FINAL BILL REPORT

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.

Senate Committee on Human Services, Reentry & Rehabilitation

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary

House Committee on Appropriations

Background: The Deficit Reduction Act. The federal Deficit Reduction Act (DRA), enacted in 2005, requires states to have a child support enforcement program that complies with federal requirements as a condition to receiving federal funds for child support enforcement and Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF) programs. Prior to the enactment of the DRA, for a family that received TANF cash benefits, the state and federal government retained any current support and assigned arrearages collected up to the cumulative amount of TANF benefits that had been paid to a family. While the state was authorized to pay its share of collections to the family, it was still required to pay the federal government its share of child support collections. Therefore, any pass-through amount to the family was required to be financed completely from state funds.

The DRA allows states to pass-through child support collections to the family up to $100 per month, or $200 per month for a family with two or more children, and does not require the state to pay the federal government the federal share of those payments. The state must disregard the child support collection paid to the family in determining the family's cash TANF benefit.

Suspension of the Child Support Pass-Through. In 2010, with the passage of SSB 6893, the Legislature directed the Division of Child Support to suspend the child support pass-through.

Summary: Effective February 1, 2021, the suspension of the child support pass through is struck and the Division of Child Support shall pass through child support that does not exceed $50 per month collected on behalf of a family, or in the case of a family which includes two or more children, not more than $100 per month.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate	45	0
House	96	0