BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                  AB 862
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   May 4, 2005

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                   Judy Chu, Chair

                    AB 862 (Bass) - As Amended:  April 21, 2005  

          Policy Committee:                              Public  
          SafetyVote:  4-2

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:   
          No     Reimbursable:               

           SUMMARY  

          This bill requires every state prison inmate who is the parent  
          of a minor child to receive information regarding modification  
          of child support orders, as developed by the Department of Child  
          Support Services (DCSS). Information shall include:

             a)   A DCSS Child Support Handbook.
             b)   A "Child Support Information for the Parent in Jail or  
               Prison" pamphlet.
             c)   Information and forms on Compromise of Assigned  
               Arrearages. 
             d)   Information on services provided by the family law  
               facilitators. 
           
           FISCAL EFFECT  

          1)Minor absorbable costs to the Department of Corrections to  
            distribute materials.

          2)Minor costs - less than $50,000 - to the DCSS to provide  
            materials. 

          3)Unknown potential out-year increase in child support  
            collections, to the extent this bill helps inmates manage  
            their fiscal responsibilities.  

           COMMENTS  

           Rationale  .  The purpose of this bill is to create a uniform  
          notification process in state prisons to provide incarcerated  
          parents with information on their responsibilities relating to  








                                                                  AB 862
                                                                  Page  2

          the process and procedures for modification of child support  
          orders. 

          According to the author, "There are a large number of men and  
          women entering state prison with existing child support orders  
          against them. Many parents may not be aware of the orders  
          against them. If individuals become aware of support orders,  
          many are unaware of their responsibility to notify the court of  
          their change in circumstance, how to access the process for  
          modification or what must be done to petition for modification  
          while in prison and unable to earn?

          "This bill is not an attempt to suspend the support obligations  
          of incarcerated individuals, but to ensure that they are  
          adequately informed of the need to modify their support orders  
          and are provided the vital information and resources to do so."

            Analysis Prepared by  :    Geoff Long / APPR. / (916) 319-2081