Child support: vocational examination.

Existing law provides that in a dissolution or legal separation proceeding raising spousal support issues, the court may order either party to submit to an examination by a vocational training counselor, as specified. Existing law provides that the focus of this examination is to obtain an assessment of a spouse's ability to obtain employment that would allow the party to maintain herself or himself at the marital standard of living. Existing law also provides that both parents have an equal responsibility to support their child in the manner suitable to the child's circumstances, and the court may order either or both parents to pay an amount necessary for the support of the child. This bill would authorize a court, in a proceeding in which child support is an issue, to order a party to submit to an examination by a vocational training counselor, as defined. The bill would provide that the focus of this examination is to obtain an assessment of a spouse's ability to obtain employment that would allow the party to meet his or her duty to provide support of the minor child.