SSB 5244 Implementing the DRA

New Child Support Law Federal Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (S. 1932) Session Laws of 2007, SSB 5244 Implementation of the Deficit Reduction Act

SSB 5244 In the order of Effective dates, we’ll go through the provisions of the Washington Deficit Reduction Act

Effective July 22, 2007 All child support orders must now have provisions “for medical support orders for the child to be provided by either or both parents, and shall be enforced.

Effective July 22, 2007 Medical support may be enforced against a custodial parent if health care coverage is available at a reasonable cost. However, the Department has rulemaking authority to define the terms of when we may enforce against a custodial parent.

Effective July 22, 2007 Definition of “medical support has changed so that it now may include payments for: Costs of premiums; Deductibles; Co-payments; and Payments for medical expenses incurred on behalf of a child The Department has rulemaking authority to on how they may collect these expenses for either parent.

Effective October 1, 2007 DCS must collect a $25 fee from all custodial parents who have never received TANF, Tribal TANF, or AFDC, after we have first collected $500 from the next $25 we collect during the federal fiscal year on each case.

$25 Fee Relief Washington State did put in a provision that a custodial parent may request a conference board if the fee creates a hardship. 66% of any fee collected goes the federal government.

Effective October 1, 2008 The State will pass through up to $100 of any child support collected to families with one child on Temporary Assistance with Needy Families (TANF). The State will pass through up to $200 for families with two or more children. The child support will be disregarded against their TANF grant, but will still be counted against their Food Stamps.

Effective October 1, 2008 Families will only assign their current support when their receive a TANF grant for the months they are on TANF. They no longer will assign their back support.

October 1, 2008 The exception that IRS intercepts must be distributed to the State first will no longer apply. Any IRS refund collections will be distributed the same as any other collections, even to TANF families.