HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 2806

BYRepresentatives Smith, Prentice, Cole, Vekich, Leonard, R. King, Forner, Walker, Wolfe, O'Brien, Winsley, Silver, Brough, Kremen, Youngsman, Tate, Miller and Van Luven 

Providing for treatment of industrial insurance payments made on behalf of an injured worker's child.

House Committe on Commerce & Labor

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (10)

      Signed by Representatives Vekich, Chair; Cole, Vice Chair; Smith, Ranking Republican Member; Forner, R. King, Leonard, O'Brien, Prentice, Walker and Wolfe.

House Staff:Chris Cordes (786-7117)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR JANUARY 23, 1990

BACKGROUND:

The schedule for industrial insurance total disability benefits paid to injured workers includes a 2 percent increase for each child of the injured worker, up to five children.  If the child is not in the custody of the injured worker, the percent of the benefits payable for the child is paid to the person having custody of the child under a child support order.  There is no provision allowing the injured worker credit against his or her child support obligations for the amount of industrial insurance benefits paid to the child's custodian.

SUMMARY:

The amount paid from an injured worker's industrial insurance total disability benefits for children not in the injured worker's custody must be treated as if it were paid by the worker toward satisfaction of his or her child support obligations.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Bob Hoyden, POPS.

(Neutral) Bob McCallister, Department of Labor and Industries.

House Committee - Testified Against:      No one.

House Committee - Testimony For:    The bill corrects an inequity for the noncustodial parent. Without this change, the noncustodial parent pays twice on the same child support obligation.

(Neutral)  The bill does not impact industrial insurance procedures.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None.