(a) The Department of Child Support Services shall notify the director whether an individual filing a claim for unemployment compensation after October 1, 1982, owes support obligations as defined under subdivision (h), and notify the department of any changes in the status of these individuals to ensure that the department has a current record.

(b) The department shall maintain and keep current a record of individuals who owe support obligations and who may have claims for unemployment compensation benefits.

(c) The department shall deduct and withhold support obligations as defined under subdivision (h) from any unemployment compensation payable to an individual who owes these obligations.

(d) Any amount deducted and withheld under subdivision (c) shall be paid by the department to the appropriate county or to the Department of Child Support Services as the assigned payee, as stipulated by mutual agreement, in the interagency agreement between the department and the Department of Child Support Services.

(e) Any amount deducted and withheld under subdivision (c) shall for all purposes be treated as if it were paid to the individual as unemployment compensation and paid by the individual to the Department of Child Support Services.

(f) For purposes of subdivisions (a) to (e), inclusive, “unemployment compensation” means any compensation payable under this division, except Part 2 (commencing with Section 2601), but including amounts payable by the department pursuant to an agreement under any federal unemployment compensation law.

(g) This section applies only if appropriate arrangements have been made for reimbursement by the Department of Child Support Services for the administrative costs incurred by the Employment Development Department.

(h) For purposes of this section, “support obligations” means the child and related spousal support obligations which are being enforced pursuant to a plan described in Section 454 of the Social Security Act and as that section may hereafter be amended. However, to the extent “related spousal support obligations” may not be collected from unemployment compensation under federal law, those obligations shall not be included in the definition of support obligations under this section.

(Amended by Stats. 2000, Ch. 808, Sec. 116. Effective September 28, 2000.)