H-0162.1

HOUSE BILL 1037


State of Washington	64th Legislature	2015 Regular Session

By Representatives Moeller, Ormsby, and Kilduff

Prefiled 12/08/14. Read first time 01/12/15. Referred to Committee on Judiciary.

AN ACT Relating to implementing changes to child support based on the child support schedule work group report; amending RCW 26.19.011, 26.19.020, 26.19.065, 26.19.075, and 26.19.090; adding a new section to chapter 26.19 RCW; creating a new section; and providing an effective date.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) To comply with the federal requirement that all states review their child support laws every four years, the legislature has mandated that a child support work group be convened every four years to examine current laws, administrative rules, and practices regarding child support.

(2) The 2011 child support schedule work group was convened in January and conducted a total of ten in-person meetings and numerous meetings using telephone conference calls. The work group produced a final report and recommendations in September 2011.

(3) The work group's September 2011 final report and recommendations contain, among other things, a new economic table based on more current data and a formula for calculating adjustments to take into consideration children not before the court.

(4) The legislature intends to implement recommendations made by the 2011 child support schedule work group.

Sec. 2. RCW 26.19.011 and 2005 c 282 s 35 are each amended to read as follows:

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.

(1) "Basic child support obligation" means the monthly child support obligation determined from the economic table based on the parties' combined monthly net income and the number of children for whom support is owed.

(2) "Child support schedule" means the standards, economic table, worksheets, and instructions, as defined in this chapter.

(3) "Court" means a superior court judge, court commissioner, and presiding and reviewing officers who administratively determine or enforce child support orders.

(4) "Deviation" means a child support amount that differs from the standard calculation.

(5) "Economic table" means the child support table for the basic support obligation provided in RCW 26.19.020.

(6) "Instructions" means the instructions developed by the administrative office of the courts pursuant to RCW 26.19.050 for use in completing the worksheets.

(7) "Standards" means the standards for determination of child support as provided in this chapter.

(8) "Standard calculation" means the presumptive amount of child support owed as determined from the child support schedule before the court makes any adjustments or considers any reasons for deviation.

(9) "Support transfer payment" means the amount of money the court orders one parent to pay to another parent or custodian for child support after determination of the standard calculation, adjustments, and deviations. If certain expenses or credits are expected to fluctuate and the order states a formula or percentage to determine the additional amount or credit on an ongoing basis, the term "support transfer payment" does not mean the additional amount or credit.

(10) "Worksheets" means the forms developed by the administrative office of the courts pursuant to RCW 26.19.050 for use in determining the amount of child support.

(11) "Children not before the court" means children for whom support is not being determined in the current proceeding, but who are the children of one of the parents involved in the proceeding based on a parent-child relationship consistent with RCW 26.26.101, or who are the children of one of the parents based on a court order which established the parent as a de facto parent.

Sec. 3. RCW 26.19.020 and 2009 c 84 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:


