SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6599

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

        Human Services & Corrections, February 3, 2000

Title:  An act relating to dependent children's support.

Brief Description:  Changing provisions relating to child support for dependent children.

Sponsors:  Senators Stevens and Hargrove.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Human Services & Corrections:  2/3/2000 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES & CORRECTIONS

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6599 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

  Signed by Senators Hargrove, Chair; Costa, Vice Chair; Franklin, Kohl-Welles, Long, Sheahan, Stevens and Zarelli.

Staff:  Jinnah Rose-McFadden (360-786-7444)

Background:  In a dependency proceeding, the natural parent of a dependent child may be ordered to pay child support.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  The natural parents of a dependent child who in good faith oppose the child's out of home placement and continuously seek reconciliation with their child, but are denied reconciliation because services specified in an agency plan have not been offered by DSHS, may be excused from paying child support.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The scope of the child support exception is narrowed.  Parents may only be excused from paying child support for a dependent child if they have been denied reconciliation with their child through no fault of their own.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  None.

Testimony Against:  This bill does not address the fiscal impact that a child support exception would create.  In addition, the exception is too broad and does not consider the reason for out of home care.  The bill should be narrowed to address the best interests of the child.

Testified:  CON: Jacob Romo, DSHS/CA; Bruce Turcott, DSHS, Division of Child Support.