HB1699
To Streamline Modification Of Child Support When A Payor Parent Is Released From Incarceration; And To Facilitate A Recently Incarcerated Parent's Prompt Payment Toward The Support Of His Or Her Minor Child.
Last Action (May 1, 2023): Died in House Committee at Sine Die Adjournment
Sponsors
AI-Generated Summary
House Bill 1699 aims to streamline the process for modifying child support obligations for parents who are recently released from incarceration. The bill establishes that a parent’s release from incarceration constitutes a material change in circumstances, allowing them to petition for a child support modification based on their actual income. It mandates increased information sharing and coordination between the Office of Child Support Enforcement and the Division of Correction, Division of Community Correction, and parole/probation officers. These agencies are required to screen individuals nearing release or currently under supervision to identify existing child support orders. Furthermore, the bill obligates parole and probation officers to collect and report updated employment and contact information for these parents to the Office of Child Support Enforcement. The legislation also directs the Department of Finance and Administration and the Department of Corrections to promulgate rules for implementation by January 2024.
Potential Impact Analysis
Who Might Benefit?
The primary beneficiaries include parents returning from incarceration, who gain a clearer legal pathway to adjust their child support obligations to match their current financial reality, potentially preventing the accumulation of unmanageable debt. Additionally, the children of these parents may benefit from more realistic support orders that increase the likelihood of actual, consistent payments. The Office of Child Support Enforcement also benefits from improved data accuracy and inter-agency cooperation, which enhances their ability to enforce support orders effectively.
Who Might Suffer?
Individuals under community supervision (parolees and probationers) may be negatively impacted by the increased surveillance and mandatory reporting requirements imposed on their parole and probation officers, as they are required to disclose significant personal information, including employment and residential details, to the Office of Child Support Enforcement. Additionally, correctional and community supervision staff may face an increased administrative burden due to the new requirements to screen, monitor, and report on the child support obligations of the individuals they supervise.
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