((ECONOMIC TABLE
MONTHLY BASIC SUPPORT OBLIGATION
PER CHILD
KEY: A= AGE 0-11 B= AGE 12-18

COMBINED
MONTHLY		ONE		TWO
NET		CHILD		CHILDREN
INCOME		FAMILY		FAMILY
		A	B	A	B

	For income less than $1000 the obligation is based upon the resources and living expenses of each household. Minimum support may not be less than $50 per child per month except when allowed by RCW 26.19.065(2).
1000		220	272	171	211
1100		242	299	188	232
1200		264	326	205	253
1300		285	352	221	274
1400		307	379	238	294
1500		327	404	254	313
1600		347	428	269	333
1700		367	453	285	352
1800		387	478	300	371
1900		407	503	316	390
2000		427	527	331	409
2100		447	552	347	429
2200		467	577	362	448
2300		487	601	378	467
2400		506	626	393	486
2500		526	650	408	505
2600		534	661	416	513
2700		542	670	421	520
2800		549	679	427	527
2900		556	686	431	533
3000		561	693	436	538
3100		566	699	439	543
3200		569	704	442	546
3300		573	708	445	549
3400		574	710	446	551
3500		575	711	447	552
3600		577	712	448	553
3700		578	713	449	554
3800		581	719	452	558
3900		596	736	463	572
4000		609	753	473	584
4100		623	770	484	598
4200		638	788	495	611
4300		651	805	506	625
4400		664	821	516	637
4500		677	836	525	649
4600		689	851	535	661
4700		701	866	545	673
4800		713	882	554	685
4900		726	897	564	697
5000		738	912	574	708
5100		751	928	584	720
5200		763	943	593	732
5300		776	959	602	744
5400		788	974	612	756
5500		800	989	622	768
5600		812	1004	632	779
5700		825	1019	641	791
5800		837	1035	650	803
5900		850	1050	660	815
6000		862	1065	670	827
6100		875	1081	680	839
6200		887	1096	689	851
6300		899	1112	699	863
6400		911	1127	709	875
6500		924	1142	718	887
6600		936	1157	728	899
6700		949	1172	737	911
6800		961	1188	747	923
6900		974	1203	757	935
7000		986	1218	767	946
7100		998	1233	776	958
7200		1009	1248	785	971
7300		1021	1262	794	982
7400		1033	1276	803	993
7500		1044	1290	812	1004
7600		1055	1305	821	1015
7700		1067	1319	830	1026
7800		1078	1333	839	1037
7900		1089	1346	848	1048
8000		1100	1360	857	1059
8100		1112	1374	865	1069
8200		1123	1387	874	1080
8300		1134	1401	882	1091
8400		1144	1414	891	1101
8500		1155	1428	899	1112
8600		1166	1441	908	1122
8700		1177	1454	916	1133
8800		1187	1467	925	1143
8900		1198	1481	933	1153
9000		1208	1493	941	1163
9100		1219	1506	949	1173
9200		1229	1519	957	1183
9300		1239	1532	966	1193
9400		1250	1545	974	1203
9500		1260	1557	982	1213
9600		1270	1570	989	1223
9700		1280	1582	997	1233
9800		1290	1594	1005	1242
9900		1300	1606	1013	1252
10000		1310	1619	1021	1262
10100		1319	1631	1028	1271
10200		1329	1643	1036	1281
10300		1339	1655	1044	1290
10400		1348	1666	1051	1299
10500		1358	1678	1059	1308
10600		1367	1690	1066	1318
10700		1377	1701	1073	1327
10800		1386	1713	1081	1336
10900		1395	1724	1088	1345
11000		1404	1736	1095	1354
11100		1413	1747	1102	1363
11200		1422	1758	1110	1371
11300		1431	1769	1117	1380
11400		1440	1780	1124	1389
11500		1449	1791	1131	1398
11600		1458	1802	1138	1406
11700		1467	1813	1145	1415
11800		1475	1823	1151	1423
11900		1484	1834	1158	1431
12000		1492	1844	1165	1440


