BILL REQ. #:  S-4672.1 

READ FIRST TIME 02/09/04.   

     AN ACT Relating to the distribution of child support amongst multiple cases; and amending RCW 26.23.035.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 26.23.035 and 1997 c 58 s 933 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The department of social and health services shall adopt rules for the distribution of support money collected by the division of child support. These rules shall:
     (a) Comply with Title IV-D of the federal social security act as amended by the personal responsibility and work opportunity reconciliation act of 1996;
     (b) Direct the division of child support to distribute support money within eight days of receipt, unless one of the following circumstances, or similar circumstances specified in the rules, prevents prompt distribution:
     (i) The location of the custodial parent is unknown;
     (ii) The support debt is in litigation;
     (iii) The division of child support cannot identify the responsible parent or the custodian;
     (c) Provide for:
     (i) Proportionate distribution of current support payments if the responsible parent owes a support obligation ((or a support debt)) for two or more Title IV-D cases;
     (ii) Distribution of past-due support payments if the responsible parent owes a support debt for two or more Title IV-D cases, as authorized under 42 U.S.C. Sec. 657. In determining priority of distribution of past-due support payments between Washington state and another state, the division of child support shall first distribute past-due support payments to another state if there are nonassistance arrears owing to a custodial parent in that state and if that state's distribution policy is to first pay in full the nonassistance debt owed to a custodial parent. Upon satisfaction of the nonassistance arrears debt to a custodial parent in another state, or if the state is no longer paying nonassistance arrears to that custodial parent, Washington shall determine an appropriate distribution of past-due payments; and
     (d) Authorize the distribution of support money, except money collected under 42 U.S.C. Sec. 664, to satisfy a support debt owed to the IV-D custodian before the debt owed to the state when the custodian stops receiving a public assistance grant.
     (2) The division of child support may distribute support payments to the payee under the support order or to another person who has lawful physical custody of the child or custody with the payee's consent. The payee may file an application for an adjudicative proceeding to challenge distribution to such other person. Prior to distributing support payments to any person other than the payee, the registry shall:
     (a) Obtain a written statement from the child's physical custodian, under penalty of perjury, that the custodian has lawful custody of the child or custody with the payee's consent;
     (b) Mail to the responsible parent and to the payee at the payee's last known address a copy of the physical custodian's statement and a notice which states that support payments will be sent to the physical custodian; and
     (c) File a copy of the notice with the clerk of the court that entered the original support order.
     (3) If the Washington state support registry distributes a support payment to a person in error, the registry may obtain restitution by means of a set-off against future payments received on behalf of the person receiving the erroneous payment, or may act according to RCW 74.20A.270 as deemed appropriate. Any set-off against future support payments shall be limited to amounts collected on the support debt and ten percent of amounts collected as current support.
     (4) The division of child support shall ensure that the fifty dollar pass through payment, as required by 42 U.S.C. Sec. 657 before the adoption of P.L. 104-193, is terminated immediately upon July 27, 1997, and all rules to the contrary adopted before July 27, 1997, are without force and effect.