SB 163

This bill makes changes to the requirements for notice of a change of employer, address, and ability to pay for parties in child support and maintenance agreements.

Under current law, the requirements for a notice of a change of employer, address, or ability to pay in child support and maintenance agreements apply only to payers of child support or maintenance. The bill extends these requirements to payees. The bill also specifies that the type of income for which a party must notify the other party of a change is defined by rule by the Department of Children and Families. DCF currently defines “gross income” for child support purposes to include a number of income sources, including wages and salaries, investment income, and certain benefits.

The bill establishes that in an order for child support, but not maintenance, neither party is required to disclose income that is not considered gross income under DCF rules and the payee is not required to disclose a change in employer or income if the payer is not a “shared-placement parent,” as defined by DCF.

The bill also removes references to “family support,” an alternative form of support that combined child support and maintenance into a single obligation. Orders for family support in this state were eliminated by

2021 Wisconsin Act 35

.

Finally, the bill allows a party to redact certain personally identifying information from an income change notice to another party, establishes the confidentiality of any information disclosed as part of an income change notice, and establishes that an individual who fails to provide an income change notice required under law may be proceeded against for contempt of court and may be required to provide damages, including reasonable attorney fees.