Bill > H183

This bill makes several key changes to family-centered child support policies in Massachusetts. Firstly, it requires the Department of Children and Families to impose federal sanctions on public assistance recipients who do not cooperate with the child support enforcement agency (IV-D agency) to establish paternity or child support orders, unless the recipient has "good cause" such as the child being conceived through incest or rape, or cooperation not being in the child's best interest. Secondly, it requires child support collected on behalf of public assistance recipients to be paid directly to the family and disregards the first $500 per month of child support when determining the family's countable income. Lastly, it allows the IV-D agency to provide paternity establishment services upon request to individuals not required to cooperate with the agency.

Health and Social Services

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/H183