SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2024        FILED ON: 2/19/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 92

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Cynthia Stone Creem

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act to further family-centered child support.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2024        FILED ON: 2/19/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 92

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)

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An Act to further family-centered child support.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Chapter 18 of the general laws is hereby amended by striking section 18A and inserting in place thereof the following new section:--

Section 18A. (a)(1). The department shall impose the sanction required by federal law on any recipient of public assistance funded under Title IV-A of the Social Security Act who, without good cause, does not cooperate with the IV-D agency specified in chapter 119A to establish paternity or to establish, modify, or enforce a child support order on behalf of a child for whom the recipient receives such public assistance.

(2) The department shall determine that a recipient has good cause for not cooperating with the IV-D agency for purposes of this section if:

(A) The child was conceived as a result of incest or rape;

(B) Proceedings for the adoption of the child are pending or under consideration;

(C) Cooperation risks discouraging the noncustodial parent or other relatives of the child from maintaining a relationship with the child or providing emotional or other support;

(D) Cooperation risks physical or emotional harm to the child or the relative with whom the child resides; or

(E) Cooperation is otherwise not in the child’s best interest.

SECTION 2. Section 2 of chapter 118 of the general laws is hereby amended by inserting at the end of the first paragraph the following:- Child support collected on behalf of a recipient of benefits under this chapter shall be paid to the family. In determining the family’s countable income, the department shall disregard the first $500 per month in child support paid to the family.

SECTION 3. Section 2 of chapter 119A of the general laws is hereby amended by adding at the end of subsection (a) the following:- The IV-D agency shall provide paternity only services in an intrastate case upon the request of an individual who is not required to cooperate with the IV-D agency to establish paternity or to establish, modify, or enforce a child support order.