Have You Seen Mathematical Formulas in California Statute?

Most California statutes use “plain language,” but there are a number of instances of statutes among California’s 29 Codes that have technical language. And, while reviewing 2023 bills reaching the Governor’s Desk, there is SB 343 (Chapter 213) that actually includes math formulas in the state.

In particular, Section 3 of SB 343 added Section 4055 to the Family Code in order to determine child support orders. Section 4055 contains a formula for making that determination. The following is the new statutory language being added to California’s Family Code:

4055.

(a) The statewide uniform guideline for determining child support orders is as follows: CS = K[HN – (H%)(TN)].

(b) (1) The components of the formula are as follows:

(A) CS = child support amount.

(B) K = amount of both parents’ income to be allocated for child support as set forth in paragraph (3).

(C) HN = high earner’s net monthly disposable income.

(D) H% = approximate percentage of time that the high earner has or will have primary physical responsibility for the children compared to the other parent. In cases in which parents have different time-sharing arrangements for different children, H% equals the average of the approximate percentages of time the high earner parent spends with each child.

(E) TN = total net monthly disposable income of both parties.

(2) To compute net disposable income, see Section 4059.

(3) K (amount of both parents’ income allocated for child support) equals one plus H% (if H% is less than or equal to 50 percent) or two minus H% (if H% is greater than 50 percent) times the following fraction:

Moreover, Section 4055 has even codified an example for using the above formula. The following hypothetical is being added to the Family Code:

For example, if H% equals 20 percent and the total monthly net disposable income of the parents is $1,000, K = (1 + 0.20) × (0.165 + 1,000/82,857), or 0.21. If H% equals 80 percent and the total monthly net disposable income of the parents is $1,000, K = (2 – 0.80) × (0.165 + 1,000/82,857), or 0.21.

As a result, even though we do not often see the above language very often, California statutes can actually contain not only technical language, but also they can even contain mathematical formulas and examples for solving math problems!