BILL ANALYSIS Ó SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Senator Ricardo Lara, Chair 2015 - 2016 Regular Session AB 610 (Jones-Sawyer) - Child support: suspension of support order ----------------------------------------------------------------- | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- |--------------------------------+--------------------------------| | | | |Version: July 16, 2015 |Policy Vote: JUD. 7 - 0 | | | | |--------------------------------+--------------------------------| | | | |Urgency: Yes |Mandate: No | | | | |--------------------------------+--------------------------------| | | | |Hearing Date: August 27, 2015 |Consultant: Jolie Onodera | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- *********** ANALYSIS ADDENDUM - SUSPENSE FILE *********** The following information is revised to reflect amendments adopted by the committee on August 27, 2015 Bill Summary: AB 610, an urgency measure, would until January 1, 2020, specify that the suspension of a child support order occurs by operation of law for any period exceeding 90 consecutive days in which an obligor is incarcerated or involuntarily institutionalized, subject to specified exceptions. This bill would require the Department of Child Support Services (DCSS) and the Judicial Council to evaluate the effectiveness of the administrative adjustment process and report to the Legislature by January 1, 2019. Fiscal Impact: Forms and legislative report : Minor and absorbable one-time costs to the Judicial Council and the DCSS to develop the required forms, evaluate the process and report to the AB 610 (Jones-Sawyer) Page 1 of ? Legislature, as specified, on or before January 1, 2019. LCSA administration : Potential minor to moderate increase in local child support agency (LCSA) administrative costs (Federal Funds/General Fund) to comply with the bill's provisions. CalWORKs impact : Minor, if any, loss of child support payment revenue to offset CalWORKs program costs, as only those obligors who do not have the means to pay support will have their child support orders automatically suspended. Author Amendments: Clarify that the local child support agency (LCSA) may adjust orders specifically for those cases in which suspension is required by operation of law. Clarify that only the payments towards interest on any arrears balance that existed prior to incarceration is suspended and that interest on said arrears balance will continue to accrue as required by law. Delete the provision specifying that to the extent the LCSA is enforcing a child support order under federal law, as specified, the bill's provisions apply to an order of modification issued on or after July 1, 2011. Make other technical changes. -- END --