SENATE BILL REPORT

                            SB 5649

               AS PASSED SENATE, MARCH 13, 1993

Brief Description:  Removing the expiration date for Washington state support registry employer reporting.

SPONSORS: Senators Quigley, Roach and A. Smith; by request of Department of Social and Health Services

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LAW & JUSTICE

Majority Report:  Do pass. 

     Signed by Senators A. Smith, Chairman; Quigley, Vice Chairman; Hargrove, McCaslin, Nelson, Niemi, Rinehart, Roach, and Spanel.

Staff:  Susan Carlson (786‑7418)

Hearing Dates: February 25, 1993

BACKGROUND:

The Employer Reporting Program was established by the Legislature in 1990 and expires on July 1, 1993.  The program requires employers in five selected industries to report information on new hires to the Office of Support Enforcement (OSE) within 35 days of hire.  The objective of the program is to enhance collection of child support from parents who change jobs frequently.  Although OSE has access to hire information from the Employment Security Department, this information is often not received until three or four months after the hire date. 

The enacting legislation required the Legislative Budget Committee to conduct a study of the effectiveness of the program and submit a report by November 1992.  OSE also prepared a report analyzing the program in 1991.  Both reports found a favorable ratio of collections to agency cost for the program.

SUMMARY:

The July 1, 1993, expiration date for the employer reporting program is deleted.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  available

Effective Date:   The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

TESTIMONY FOR:

The Employer Reporting Program has enhanced the collection of child support from obligors who change jobs frequently.  The bill allows the program to continue.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Dave Hogan, Director of Revenue, DSHS (pro)