Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research	BILL ANALYSIS
Judiciary Committee

HB 1864

Title:  An act relating to information requirements in family law court files.

Brief Description:  Revising information requirements in family law court files.

Sponsors:  Representatives Dickerson, Casada and McIntire.

Brief Summary of Bill

$Changes what type of identifying information must be on child support orders, petitions for dissolutions, and paternity actions filed with a court.

$Requires that parties file a confidential form containing identifying information in lieu of listing that information on court documents.

Hearing Date:  2/22/01

Staff:  Trudes Hutcheson (786‑7384).

Background: 

A petition for dissolution of marriage, legal separation, or declaration of invalidity must contain certain information, including, each party=s Social Security number, last known residence, and the names, ages, and addresses of any dependent children.

All child support orders must state, among other things, the Social Security number, residence address, date of birth, telephone number, driver=s license number, and name and address of the employer of the responsible parent.  Support orders must also include the Social Security number and address of the physical custodian, and the names, birth dates and Social Security numbers of the dependent children. 

Information such as the party=s address and the employer=s name and address may be omitted if there is reason to believe that release of the address may result in physical or emotional harm to the party or child, or there is a restraining or protective order in effect.

A parent required to pay support or receiving support services from the Division of Child Support must also provide the child support registry with identifying information, such as Social Security numbers and addresses, and update that information when necessary.  That information is considered private and only subject to public disclosure pursuant to agency rules.  The rules generally involve restricting disclosure of address information when there is reason to believe the safety of the party or the child would be at risk.

Summary of Bill: 

The statutes establishing what information is required on certain court documents are changed.

Petitions for dissolution no longer are required to contain the parties= Social Security numbers and specific residences, and the addresses of dependent children.

The parties= Social Security numbers, residence addresses, dates of birth, telephone numbers, driver=s license numbers, and name and address of the employer of the responsible parent is no longer required to be on child support orders.  In addition, the birth dates and Social Security numbers of the children are no longer required to be on the support orders.

In court actions under the domestic relations laws, parties must use a verified and signed confidential information form or an equivalent to supply the court with identifying information, such as Social Security numbers, birth dates, driver=s license numbers, and addresses.

Information required to be submitted to the state support registry and the Division of Child Support must be submitted using the confidential information form.  The Division of Child Support may adopt rules that govern the collection of such information to enforce administrative support orders.  The division shall not release confidential information if the division determines that there is reason to believe that release may result in physical or emotional harm to the party or the child, or a restraining order or protective order is in effect.

The clerk of the court shall not accept the parties= petitions, orders of child support, decrees of dissolution, or paternity orders for filing unless accompanied by the confidential information form or unless the confidential information form is already on file with the court.  Instead of requiring the parties to complete a separate confidential information form, the court may combine the confidential information form with any other form, or may collect the information in electronic form.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not Requested.

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