Bill Text - HB450 (2005)

Extending the commission to study child support and related child custody issues and relative to hiring economists to assist in revising the child support guidelines and making an appropriation therefor.

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Revision: Jan. 21, 2010, midnight

09Mar2005… 0394h

05/26/05 1483s

29Jun2005… 2011eba

2005 SESSION

05-0586

05/03

HOUSE BILL 450-FN-A

COMMITTEE: Children and Family Law

AMENDED ANALYSIS

This bill extends the commission to study child support and related child custody issues established in 2003, 277.

The bill also makes an appropriation to the department of health and human services for the purpose of hiring economists to assist in revising, if appropriate, the child support guidelines.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

09Mar2005… 0394h

05/26/05 1483s

29Jun2005… 2011eba

05-0586

05/03

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Five

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

256:1 Extension of Commission to Study Child Support and Related Child Custody Issues. The commission to study child support and related child custody issues, established in 2003, 277 (HB 310), shall be extended in order to continue studying the recommendations of its final report dated December 4, 2004, as well as any new economic data on the cost of raising children in New Hampshire, and to serve as a continuing resource to the general court and the department of health and human services in revising, if appropriate, the child support guidelines. The commission shall study the problem of how many financial “add-ons” parents can afford over and above their child support obligation and how that affects the ability to pay child support obligations. The incumbent house members of the commission shall call the meeting to reconvene the commission. Upon reconvening, the commission shall elect a chairperson and vice-chairperson from among the members and shall meet with such frequency as the commission deems appropriate. A vacancy on the commission shall be filled by the original appointing authority. The commission shall submit a final report relative to implementation of its recommendations on or before December 1, 2006, as well as any new economic data on the cost of raising children, to the speaker of the house of representatives, the senate president, the governor, the house clerk, the senate clerk, and the state library.

256:2 Appropriation to Department of Health and Human Services; Economist. The sum of $80,000 is hereby appropriated to the department of health and human services, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2006, for the purpose of hiring economists to assist in revising the child support guidelines. The department also may accept any matching federal funds available for such purpose. The economists shall be qualified to assist the department and the commission to study child support and related child custody issues, established in 2003, 277 (HB 310), in developing, if appropriate, a basic cost model or similar method that will consider an equitable and affordable sharing of child support obligations and that will ensure that the best interests of the child have been taken into consideration in determining child support awards. The funds shall be in addition to any other funds appropriated to the department of health and human services. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sums out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.

256:3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.

(Approved: Enacted in accordance with Article 44, Part II of N.H. Constitution, without signature of the governor, July 16, 2005.)

(Effective Date: July 16, 2005