5508.E AMH  HAYW1

 


ESB 5508 - H AMD 327 RULED BEYOND SCOPE 4-17-93

By Representatives Vance, Meyers and Padden

     On page 8, line 33, after "children" insert ". Special educational needs do not include postsecondary education for a child over eighteen years of age"

 

     On page 10, after line 14, insert the following:


 

    "Sec. 7.  RCW 26.09.225 and 1991 sp.s. c 28 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) Each parent shall have full and equal access to the education and health care records of the child absent a court order to the contrary.  Neither parent may veto the access requested by the other parent.

    (2) Educational records are limited to academic, attendance, and disciplinary records of public and private schools in all grades kindergarten through twelve and any form of alternative school for all periods for which child support is paid or the child is the dependent in fact of the parent requesting access to the records.

    (3) Educational records of postsecondary educational institutions are limited to enrollment and academic records necessary to determine, establish, or continue support ordered pursuant to RCW 26.19.090 before the effective date of this act.

 

    Sec. 8.  RCW 26.18.210 and 1990 1st ex.s. c 2 s 22 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) The administrator for the courts shall develop a child support order summary report form to provide for the reporting of summary information in every case in which a child support order is entered or modified either judicially or administratively.  The administrator for the courts shall attempt to the greatest extent possible to make the form simple and understandable by the parties.  The form shall indicate the following:

    (a) The county in which the order was entered and the cause number;

    (b) Whether it was a judicial or administrative order;

    (c) Whether the order is an original order or from a modification;

    (d) The number of children of the parties and the children's ages;

    (e) The combined monthly net income of parties;

    (f) The monthly net income of the father as determined by the court;

    (g) The monthly net income of the mother as determined by the court;

    (h) The basic child support obligation for each child as determined from the economic table;

    (i) Whether or not the court deviated from the child support for each child;

    (j) The reason or reasons stated by the court for the deviation;

    (k) The amount of child support after the deviation;

    (l) Any amount awarded for day care;

    (m) Any other extraordinary amounts in the order;

    (n) ((Any amount ordered for postsecondary education;

    (o))) The total amount of support ordered;

    (((p))) (o) In the case of a modification, the amount of support in the previous order;

    (((q))) (p) If the change in support was in excess of thirty percent, whether the change was phased in;

    (((r))) (q) The amount of the transfer payment ordered;

    (((s))) (r) Which parent was ordered to make the transfer payment; and

    (((t))) (s) The date of the entry of the order.

    (2) The administrator for the courts shall make the form available to the parties.

 

    Sec. 9.  RCW 26.19.035 and 1992 c 229 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) Application of the child support schedule.  The child support schedule shall be applied:

    (a) In each county of the state;

    (b) In judicial and administrative proceedings under this title or Title 13 or 74 RCW;

    (c) In all proceedings in which child support is determined or modified;

    (d) In setting temporary and permanent support;

    (e) In automatic modification provisions or decrees entered pursuant to RCW 26.09.100; and

    (f) In addition to proceedings in which child support is determined for minors, to adult children who are dependent on their parents and for whom support is ordered pursuant to RCW 26.09.100.  However, child support shall not be made mandatory for postsecondary education of a child over eighteen years of age.

    The provisions of this chapter for determining child support and reasons for deviation from the standard calculation shall be applied in the same manner by the court, presiding officers, and reviewing officers.

    (2) Written findings of fact supported by the evidence.  An order for child support shall be supported by written findings of fact upon which the support determination is based and shall include reasons for any deviation from the standard calculation and reasons for denial of a party's request for deviation from the standard calculation.  The court shall enter written findings of fact in all cases whether or not the court:  (a) Sets the support at the presumptive amount, for combined monthly net incomes below five thousand dollars; (b) sets the support at an advisory amount, for combined monthly net incomes between five thousand and seven thousand dollars; or (c) deviates from the presumptive or advisory amounts.

    (3) Completion of worksheets.  Worksheets in the form developed by the office of the administrator for the courts shall be completed under penalty of perjury and filed in every proceeding in which child support is determined.  The court shall not accept incomplete worksheets or worksheets that vary from the worksheets developed by the office of the administrator for the courts.

    (4) Court review of the worksheets and order.  The court shall review the worksheets and the order setting support for the adequacy of the reasons set forth for any deviation or denial of any request for deviation and for the adequacy of the amount of support ordered.  Each order shall state the amount of child support calculated using the standard calculation and the amount of child support actually ordered.  Worksheets shall be attached to the decree or order or if filed separately shall be initialed or signed by the judge and filed with the order.

    Sec. 10.  RCW 26.19.090 and 1991 sp.s. c 28 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:

    (((1))) The child support schedule shall ((be advisory and not mandatory)) not be used for postsecondary educational support of a child over eighteen years of age.

    (((2) 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.

    (3) The child must enroll in an accredited academic or vocational school, must be 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.  The court-ordered postsecondary educational support shall be automatically suspended during the period or periods the child fails to comply with these conditions.

    (4) The child shall also make available all academic records and grades to both parents as a condition of receiving postsecondary educational support.  Each parent shall have full and equal access to the postsecondary education records as provided in RCW 26.09.225.

    (5) 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.

    (6) The court shall direct that either or both parents' 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 either or both parents' payments be made directly to the child if the child does not reside with either parent.  If the child resides with one of the parents the court may direct that the parent making the support transfer payments make the payments to the child or to the parent who has been receiving the support transfer payments.))"

 


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