COMBINED
MONTHLY	THREE		FOUR		FIVE
NET	CHILDREN		CHILDREN		CHILDREN
INCOME	FAMILY		FAMILY		FAMILY
	A	B	A	B	A	B

	For income less than $1000 the obligation is based upon the resources and living expenses of each household. Minimum support may not be less than $50 per child per month except when allowed by RCW 26.19.065(2).
1000	143	177	121	149	105	130
1100	157	194	133	164	116	143
1200	171	211	144	179	126	156
1300	185	228	156	193	136	168
1400	199	246	168	208	147	181
1500	212	262	179	221	156	193
1600	225	278	190	235	166	205
1700	238	294	201	248	175	217
1800	251	310	212	262	185	228
1900	264	326	223	275	194	240
2000	277	342	234	289	204	252
2100	289	358	245	303	213	264
2200	302	374	256	316	223	276
2300	315	390	267	330	233	288
2400	328	406	278	343	242	299
2500	341	421	288	356	251	311
2600	346	428	293	362	256	316
2700	351	435	298	368	259	321
2800	356	440	301	372	262	324
2900	360	445	305	376	266	328
3000	364	449	308	380	268	331
3100	367	453	310	383	270	334
3200	369	457	312	386	272	336
3300	371	459	314	388	273	339
3400	372	460	315	389	274	340
3500	373	461	316	390	275	341
3600	374	462	317	391	276	342
3700	375	463	318	392	277	343
3800	377	466	319	394	278	344
3900	386	477	326	404	284	352
4000	395	488	334	413	291	360
4100	404	500	341	422	298	368
4200	413	511	350	431	305	377
4300	422	522	357	441	311	385
4400	431	532	364	449	317	392
4500	438	542	371	458	323	400
4600	446	552	377	467	329	407
4700	455	562	384	475	335	414
4800	463	572	391	483	341	422
4900	470	581	398	491	347	429
5000	479	592	404	500	353	437
5100	487	602	411	509	359	443
5200	494	611	418	517	365	451
5300	503	621	425	525	371	458
5400	511	632	432	533	377	466
5500	518	641	439	542	383	473
5600	527	651	446	551	389	480
5700	535	661	452	559	395	488
5800	543	671	459	567	401	495
5900	551	681	466	575	407	502
6000	559	691	473	584	413	509
6100	567	701	479	593	418	517
6200	575	710	486	601	424	524
6300	583	721	493	609	430	532
6400	591	731	500	617	436	539
6500	599	740	506	626	442	546
6600	607	750	513	635	448	554
6700	615	761	520	643	454	561
6800	623	770	527	651	460	568
6900	631	780	533	659	466	575
7000	639	790	540	668	472	583
7100	647	800	547	677	478	591
7200	654	809	554	684	484	598
7300	662	818	560	693	490	605
7400	670	828	567	701	496	613
7500	677	837	574	709	502	620
7600	685	846	581	718	507	627
7700	692	855	587	726	513	634
7800	700	865	594	734	519	642
7900	707	874	601	742	525	649
8000	714	883	607	750	531	656
8100	722	892	614	759	536	663
8200	729	901	620	767	542	670
8300	736	910	627	775	548	677
8400	743	919	633	783	553	684
8500	750	928	640	791	559	691
8600	758	936	646	799	565	698
8700	765	945	653	807	570	705
8800	772	954	659	815	576	712
8900	779	962	665	822	582	719
9000	786	971	672	830	587	726
9100	792	980	678	838	593	732
9200	799	988	684	846	598	739
9300	806	996	691	854	604	746
9400	813	1005	697	861	609	753
9500	820	1013	703	869	614	759
9600	826	1021	709	877	620	766
9700	833	1030	716	884	625	773
9800	840	1038	722	892	631	779
9900	846	1046	728	900	636	786
10000	853	1054	734	907	641	793
10100	859	1062	740	915	647	799
10200	866	1070	746	922	652	806
10300	872	1078	752	930	657	812
10400	879	1086	758	937	662	819
10500	885	1094	764	944	668	825
10600	891	1102	770	952	673	832
10700	898	1109	776	959	678	838
10800	904	1117	782	966	683	844
10900	910	1125	788	974	688	851
11000	916	1132	794	981	693	857
11100	922	1140	799	988	698	863
11200	928	1147	805	995	703	869
11300	934	1155	811	1002	708	876
11400	940	1162	817	1009	714	882
11500	946	1170	822	1017	719	888
11600	952	1177	828	1024	723	894
11700	958	1184	834	1031	728	900
11800	964	1191	839	1038	733	906
11900	970	1199	845	1045	738	912
12000	975	1206	851	1051	743	919))


ECONOMIC TABLE MONTHLY BASIC SUPPORT OBLIGATION PER CHILD
COMBINED MONTHLY NET INCOME	ONE CHILD FAMILY	TWO CHILDREN FAMILY

