Senate panel advances RS32137 to move child-support license-exemption rules into statute

The Idaho Senate Health and Welfare Committee voted to send RS32137 to print on a voice vote after a brief presentation by Sen. Brandon Shippey.

Sen. Brandon Shippey, R-District 9, said the proposal moves section 302 from IDAPA 16.03.03 (Child Support Services) into statute. "This RS moves section 302 from IDAPA 16.03.03, child support services, from administrative rule into statute," Shippey said. He told the committee the draft is intended to return the rule to the Legislature and noted the text largely reflects longstanding practice.

The bill would keep existing good-cause exemptions but remove temporary assistance for needy families (TANF) as an allowed ground to avoid suspension of a driver’s or occupational license for nonpayment of child support. "The only change from the rules to this current legislation is eliminating the TANF . . . as an allowed good cause exemption," Shippey said, and he declined to discuss additional details until the full hearing.

Sen. Melissa Wintrow asked whether these were rules previously reviewed; Shippey replied they had been discussed with the department and deferred finer details to a future hearing. The committee then approved a motion to print RS32137; the motion was made and seconded and carried on a voice vote.

The measure will be drafted for introduction; committee members did not conduct a substantive hearing on the statutory language during this meeting. Staff indicated the fuller hearing and debate would occur at a subsequent meeting when statutory text is available for review.

Votes at this meeting on RS32137 were procedural: the committee voted to send the request to print (formal hearing to follow).