Legislature(1997 - 1998)
1998-01-22 Senate Journal
Full Journal pdf1998-01-22 Senate Journal Page 2261 SB 252 SENATE BILL NO. 252 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled: An Act relating to paternity establishment and child support; relating to the crimes of criminal nonsupport and aiding the nonpayment of child support; and amending Rule 37(b)(2)(D), Alaska Rules of Civil Procedure; and providing for an effective date. was read the first time and referred to the Health, Education and Social Services, Judiciary and Finance Committees. Zero fiscal notes published today from Department of Revenue, Department of Administration (2). Indeterminate fiscal note published today from Department of Administration. Governors transmittal letter dated January 21: Dear President Miller: 1998-01-22 Senate Journal Page 2262 SB 252 While federal welfare reform law gave our state greater flexibility for providing public assistance, it also required Alaska and other states to make extensive changes to their state child support laws. The attached bill is needed to satisfy mandates placed on Alaska by the federal Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996. Failure to comply with the federal child support mandates may result in a significant reduction in federal financial participation to the state for public assistance, unemployment, and child support enforcement programs. The state's enactment of Senate Bill 154 last year met most, but not all, of the federal child support mandates of federal welfare reform. More needs to be done to finish the job. This bill will do that by making additional changes to Alaska's statutes. Under this bill, all employers in the state would be required to report each new hire to the state child support enforcement agency within 20 days. The state will share this information with the federal child support agency and the child support agencies of other states. Timely access to this information may help avoid significant delays in support payments for some children. The bill would also fine-tune state procedures for establishing paternity and for enforcing child support orders. The bill would also make state law conform to new federal requirements regarding reporting of social security numbers for certain licensees not already required to report under state law. The social security numbers provide an invaluable means of ensuring that support payments are timely received and accurately recorded. The bill also amends the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (UIFSA), which Alaska enacted in 1995, to reflect subsequent changes to the uniform Act adopted by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws. Congress requires that our state child support laws be consistent with the uniform Act. 1998-01-22 Senate Journal Page 2263 SB 252 Finally, this bill will give state courts the power to suspend or revoke, in appropriate circumstances, the recreational hunting and fishing licenses and certain permits of obligors who are out of compliance with child support laws. I urge your prompt attention to this important matter. Alaska's children are our most precious resource and they deserve timely access to child support necessary for their care. Sincerely, /s/ Tony Knowles Governor