Bill > H4910

This bill aims to improve child support collection and ensure families receive a portion of the support collected. It modifies existing laws to require the department to impose sanctions on recipients of public assistance funded under Title IV-A of the Social Security Act (a federal program providing cash assistance to low-income families) if they don't cooperate with the IV-D agency (the state agency responsible for child support enforcement) to establish paternity or enforce child support orders, unless they have good cause, which includes situations like incest, rape, pending adoption, or if cooperation would harm the child or their relationship with the noncustodial parent or other relatives. The bill also establishes that starting July 1, 2027, the first $100 per month collected for one child and the first $200 per month collected for two or more children will be paid directly to families receiving public assistance and will not count towards their income when determining benefit eligibility. This provision also applies to former recipients of assistance, ensuring they receive a portion of collected support, even for past-due amounts assigned to the state or collected through federal tax refund offsets.

Budget and Finance

Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities (Joint)

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H4910