Tehama County has updated its child support enforcement policy following the implementation of Senate Bill 1055, which changes how unpaid child support impacts driver’s license suspensions.
Under the new law, the Tehama Department of Child Support Services (DCSS) will only suspend a parent’s driver’s license if their annual income exceeds 70% of the median income for the county. For Tehama County, that threshold is $43,085. In neighboring Butte County, the threshold is slightly higher at $48,002, according to U.S. Census data.
The change was made to ease financial burdens on low-income parents who rely on their driver’s license for employment. “The legislature decided to revise our approach to reduce barriers to self-sufficiency, particularly in terms of employment,” said Tonya Moore, director of the Tehama DCSS.
As part of this update, over 140,000 driver’s licenses were reinstated by the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), in cooperation with the state Department of Child Support Services. These licenses were previously suspended for unpaid child support but were returned to parents who meet the income eligibility criteria under the new law. Parents who had their licenses reinstated were notified and instructed to pay a $15 DMV fee when they renew their license.
To enforce the new law, local child support agencies will continue to assess whether a parent qualifies for a suspension based on income levels and payment history. If a parent misses 60 days of child support payments, the Tehama DCSS will send a notification letter and advise the parent to contact their case manager to make payment arrangements.
Tehama County offers multiple payment options, including cash, check, credit card, PayPal, and income withholding, to make it easier for parents to stay current with their child support obligations.
“It’s crucial for parents to stay in touch with the Child Support Services Department,” Moore emphasized. “Keeping the department informed of any changes in income or custody status helps ensure that child support orders remain accurate and manageable.”
In addition to driver’s license suspensions, local agencies use a range of enforcement methods to collect unpaid child support. These include garnishing wages, levying bank accounts, suspending hunting and fishing licenses, and placing liens on property.
“Our department takes a balanced approach,” Moore added. “We use common sense and discretion to decide which enforcement tools are most appropriate based on each case.”
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