HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 862        FILED ON: 1/17/2023

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

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Christine P. Barber and Jennifer Balinsky Armini

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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:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 862        FILED ON: 1/17/2023

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

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 183 OF 2021-2022.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

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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.