04/06/2004 04:21 PM Senate FIN

                                                                                                                                
     SENATE CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 513(JUD)                                                                                      
     "An Act relating  to the enforcement of support  orders through                                                            
     suspension  of  drivers' licenses;  changing  the  name of  the                                                            
     child support enforcement  agency to the child support services                                                            
     agency;  amending Rules  90.3 and 90.5,  Alaska Rules  of Civil                                                            
     Procedure; and providing for an effective date."                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
This  was the first  hearing  for this  bill in  the Senate  Finance                                                            
Committee.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Wilken stated  this bill, sponsored by Representative Kott,                                                            
"changes the name  of the Child Support Enforcement  Division to the                                                            
Child  Support Services  Division and  it simplifies  the method  in                                                            
which the Division may revoke an obligor's drivers license."                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JOHN MAIN,  Staff to Representative  Pete  Kott, testified  that the                                                            
Division performs  functions in addition to enforcing  child support                                                            
orders,  specifically  educating  the public  about  the meaning  of                                                            
child support.  He furthered the proposed  name change would  foster                                                            
an attitude that the Division  is service oriented. He noted several                                                            
other states are considering similar title changes.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Main stated  this bill would also  "close a loophole"  for those                                                            
in arrears. He  detailed the current process in which  an individual                                                            
found incompliant  is sent a letter directing that  person to become                                                            
compliant within  60 days. After this, he continued,  the individual                                                            
is given 150 days in which  to comply. If during the 150-day period,                                                            
that individual  agrees  to comply,  he informed  that the  driver's                                                            
license is returned;  however, if the individual stops  making child                                                            
support payments,  the process start  again. He explained  that this                                                            
legislation  would provide that the  process would resume  "where it                                                            
left off",  with the  individual  subject to  compliance within  the                                                            
remaining number of days  of the original notification. He qualified                                                            
that a two-year  limit would be implemented for each  individual, at                                                            
which time this provision would not apply.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Dyson noted  the zero fiscal  note from  the Department  of                                                            
Revenue.  He asked if stationary  and other  items printed  with the                                                            
Division's current  name would be used until supplies  run out, then                                                            
replaced with the updated title.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Main replied this is his understanding.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Senator Dyson  and Mr. Main clarified that other provisions  related                                                            
to this Division  that would make  broader changes, are included  in                                                            
separate legislation.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Senator Dyson  offered a  motion to report  the bill from  Committee                                                            
with individual recommendations and accompanying fiscal notes.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
There being  no objection,  SCS HB  513 (JUD)  MOVED from  Committee                                                            
with zero  fiscal note  #1 from  the Alaska Court  System, and  zero                                                            
fiscal note #2 from the Department of Revenue.