Family law: child support.

(1) Existing law provides procedures to enforce the payment of arrearages owed pursuant to a court order to pay child support, including, among others, authorizing a local child support agency to directly serve on an employer an order/notice to withhold income that specifies an updated arrearage amount and directs the employer to withhold an additional amount to be applied towards liquidation of the arrearage not to exceed the maximum amount permitted by federal law. Existing law provides that if the person who is required to pay child support is disabled, meets certain federal eligibility requirements, and is receiving, or would be eligible for, certain state and federal disability payments, and the person has supplied the local child support agency with proof of eligibility or receipt of these benefits, then the order/notice to withhold income issued for the liquidation of the arrearage shall not exceed 5% of that person's total monthly disability payments, as specified. This bill would similarly prohibit the order/notice to withhold income for the liquidation of the arrearage from exceeding 5% of a person's total monthly disability compensation if the person who is required to pay child support is a disabled veteran receiving disability compensation from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs who meets specified income requirements and has supplied the local child support agency with proof of receipt of disability compensation and other income and assets. By imposing new administrative duties on local child support agencies, this bill would create a state-mandated local program. This bill would also make technical, nonsubstantive changes to these provisions. (2) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.