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House advances measures on child‑support enforcement and guidelines, including requirement changes and procedural deadlines
Summary
Lawmakers considered two related child‑support measures: HB 269 (criminal nonsupport amendments) that raises the prosecutable age and requires defendants to file reasons before court; and HB 255, a multi‑year consensus update to child‑support guidelines with bracket and accountability changes.
On third reading the House considered two items on child support.
House Bill 269 (Criminal Nonsupport Amendments) was described by the sponsor as easing prosecution and clarifying procedures. The bill raises the age threshold for criminal prosecution from 16 to 18, clarifies that leaving the state for 30 days with intent to avoid payments can constitute an offense, and requires a defendant to file with the court, 10 days before the hearing, a written explanation of why payments were not made so the state can verify claims of inability to pay. The sponsor said the changes are intended to expedite resolution and reduce dismissals due to unverified claims. “This bill requires 10 days before the court date a defendant must file with the court his reason for not paying child support,” the sponsor said. The clerk announced that House Bill 269 received 45 yes and 22 no votes and passed the House; it was referred to the Senate.
Representatives also debated House Bill 255, a larger update to the child‑support guidelines developed over several years by a task force, described on the floor as a consensus recommendation. The proposal would increase guideline amounts roughly 10–15% up to specified income brackets (the sponsor said the increase would apply up to about $80,400 and that higher brackets were addressed by amendment), remove automatic presumptions for very low combined incomes (those under $650 monthly), and add some accountability for how support payments are used. The sponsor moved amendments and later sought to add intent language incorporating a 1993 advisory committee report by reference; that intent language was approved on the floor as the House prepared the bill for further consideration.
Members emphasized this was a compromise developed with custodial and noncustodial advisors, the judiciary, and recovery services, and several representatives said they would offer or support amendments before final enactment.
