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Bill would require Social Security numbers on Maryland domestic partnership applications to protect federal child‑support funding
Summary
HB 323 would add Social Security number collection to the domestic partnership registration to conform with federal child‑support data‑matching requirements; sponsor says failing to collect could risk federal TANF funds; Register of Wills and child‑support officials supported the change.
The House Judiciary Committee heard testimony on House Bill 323, which would require applicants for Maryland registered domestic partnerships to provide Social Security numbers on filing forms.
Delegate Kathy Szeliga Forbes (presenting HB 323) told the committee the bill corrects an ‘‘oversight’’ in the domestic‑partnership law. Forbes said federal statutes require states to collect Social Security numbers for a wide range of licenses to aid child‑support enforcement, and that failure to comply can put federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funding at risk.
Alexis Burrell Rohde, register of wills for Baltimore County, testified in support and said the change parallels the existing marriage‑license requirement. Forbes said the amendment closely mirrors the language already used for marriage licenses so the change is administrative and aimed at preserving federal funding.
Committee members asked whether the measure would affect individuals’ ability to access benefits; Forbes and Rohde said the provision’s purpose is to help child‑support enforcement and preserve federal funds, not to block individual benefits.
No committee vote was recorded at the hearing. Supporters asked the committee to issue a favorable report.
— Ending: The bill sponsor said materials including the original domestic‑partnership statute and the federal citation were linked in the bill packet for members to review; the committee proceeded to the next bill after testimony concluded.
