HOUSE BILL REPORT

SHB 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.

Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

Eliminates the summary report forms that parties are required to complete when establishing or modifying child support orders.
Requires the Division of Child Support to use data compiled from child support orders to create the report used to review the state's child support laws.

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 10 members: Representatives Pedersen, Chair; Goodman, Vice Chair; Rodne, Ranking Minority Member; Shea, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Flannigan, Kelley, Kirby, Ormsby, Roberts and Ross.

Background:

Parties establishing or modifying a child support order must fill out the child support order summary report form. The parties must attach the form to the child support worksheets filed with the court. The clerk sends the forms to the Division of Child Support (DCS) at the Department of Social and Health Services, 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 Joint Legislative Audit Review Committee (JLARC) to 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 Substitute 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.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) This bill stops the practice of using unreliable forms. It was unrealistic to expect the parties to be able to fill out the forms accurately. The best way to get information is by looking at the orders themselves.

(Opposed) None.