b) If a party requests an adjustment in an order for child support which was based on guidelines which determined the amount of support according to the child's age, and the child is no longer in the age category on which the current support amount was based;

     (c) If a child is still in high school, upon a finding that there is a need to extend support beyond the eighteenth birthday to complete high school; or

     (d) To add an automatic adjustment of support provision consistent with RCW 26.09.100.

     (5) An order or decree entered prior to June 7, 1984, may be modified without showing a substantial change of circumstances if the requested modification is to:

     (a) Require health insurance coverage for a child named therein; or

     (b) Modify an existing order for health insurance coverage.

     (6) An obligor's voluntary unemployment or voluntary underemployment, by itself, is not a substantial change of circumstances.

     (7) The department of social and health services may file an action to modify an order of child support if public assistance money is being paid to or for the benefit of the child and the child support order is twenty-five percent or more below the appropriate child support amount set forth in the standard calculation as defined in ((section 4(2) of this act)) RCW 26.19.010 and reasons for the deviation are not set forth in the findings of fact or order.  The determination of twenty-five percent or more shall be based on the current income of the parties and the department shall not be required to show a substantial change of circumstances if the reasons for the deviations were not set forth in the findings of fact or order.

     (8)(a) Except as provided in (b) and (c) of this subsection, all child support decrees may be adjusted once every twenty-four months based upon changes in the income of the parents without a showing of substantially changed circumstances.  Either party may initiate the modification pursuant to procedures of RCW 26.09.175.

     (b) Parents whose decrees are entered before ((the effective date of this act)) July 1, 1990, may petition the court for a modification after twelve months has expired from the entry of the decree or the most recent modification setting child support, whichever is later.  However, if a party is granted relief under this provision, twenty-four months must pass before another petition for modification may be filed pursuant to (a) of this subsection.

     (c) A party may petition for modification in cases of substantially changed circumstances, under subsection (1) of this section, at any time.  However, if relief is granted under subsection (1) of this section, twenty-four months must pass before a petition for modification under (a) of this subsection may be filed.

     (d) If, pursuant to (a) of this subsection, the court modifies a child support obligation by more than thirty percent and the change would cause significant hardship, the court may implement the change in two equal increments, one at the time of the entry of the order and the second six months from the entry of the order.  Twenty-four months must pass following the second change before a petition for modification under (a) of this subsection may be filed.

     (e) A parent who is receiving transfer payments who receives a wage or salary increase may not bring a modification action pursuant to (a) of this subsection alleging that increase constitutes a substantial change of circumstances under subsection (1) of this section.

 

     NEW SECTION.  Sec. 10.     RCW 26.19.040 and 1990 1st ex.s. c 2 s 20, 1988 c 275 s 5, & 1987 c 440 s 2 are each repealed.

 

     NEW SECTION.  Sec. 11.     If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.