For income less than $1000 the obligation is based upon the resources and living expenses of each household. Minimum support may not be less than $50 per child per month except when allowed by RCW 26.19.065(2).
1000	216	167
1100	238	184
1200	260	200
1300	281	217
1400	303	234
1500	325	251
1600	346	267
1700	368	284
1800	390	301
1900	412	317
2000	433	334
2100	455	350
2200	477	367
2300	499	384
2400	521	400
2500	543	417
2600	565	433
2700	587	450
2800	609	467
2900	630	483
3000	652	500
3100	674	516
3200	696	533
3300	718	550
3400	740	566
3500	762	583
3600	784	599
3700	803	614
3800	816	624
3900	830	634
4000	843	643
4100	857	653
4200	867	660
4300	877	668
4400	887	675
4500	896	682
4600	906	689
4700	916	697
4800	927	705
4900	939	714
5000	951	723
5100	963	732
5200	975	741
5300	987	750
5400	999	759
5500	1011	768
5600	1023	777
5700	1030	782
5800	1036	786
5900	1042	791
6000	1048	795
6100	1054	800
6200	1061	804
6300	1067	809
6400	1073	813
6500	1081	819
6600	1096	830
6700	1111	842
6800	1126	853
6900	1141	864
7000	1156	875
7100	1170	886
7200	1185	898
7300	1200	909
7400	1212	918
7500	1222	925
7600	1231	932
7700	1241	939
7800	1251	946
7900	1261	953
8000	1270	960
8100	1280	968
8200	1290	975
8300	1299	981
8400	1308	987
8500	1316	994
8600	1325	1000
8700	1334	1007
8800	1343	1013
8900	1352	1019
9000	1361	1026
9100	1370	1032
9200	1379	1040
9300	1387	1047
9400	1396	1055
9500	1405	1062
9600	1414	1069
9700	1423	1077
9800	1432	1084
9900	1441	1092
10000	1451	1099
10100	1462	1107
10200	1473	1114
10300	1484	1122
10400	1495	1129
10500	1507	1136
10600	1518	1144
10700	1529	1151
10800	1539	1159
10900	1542	1161
11000	1545	1164
11100	1548	1166
11200	1551	1169
11300	1554	1172
11400	1556	1174
11500	1559	1177
11600	1562	1179
11700	1565	1182
11800	1568	1184
11900	1571	1187
12000	1573	1190



COMBINED MONTHLY NET INCOME	THREE CHILDREN FAMILY	FOUR CHILDREN FAMILY	FIVE CHILDREN FAMILY

For income less than $1000 the obligation is based upon the resources and living expenses of each household. Minimum support may not be less than $50 per child per month except when allowed by RCW 26.19.065(2).
1000	136	114	100
1100	150	125	110
1200	163	137	120
1300	177	148	130
1400	191	160	141
1500	204	171	151
1600	218	182	161
1700	231	194	171
1800	245	205	180
1900	258	216	190
2000	271	227	200
2100	285	239	210
2200	298	250	220
2300	311	261	230
2400	325	272	239
2500	338	283	249
2600	351	294	259
2700	365	305	269
2800	378	317	279
2900	391	328	288
3000	405	339	298
3100	418	350	308
3200	431	361	318
3300	444	372	328
3400	458	384	337
3500	471	395	347
3600	484	406	357
3700	496	416	366
3800	503	422	371
3900	511	428	377
4000	518	434	382
4100	526	440	388
4200	531	445	392
4300	537	450	396
4400	543	455	400
4500	548	459	404
4600	554	464	408
4700	559	469	412
4800	566	474	417
4900	573	480	422
5000	580	486	428
5100	587	492	433
5200	594	498	438
5300	602	504	443
5400	609	510	449
5500	616	516	454
5600	623	522	459
5700	627	525	462
5800	630	528	465
5900	634	531	467
6000	637	534	470
6100	641	537	472
6200	644	540	475
6300	648	543	477
6400	651	545	480
6500	656	549	483
6600	665	557	490
6700	674	564	497
6800	683	572	503
6900	692	579	510
7000	701	587	516
7100	710	594	523
7200	719	602	530
7300	727	609	536
7400	734	615	541
7500	740	620	545
7600	745	624	549
7700	751	629	554
7800	756	634	558
7900	762	638	562
8000	767	643	566
8100	773	647	570
8200	778	652	574
8300	783	656	577
8400	788	660	581
8500	793	664	584
8600	797	668	588
8700	802	672	591
8800	807	676	595
8900	812	680	599
9000	817	684	602
9100	822	689	606
9200	828	694	611
9300	835	699	616
9400	841	705	620
9500	848	710	625
9600	854	716	630
9700	861	721	635
9800	867	727	639
9900	874	732	644
10000	879	737	648
10100	885	741	652
10200	890	745	656
10300	895	750	660
10400	900	754	664
10500	906	759	668
10600	911	763	672
10700	916	767	675
10800	921	772	679
10900	924	774	681
11000	926	776	683
11100	928	778	684
11200	931	780	686
11300	933	782	688
11400	936	784	690
11500	938	786	692
11600	940	788	693
11700	943	790	695
11800	945	792	697
11900	948	794	699
12000	950	796	700

The economic table is presumptive for combined monthly net incomes up to and including twelve thousand dollars. When combined monthly net income exceeds twelve thousand dollars, the court may exceed the presumptive amount of support set for combined monthly net incomes of twelve thousand dollars upon written findings of fact.

