Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Judiciary Committee |
HB 2627
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
Title: An act relating to child support order summary report forms.
Brief Description: Concerning child support order summary report forms.
Sponsors: Representatives Kelley, Green, Miloscia and Kenney.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 1/18/10
Staff: Trudes Tango (786-7384).
Background:
The child support order summary report form is a form created by the Administrative Office of the Courts. A party seeking to establish or modify a child support order must fill out the form and attach it to the front of the child support worksheets filed with the court. The clerk sends the forms to the Division of Child Support (DCS), and the DCS prepares a report using the data from these forms. The DCS report is to be used for reviewing the state's child support laws.
In order to receive federal funding, the state's child support laws must comply with federal requirements. Federal law requires states to review their child support laws every four years. In 2007, the Legislature directed the DCS to convene a work group every four years to conduct these reviews.
As part of the 2007 legislation, the Legislature required the JLARC to review and analyze the data from the summary report forms.
The JLARC found that the information received from these forms is incomplete, may not be accurate, and is unusable for purposes of the quadrennial review required by federal law. In its final report, the JLARC recommends that the Legislature eliminate the summary report forms, specify that the DCS should use data from the actual child support orders to compile its report, and specify that the quadrennial review work groups use the DCS report based on data collected from the orders.
Summary of Bill:
References to the child support summary order report forms are removed from the statutes. The DCS must use data compiled from child support orders, and the work groups conducting the quadrennial reviews must review the DCS report.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on 1/13/10.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.