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Utah House approves child-support income clarification in HB295, 54–15
Summary
The House passed H.B. 295 to clarify earned and unearned income for child-support calculations after adopting a floor amendment; sponsors said the change helps courts calculate support without affecting ORS collections.
The Utah House of Representatives passed House Bill 295 on Feb. 14, 2006, by a 54–15 vote, adopting an amendment that clarifies how courts should treat earned and non‑earned sources of income when calculating child support.
Representative Felt, the bill sponsor, told colleagues the amendment ‘‘simply incorporates the language of an amendment we made earlier in the committee and the body into the long description of the bill’’ to make clear courts should consider both earned income (wages) and non‑earned income (trust distributions or other unearned sources) in child‑support calculations. He said the change aims to help parties settle disputes without resorting to trials.
Representative Dayton asked whether the proposal would affect the Office of Recovery Services’ collections; Felt replied, ‘‘This bill has nothing to do with ORS. This has to do with the court determining what is income for purposes of calculating child support.’’ The sponsor and questioners agreed courts will continue to apply applicable standards when evaluating income sources.
After Representative Felt waived summation, the House opened and closed the roll call. The clerk recorded 54 yes votes and 15 no votes; H.B. 295 passed the House and was referred to the Senate for further consideration.
Next steps: the bill will proceed to the Senate for its consideration. No amendments or motions recorded on the House floor changed the bill’s referral status.