Sec. 4. RCW 26.19.065 and 2009 c 84 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Limit at forty-five percent of a parent's net income. Neither parent's child support obligation owed for all his or her biological or legal children may exceed forty-five percent of net income except for good cause shown.

(a) Each child is entitled to a pro rata share of the income available for support, but the court only applies the pro rata share to the children in the case before the court.

(b) Before determining whether to apply the forty-five percent limitation, the court must consider whether it would be unjust to apply the limitation after considering the best interests of the child and the circumstances of each parent. Such circumstances include, but are not limited to, leaving insufficient funds in the custodial parent's household to meet the basic needs of the child, comparative hardship to the affected households, assets or liabilities, and any involuntary limits on either parent's earning capacity including incarceration, disabilities, or incapacity.

(c) Good cause includes, but is not limited to, possession of substantial wealth, children with day care expenses, special medical need, educational need, psychological need, and larger families.

(2) Presumptive minimum support obligation. (a) When a parent's monthly net income is below one hundred twenty-five percent of the federal poverty guideline for a one-person family, a support order of not less than fifty dollars per child per month shall be entered unless the obligor parent establishes that it would be unjust to do so in that particular case. The decision whether there is a sufficient basis to deviate below the presumptive minimum payment must take into consideration the best interests of the child and the circumstances of each parent. Such circumstances can include leaving insufficient funds in the custodial parent's household to meet the basic needs of the child, comparative hardship to the affected households, assets or liabilities, and earning capacity.

(b) The basic support obligation of the parent making the transfer payment, excluding health care, day care, and special child-rearing expenses, shall not reduce his or her net income below the self-support reserve of one hundred twenty-five percent of the federal poverty level for a one-person family, except for the presumptive minimum payment of fifty dollars per child per month or when it would be unjust to apply the self-support reserve limitation after considering the best interests of the child and the circumstances of each parent. Such circumstances include, but are not limited to, leaving insufficient funds in the custodial parent's household to meet the basic needs of the child, comparative hardship to the affected households, assets or liabilities, and earning capacity. This section shall not be construed to require monthly substantiation of income.

(3) Income above twelve thousand dollars. The economic table is presumptive for combined monthly net incomes up to and including twelve thousand dollars. When combined monthly net income exceeds twelve thousand dollars, the court may exceed the presumptive amount of support set for combined monthly net incomes of twelve thousand dollars upon written findings of fact.

Sec. 5. RCW 26.19.075 and 2009 c 84 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Reasons for deviation from the standard calculation include but are not limited to the following:

(a) Sources of income and tax planning. The court may deviate from the standard calculation after consideration of the following:

(i) Income of a new spouse or new domestic partner if the parent who is married to the new spouse or in a partnership with a new domestic partner is asking for a deviation based on any other reason. Income of a new spouse or new domestic partner is not, by itself, a sufficient reason for deviation;

(ii) Income of other adults in the household if the parent who is living with the other adult is asking for a deviation based on any other reason. Income of the other adults in the household is not, by itself, a sufficient reason for deviation;

(iii) Child support actually received from other relationships;

(iv) Gifts;

(v) Prizes;

(vi) Possession of wealth, including but not limited to savings, investments, real estate holdings and business interests, vehicles, boats, pensions, bank accounts, insurance plans, or other assets;

(vii) Extraordinary income of a child;

(viii) Tax planning considerations. A deviation for tax planning may be granted only if the child would not receive a lesser economic benefit due to the tax planning; or

(ix) Income that has been excluded under RCW 26.19.071(4)(((h)))(i) if the person earning that income asks for a deviation for any other reason.

