ASSEMBLY COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE

 

STATEMENT TO

 

ASSEMBLY, No. 2646

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

DATED: FEBRUARY 3, 1997

 

      The Assembly Community Services Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No.2646.

      This bill amends P.L.1981, c.417 (C.2A:17-56.7 et seq.) to require all court orders for child support to include immediate income withholding unless the order or judgment expressly provides for an alternative payment arrangement.

      Under current law, each court order or judgment must specifically include a provision requiring that child support is payable by income withholding. If an order does not contain such a provision, the Probation Division does not initiate an income withholding unless the obligor fails to pay the support and accumulates an arrearage equal to 14 days of support.

      By amending P.L.1981, c.417, the processing of income withholdings can be improved and the need for an income withholding provision in each child support order would be avoided.

      Additionally, this bill adds a 15-day processing time standard for the Probation Division which is consistent with the federal time standard.

      References to "probation department" have been replaced by "Probation Division" to reflect the State takeover of the county probation departments which occurred pursuant to P.L.1993, c.275 (C.2B:10-1 et seq.).