S-0982.1                   _______________________________________________

 

                                                     SENATE BILL 5508

                              _______________________________________________

 

State of Washington                              53rd Legislature                             1993 Regular Session

 

By Senators Hargrove, Niemi, A. Smith, Nelson and Spanel

 

Read first time 02/01/93.  Referred to Committee on Law & Justice.

 

Modifying child support orders in dependency cases.


          AN ACT Relating to child dependency cases; and amending RCW 13.34.160.

 

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

 

        Sec. 1.  RCW 13.34.160 and 1987 c 435 s 14 are each amended to read as follows:

          In ((any case in which)) an action brought under this chapter, the court shall ((find the child dependent, it may in the same or subsequent proceeding upon the parent or parents, guardian, or other person having custody of said child, being duly summoned or voluntarily appearing, proceed to)) inquire into the ability of ((such persons or person able)) the parent or parents of the subject child to pay child support ((the child or contribute thereto, the court may)) and shall enter ((such)) a child support order or decree ((as shall be according to equity in the premises, and may enforce the same by execution, or in any way in which a court of equity may enforce its decrees.  All child support orders entered pursuant to this chapter shall be in compliance with the provisions of RCW 26.23.050)).  The order shall be generally consistent with chapter 26.19 RCW, however, in determining a parent's income, the court shall consider how the dependency action, including anticipated reunification efforts, may affect that parent's availability for work.  The child support obligation shall not be set at a level so as to interfere with reunification efforts.  In addition to the bases for deviation set forth in RCW 26.19.075, the court shall also consider, as bases for deviation, parental responsibility for costs relating to reunification efforts, the special needs of the child, and the parents' expenses of litigation related to the dependency.

 


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