(b) Nonrecurring income. The court may deviate from the standard calculation based on a finding that a particular source of income included in the calculation of the basic support obligation is not a recurring source of income. Depending on the circumstances, nonrecurring income may include overtime, contract-related benefits, bonuses, or income from second jobs. Deviations for nonrecurring income shall be based on a review of the nonrecurring income received in the previous two calendar years.

(c) Debt and high expenses. The court may deviate from the standard calculation after consideration of the following expenses:

(i) Extraordinary debt not voluntarily incurred;

(ii) A significant disparity in the living costs of the parents due to conditions beyond their control;

(iii) Special needs of disabled children;

(iv) Special medical, educational, or psychological needs of the children; or

(v) Costs incurred or anticipated to be incurred by the parents in compliance with court-ordered reunification efforts under chapter 13.34 RCW or under a voluntary placement agreement with an agency supervising the child.

(d) Residential schedule. The court may deviate from the standard calculation if the child spends a significant amount of time with the parent who is obligated to make a support transfer payment. The court may not deviate on that basis if the deviation will result in insufficient funds in the household receiving the support to meet the basic needs of the child or if the child is receiving temporary assistance for needy families. When determining the amount of the deviation, the court shall consider evidence concerning the increased expenses to a parent making support transfer payments resulting from the significant amount of time spent with that parent and shall consider the decreased expenses, if any, to the party receiving the support resulting from the significant amount of time the child spends with the parent making the support transfer payment.

(((e) Children from other relationships. The court may deviate from the standard calculation when either or both of the parents before the court have children from other relationships to whom the parent owes a duty of support.

(i) The child support schedule shall be applied to the mother, father, and children of the family before the court to determine the presumptive amount of support.

(ii) Children from other relationships shall not be counted in the number of children for purposes of determining the basic support obligation and the standard calculation.

(iii) When considering a deviation from the standard calculation for children from other relationships, the court may consider only other children to whom the parent owes a duty of support. The court may consider court-ordered payments of child support for children from other relationships only to the extent that the support is actually paid.

(iv) When the court has determined that either or both parents have children from other relationships, deviations under this section shall be based on consideration of the total circumstances of both households. All child support obligations paid, received, and owed for all children shall be disclosed and considered.))

(2) All income and resources of the parties before the court, new spouses or new domestic partners, and other adults in the households shall be disclosed and considered as provided in this section. The presumptive amount of support shall be determined according to the child support schedule. Unless specific reasons for deviation are set forth in the written findings of fact and are supported by the evidence, the court shall order each parent to pay the amount of support determined by using the standard calculation.

(3) The court shall enter findings that specify reasons for any deviation or any denial of a party's request for any deviation from the standard calculation made by the court. The court shall not consider reasons for deviation until the court determines the standard calculation for each parent.

(4) When reasons exist for deviation, the court shall exercise discretion in considering the extent to which the factors would affect the support obligation.

(5) Agreement of the parties is not by itself adequate reason for any deviations from the standard calculation.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. A new section is added to chapter 26.19 RCW to read as follows:

(1) The court shall make an adjustment to the standard calculation when the obligor has children not before the court, subject to the provisions in this section and the limitations in RCW 26.19.065. If the court adjusts the standard calculation, it shall use the whole family formula as provided in this section.

(2) The child support schedule must first be applied to the parents and the children before the court to determine the standard amount of support.

(3) Children not before the court must not be counted in the number of children for purposes of determining the standard calculation, but must be counted in the adjusted calculation for the obligor parent.

(4) Stepchildren are not considered children not before the court but may be considered as a reason to deviate from either the standard or the adjusted calculation of support.

(5) When the court has determined that either or both parents have children not before the court, adjustments under this section must be based on considerations of the total circumstances of both households including the children of either parent who do not live in the household of the parents. Both parents shall disclose, and the court shall consider, all child support obligations paid, received, and owed for all children.

(6) The court may not adjust the standard calculation on the basis of children not before the court if:

(a) Adjusting the standard calculation would result in insufficient funds to meet the basic needs of the children in the receiving household and, when taking into consideration the totality of the circumstances, the application of the adjustment would be unjust;

(b) The obligee's net income before receiving the support transfer payment is at or below one hundred twenty-five percent of the federal poverty level guidelines for the obligee's household size, including both children before the court and children not before the court; or

(c) It is shown that the obligor parent has not actually paid the child support owed for the obligor's children not before the court who do not live with the obligor, unless there is a reasonable justification for the obligor's nonpayment. When considering whether a reasonable justification exists, the court shall consider the obligor's ability to make full payments of the child support owed for the obligor's children not before the court.

