SENATE BILL REPORT

                   HB 2732

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

               Law & Justice, February 24, 1998

Title:  An act relating to wage assignment orders for child support or spousal maintenance payments.

Brief Description:  Regarding wage assignment orders for child support or spousal maintenance payments.

Sponsors:  Representatives Robertson, Ogden, L. Thomas, McCune, Constantine, Wood, Zellinsky, Ballasiotes, Delvin and Hickel.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Law & Justice:  2/24/98 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LAW & JUSTICE

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Roach, Chair; Fairley, Goings, Kline, Long, McCaslin, Stevens, Thibaudeau and Zarelli.

Staff:  Aldo Melchiori (786-7439)

Background:  A private party may seek a mandatory wage assignment if a child support order allows immediate income withholding or if the obligor is more than 15 days past due in child support in an amount equal to or greater than the obligation payable for one month.  The court forwards a copy of the mandatory wage assignment order and support order to the Washington State Support Registry.

If the employer possesses any earnings due to the obligor, the earnings subject to the mandatory wage assignment order must be withheld immediately upon receipt of the wage assignment order.  The employer must deliver the withheld earnings to the Washington State Support Registry at each regular pay interval.

Summary of Bill:   An employer served with a mandatory wage assignment order must deliver withheld earnings to the Washington State Support Registry within five working days of each regular pay interval.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  Most employers cooperate.  This bill will encourage cooperation from those that do not.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Representative Robertson, prime sponsor.