CA SB124

Suspends child support obligations by operation of law when a parent is incarcerated or involuntarily institutionalized for periods exceeding 90 consecutive days, unless they have means to pay; eliminates the domestic violence exemption and applies to all accrued obligations regardless of order date.

Requires the Judicial Council to include labor market data, poverty impact analysis, and other factors in periodic reviews of the child support guideline; prohibits courts from treating incarceration as voluntary unemployment when determining earning capacity.

Establishes a child support passthrough program to provide collected support payments to former CalWORKs recipients (except foster care), with undeliverable payments after 6 months going to recoup previously paid aid; becomes operative July 1, 2023 or when system automation is complete.

Creates the Excellence in Family Finding, Engagement, and Support Program with state funding for counties and tribes to conduct specialized permanency work focused on establishing permanent connections for foster children through culturally responsive services.

Establishes the Tribally Approved Homes Compensation Program providing $75,000 annual allocations to federally recognized tribes for recruiting and approving foster/adoptive homes under the Indian Child Welfare Act, and the Tribal Dependency Representation Program providing $15,000 annually for legal representation in Indian child custody proceedings.