(7) The whole family formula requires the court to:

(a) Determine the total number of children before the court and the total number of children not before the court for the obligor parent;

(b) Determine the monthly basic support obligation from the economic table based on the combined monthly net income of the parents before the court and the obligor's total number of children as determined in (a) of this subsection;

(c) Multiply the monthly basic child support obligation by the obligor's proportional share of the combined monthly net income. This amount is the adjusted transfer payment owed by the obligor parent for the children before the court.

(8) If the court does not establish the transfer payment at an adjusted calculation determined by this section, the court shall set forth specific findings for the difference in the order of child support.

Sec. 7. RCW 26.19.090 and 1991 sp.s. c 28 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The child support schedule shall be advisory and not mandatory for postsecondary educational support.

(2)(a) When considering whether to order support for postsecondary educational expenses, the court shall determine whether the child is in fact dependent and is relying upon the parents for the reasonable necessities of life.

(b) Before determining the parents' obligations for postsecondary educational support, the court shall consider all grants and scholarships awarded to the child, including work-study opportunities if an actual work-study position is available for the child, and subtract those amounts from the total cost of postsecondary educational support to determine the unmet need for postsecondary educational support.

(3) The court shall exercise its discretion when determining whether and for how long to award postsecondary educational support based upon consideration of factors that include but are not limited to the following:

(a) Age of the child;

(b) The child's needs;

(d) The child's prospects, desires, aptitudes, abilities or disabilities;

(e) The nature of the postsecondary education sought; ((and))

(f) The parents' level of education, standard of living, and current and future resources((. Also to be considered are)); and

(g) The amount and type of support that the child would have been afforded if the parents had stayed together.

(((3)))(4) If one or both parents saved separately for postsecondary educational support and paid those amounts directly to the educational institution or the child, those amounts should be considered part of the parent's share of postsecondary educational support.

(5) The child must enroll in an accredited academic or vocational school, must be actively pursuing a course of study commensurate with the child's vocational goals, and must be in good academic standing as defined by the institution. ((The court-ordered postsecondary educational support shall be automatically suspended during the period or periods the child fails to comply with these conditions.

(4)))(6)(a) Unless the support order provides otherwise, a parent may suspend payment of postsecondary educational support based on the child's failure to be enrolled in an accredited academic or vocational school, failure to actively pursue a course of study commensurate with the child's vocational goals, or failure to be in good academic standing as defined by the institution.

(b) The obligation to pay postsecondary educational support remains suspended until the child is in compliance with subsection (5) of this section.

(c) If there is a dispute between the parents or between the parent and the child regarding the child's compliance, either parent may file a motion with the court to seek resolution of the dispute, unless the order establishing the obligation to pay postsecondary educational support provides otherwise.

(7) The child shall also make available all academic records and grades to both parents as a condition of receiving postsecondary educational support. Each parent shall have full and equal access to the postsecondary education records as provided in RCW 26.09.225.

(((5)))(8) The court shall not order the payment of postsecondary educational expenses beyond the child's twenty-third birthday, except for exceptional circumstances, such as mental, physical, or emotional disabilities.

(((6)))(9)(a) The court shall direct that either or both parents' payments for postsecondary educational expenses be made directly to the educational institution if feasible.

(b) If direct payments are not feasible, then the court in its discretion may order that either or both parents' payments be made directly to the child if the child does not reside with either parent.

(c) If the child resides with one of the parents the court may direct that the parent making the postsecondary educational support transfer payments make the payments to the child or to the parent ((who has been receiving the support transfer payments))with whom the child is residing. If the child's living situation changes, that change shall be a basis to change the terms of the postsecondary educational support transfer payment to the other parent.

(d) If the child's living situation changes so that the child is no longer residing with either parent, both parents shall make the payments to the educational institution, if feasible, or to the child.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. This act takes effect October 1, 2015.

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