Kansas panel hears bill to allow child support for unborn children; critics warn of legal and implementation risks

At a hearing of the Kansas Senate Judiciary Committee, advisers and witnesses discussed House Bill 2062, which would allow courts to order child support for an unborn child from the date of conception and add a statutory definition of "unborn child." The bill would also limit the maximum child support award for an unborn child to the direct medical and pregnancy-related expenses of the mother, excluding costs related to elective abortion.

Supporters told the committee the change mainly clarifies existing practice. Britney Jones, director of policy and engagement at Kansas Family Voice, said HB 2062 "is a very simple way to ensure that courts consider pregnancy-related expenses for a child during child support judgments." Jones and other proponents said many Kansas courts already award pregnancy-related expenses inconsistently and that the bill would make that consideration uniform.

The bill would amend multiple Kansas statutes cited by the Revisor’s office, including the child-support factors statute and sections of the Kansas Parentage Act. The Revisor summarized provisions as adding…