Senate Rules Committee advances Kristin Erickson Donady to full Senate after discussion of $17 billion in child-support arrears and recent program reforms

The California State Senate Rules Committee unanimously advanced Kristin Erickson Donady to the Senate floor after hearing detailed discussion of the state’s unpaid child-support balance and recent reforms intended to improve collectability and family outcomes.

Erickson Donady, nominated to serve as director of the Department of Child Support Services (DCSS), said the issue of unpaid child support in California has been studied for decades and described steps the department and Legislature have taken to reduce uncollectible debt and make orders reflect parents’ real earning capacity. “The point of the child support arrears and unpaid child support in California has been studied for over 20 years,” Erickson Donady said, noting past Urban Institute analysis and subsequent reforms.

Senators asked about the $17 billion figure for unpaid child support and whether the department has a plan to reduce arrears so payments reach children and caregivers. Erickson Donady described several efforts: changes to the state guideline formula that went into effect in September 2024, an upcoming final rule from Senate Bill 343 that she said will allow courts to focus on a parent’s earning capacity rather than presumptions (effective Jan. 1, 2026), and debt-relief avenues including a compromise program the department operates that negotiates reduced government-owed amounts while recovering some funds.

Erickson Donady told senators DCSS has developed policy changes to better align orders with ability to pay, including a “low-income adjustment” tied to California’s minimum wage to reduce the need for repeated legislative fixes. She said the department’s compromise program yielded nearly $90 million in compromises last year while collecting about $9 million in immediate payments under those agreements.

Committee members also discussed enforcement tools and outcomes. Senator Caballero asked about recent changes that limit the use of driver’s license suspensions for low-income parents. Erickson Donady said DCSS worked with the DMV to release holds for more than 40,000 individuals whose licenses had been suspended, and the department implemented dashboards and manual review processes so counties can examine income thresholds and make holistic determinations in each case.

Senators also asked about the department’s oversight of county child-support agencies. Erickson Donady described four regional administrators who meet frequently with local directors, monthly reporting and a set of practice indicators to assess outcomes such as the percentage of current support collected.

Public testimony at the hearing included advocacy organizations that expressed support for Erickson Donady’s nomination and praised her engagement with community stakeholders while serving as chief deputy director and chief counsel.

The committee voted to move the nomination to the full Senate. The roll-call vote recorded Maguire, Grove, Caballero, Jones and Laird voting aye.