(1) An employer upon whom service of a wage assignment order has been made shall answer the order by sworn affidavit within twenty days after the date of service. The answer shall state whether the offender is employed by or receives earnings from the employer, whether the employer will honor the wage assignment order, and whether there are multiple attachments against the offender.

(2) If the employer possesses any earnings due and owing to the offender, the earnings subject to the wage assignment order shall be withheld immediately upon receipt of the wage assignment order. The employer shall deliver the withheld earnings to the clerk of the court pursuant to the wage assignment order. The employer shall make the first delivery no sooner than twenty days after receipt of the wage assignment order.

(3) The employer shall continue to withhold the ordered amounts from nonexempt earnings of the offender until notified that the wage assignment has been modified or terminated. The employer shall promptly notify the clerk of the court who entered the order when the employee is no longer employed.

(4) The employer may deduct a processing fee from the remainder of the employee's earnings after withholding under the wage assignment order, even if the remainder is exempt under RCW 9.94A.7703. The processing fee may not exceed: (a) Ten dollars for the first disbursement made by the employer to the clerk of the court; and (b) one dollar for each subsequent disbursement made under the wage assignment order.

(5) An employer who fails to withhold earnings as required by a wage assignment order issued under this chapter may be held liable for the amounts disbursed to the offender in violation of the wage assignment order, and may be found by the court to be in contempt of court and may be punished as provided by law.

(6) No employer who complies with a wage assignment order issued under this chapter may be liable to the employee for wrongful withholding.

(7) No employer may discharge, discipline, or refuse to hire an employee because of the entry or service of a wage assignment order issued and executed under this chapter. A person who violates this subsection may be found by the court to be in contempt of court and may be punished as provided by law.

(8) An employer shall deliver a copy of the wage assignment order to the obligor as soon as is reasonably possible.

Purpose—Prospective application—Effective dates—Severability—1989 c 252: See notes following RCW 9.94A.030.