BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
Senator Kevin Murray, Chairman
1483 (Alquist)
Hearing Date: 5/25/06 Amended: 5/2/06
Consultant: John Decker Policy Vote: Judic 4-0
_________________________________________________________________
____
BILL SUMMARY: SB 1483 would create a five-county pilot project
to expedite uncontested modification of child-support orders.
_________________________________________________________________
____
Fiscal Impact (in thousands)
Major Provisions 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 Fund
Court costs --- unknown, potential reduction
---------
State mandated program ------ unknown, non-reimburseable
------General
Compile & report data 25 General
Develop & promulgate regulations -unknown
--------------------------------General
_________________________________________________________________
____
STAFF COMMENTS: Suspense File. As proposed to be amended.
Beginning January 1, 2007, the bill establishes a 24-month
"pilot," or demonstration, project allowing local child support
agencies to modify support orders without going through the
courts. The five participating counties (Alameda, Fresno,
Orange, San Mateo, and Santa Clara) must create an expedited
process, issue forms and information and report statistics to
the state. Because these duties are required by the bill, the
costs associated with performing these mandates could be state
reimburseable. It is difficult to estimate these mandate costs,
and the department did not have estimates available at the time
of this analysis. Committee staff estimated, assuming each
county devoted a half position to implementing this bill,
reimbursements could be $60,000 in the budget year (half year),
$125,000 in 2007-08 (full year) and $60,000 in 2008-09 (half
year). These costs could be offset in part or whole by reduced
court costs attributable to reducing the volume of child-support
cases.
In addition, the bill requires the Department of Child Support
Services to compile data and report an evaluation of the
program's effectiveness. The report is due on or before January
1, 2008. Assuming the department assigns a half position to
complete the report, then state costs could be in the range of
$25,000 in 2007-08.
Finally, the Department of Child Support Services would likely
have to develop and issue emergency regulations for this pilot.
The department had not estimated these costs when the analysis
was completed, but costs are likely to be less than $25,000.
As proposed to be amended, participation in the "pilot" would be
voluntary.