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Committee advances bill to move child-support license-exemption rule into statute, removes TANF exemption
Summary
Senate Bill 1051, sponsored by Sen. Brandon Shippey, was advanced to the floor. The bill transfers an administrative rule about child-support-related driver's and occupational license suspensions into statute and removes Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients from a rare "good cause" exemption.
The Senate Health and Welfare Committee voted to advance Senate Bill 1051 to the floor after sponsor Senator Brandon Shippey described the measure as a transfer of long-standing administrative rule language into statute and a narrowing of a rarely used exemption.
"The proposed legislation seeks to move a long standing provision of administrative rule from the department's control back into the hands of the elected legislature," Senator Brandon Shippey said. He asked the committee to move section 302 from IDAPA rule 16.03.00.03 (Child Support Services) into statute.
Shippey told the committee the bill removes recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) from a "good cause" exemption that prevents suspension of a driver's or occupational license for nonpayment of child support. He said the exemption was "rarely used" and applied to "less than 0.1 of all good cause exemptions in 2024." He also noted that other exemptions — for people who are disabled, unable to work due to illness or injury, are students, incarcerated, or receiving Supplemental Security Income — would remain available.
Shippey said he discussed the proposal with the Department of Health and Welfare and that the chapter has been reviewed previously in 2022 and is scheduled for zero-based regulation in the next session.
Senator Harris moved to send Senate Bill 1051 to the floor with a due-pass recommendation; Senator Keiser seconded. The committee approved the motion by voice vote; members present answered "aye," and no opposition was recorded.
No public testimony was recorded during the committee hearing on the bill, though Shippey noted a department representative was available to answer technical questions.
