Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee |
2SSB 5144
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 Description: Implementing child support pass-through payments.
Sponsors: Senate Committee on Human Services, Reentry & Rehabilitation (originally sponsored by Senators Dhingra, O'Ban, Wilson, C., Keiser, Darneille and Frockt).
Brief Summary of Second Substitute Bill |
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Hearing Date: 2/25/20
Staff: Edie Adams (786-7180).
Background:
Federal law requires states to have a child support enforcement program that complies with federal requirements as a condition of receiving federal funds for child support enforcement and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs. As a condition of receiving TANF cash benefits, a family must assign its rights to child support to the state during the months the family receives the benefits. Assigned child support collections are retained by states and the federal government as partial reimbursement for TANF assistance.
The federal Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 allows states to pass through up to $100 per month of collected child support to TANF families with one child and up to $200 per month of collected child support to TANF families with two or more children without having to reimburse the federal government for its share of the child support collected. This is known as the child support pass through. States that opt to implement the child support pass through must disregard the child support collection paid to the family in determining the family's cash TANF benefit.
Washington implemented child support pass-through payments in October 2008, but suspended the child support pass-through payments effective May 1, 2011.
Summary of Bill:
Effective February 1, 2021, the Department of Social and Health Services is required to pass through to families receiving assistance under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program up to $50 per month in collected child support for a family with one child and up to $100 per month in child support for a family with two or more children. The pass-through payments must be implemented in accordance with the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.