HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1803        FILED ON: 1/13/2009

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 127

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Nine

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Resolve [Title].

Resolved, that a special commission is hereby established for the purpose of conducting an investigation and study relative to the contributions of non-custodial parents. The commission shall examine the current policies relative to the following issues, including but not limited to: the appropriate rate of interest applied to, and the timely payment of, arrearage by the non-custodial parent; requiring the non-custodial parent contribute fifty percent of all medical, dental, and day care costs; requiring the non-custodial parent to contribute to the cost of summer camp, and school vacation costs; requiring the non-custodial parent to contribute to the post-secondary education of their child until the age of twenty five.

The commission shall consist of the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on children and families, who shall serve as co-chairs of the commission; 1 member to be appointed by the senate president, 1 member to be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; 1 member to be appointed by the senate minority leader; 1 member to be appointed by the house minority leader, the chief justice of the probate and family court or his designee; the commissioner of the department of revenue or his designee and the commissioner of the department of children and families.

The commission shall report to the general court the results of its investigation and study and its recommendations, if any, together with drafts of legislation necessary to carry its recommendations into effect by filing the same with the clerks of the senate and house of representatives not later than 120 days after the first meeting of the commission.