Section 4054 Of Article 2. Statewide Uniform Guideline From California Family Law Code >> Division 9. >> Part 2. >> Chapter 2. >> Article 2.
4054
. (a) The Judicial Council shall periodically review the
statewide uniform guideline to recommend to the Legislature
appropriate revisions.
(b) The review shall include economic data on the cost of raising
children and analysis of case data, gathered through sampling or
other methods, on the actual application of the guideline after the
guideline's operative date. The review shall also include an analysis
of guidelines and studies from other states, and other research and
studies available to or undertaken by the Judicial Council.
(c) Any recommendations for revisions to the guideline shall be
made to ensure that the guideline results in appropriate child
support orders, to limit deviations from the guideline, or otherwise
to help ensure that the guideline is in compliance with federal law.
(d) The Judicial Council may also review and report on other
matters, including, but not limited to, the following:
(1) The treatment of the income of a subsequent spouse or
nonmarital partner.
(2) The treatment of children from prior or subsequent
relationships.
(3) The application of the guideline in a case where a payer
parent has extraordinarily low or extraordinarily high income, or
where each parent has primary physical custody of one or more of the
children of the marriage.
(4) The benefits and limitations of a uniform statewide spousal
support guideline and the interrelationship of that guideline with
the state child support guideline.
(5) Whether the use of gross or net income in the guideline is
preferable.
(6) Whether the guideline affects child custody litigation or the
efficiency of the judicial process.
(7) Whether the various assumptions used in computer software used
by some courts to calculate child support comport with state law and
should be made available to parties and counsel.
(e) The initial review by the Judicial Council shall be submitted
to the Legislature and to the Department of Child Support Services on
or before December 31, 1993, and subsequent reviews shall occur at
least every four years thereafter unless federal law requires a
different interval.
(f) In developing its recommendations, the Judicial Council shall
consult with a broad cross-section of groups involved in child
support issues, including, but not limited to, the following:
(1) Custodial and noncustodial parents.
(2) Representatives of established women's rights and fathers'
rights groups.
(3) Representatives of established organizations that advocate for
the economic well-being of children.
(4) Members of the judiciary, district attorney's offices, the
Attorney General's office, and the Department of Child Support
Services.
(5) Certified family law specialists.
(6) Academicians specializing in family law.
(7) Persons representing low-income parents.
(8) Persons representing recipients of assistance under the
CalWORKs program seeking child support services.
(g) In developing its recommendations, the Judicial Council shall
seek public comment and shall be guided by the legislative intent
that children share in the standard of living of both of their
parents.