SENATE BILL REPORT

                   HB 2579

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

       Labor & Workforce Development, February 22, 2000

Title:  An act relating to child support technical amendments necessary to implement the federal personal responsibility and work opportunity reconciliation act of 1996.

Brief Description:  Making technical corrections to the implementation of the federal personal responsibility and work opportunity reconciliation act of 1996.

Sponsors:  Representatives Lambert and Dickerson; by request of Department of Social and Health Services.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Labor & Workforce Development:  2/22/2000 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Fairley, Chair; Franklin, Vice Chair; Hochstatter, Kline, Oke and Wojahn.

Staff:  Joanne Conrad (786-7472)

Background:  Child support enforcement provisions of Washington State's welfare reform law occasionally require technical amendment, in order to comply with federal law.  The federal welfare reform law (the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996) requires that states enact laws that allow for the withholding, suspension or restriction of driver's licenses, as well as business, occupational and recreational licenses of delinquent child support obligors.

In addition, inconsistencies exist in the time frames and service requirements for Notices of Payroll Deduction, Orders to Withhold and Deliver and Notices of Enrollment (for children's health care coverage).

Federal law also requires that all states give "full faith and credit" to liens filed by other states, and provide for high-volume automated enforcement of interstate cases.

Summary of Bill:  Technical provisions of child support law are modified to provide that liens from other states be given full faith and credit.  Various child support orders and notices are coordinated, to enhance delivery to employers and simplify their response.  Uniform interstate withholding forms are required.

The license suspension program is updated to include licenses granted by the Horse Racing Commission for jockeys, owners and trainers.

Technical amendments are made to employer retention requirements for certain orders, and to the filing of liens.  Certification requirements for high-volume automated enforcement of interstate child support cases are established.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  This bill will help employers by standardizing forms and time frames for compliance.  The system will be more efficient.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Meg Sollenberger, Director, Div. of Child Support, DSHS (pro).