Assembly Bill 153 proposes amendments to the statutes governing child support and maintenance orders in Wisconsin, specifically focusing on the notification requirements for changes in income, employer, and address. The bill extends the existing notification obligations, which previously applied only to payers of child support or maintenance, to include payees as well. It also clarifies that the definition of income for notification purposes will be determined by the Department of Children and Families (DCF), which currently includes various sources such as wages, investment income, and certain benefits. Additionally, the bill specifies that in cases where only child support is ordered, neither party must disclose income not classified as gross income by DCF, and payees are not required to notify payers of changes in employer or income if the payer is not a shared-placement parent.

Furthermore, the bill removes references to family support, which was previously a combined obligation of child support and maintenance, as this form of support was eliminated by a prior act. It introduces provisions allowing parties to redact personally identifying information from income change notices, establishes confidentiality for such disclosures, and outlines penalties for failing to provide required notifications, including potential contempt of court and the awarding of damages. The bill also renumbers and amends existing statutes to reflect these changes, ensuring clarity and compliance with the new requirements.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 767.58(2), 767.58, 767.59(3), 767.59