House committee seeks briefing on Child Support Services after HB 352 hearing; members to submit questions

Vice Chair Etcher told the House Health and Human Services Committee that staff should bring in officials from the Child Support Services Division after members said the division could not answer key procedural questions during a recent presentation on House Bill 352.

Etcher said the division had “a very difficult time answering a lot of questions” during the prior presentation and recommended that the committee obtain a fuller briefing on processes, timelines and case-handling so members could decide how to proceed on the bill. He suggested the committee could hold the bill while officials provide the requested information.

Committee members described specific areas they wanted clarified. Representative Kelly said the office’s processes were not clear from the previous hearing and asked for a walkthrough of how the division operates. Representative Close asked how the statute change would alter the existing program; DPHHS had previously testified that additional funding could increase outreach, collaboration, education and prevention. Representative Zephyr asked whether Etcher proposed tabling the bill or scheduling a briefing before further action; Etcher said the bill could be held and the director asked to come present so the committee could “pick their brains” and get answers needed to reach a conclusion.

Committee members agreed on a practical next step: Vice Chair Etcher asked members to submit written questions by the end of the week so staff could compile them and request the director or appropriate staff to appear. Several members suggested preparing a focused list of questions in advance so the department could provide answers during the planned briefing.

Ending: The committee did not take executive action on House Bill 352 in this meeting. Members agreed to collect written questions and seek a department briefing; no vote or formal motion to table was recorded in the transcript.