Revision: Jan. 1, 2008, midnight
HB 1190 – AS INTRODUCED
2008 SESSION
05/09
HOUSE BILL 1190
AN ACT establishing a commission to study issues related to child support.
SPONSORS: Rep. McRae, Hills 7; Rep. Matarazzo, Hills 20
COMMITTEE: Children and Family Law
This bill establishes a commission to study issues related to child support.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
08-2185
05/09
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eight
AN ACT establishing a commission to study issues related to child support.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Commission Established. There is established a commission to study issues related to child support.
2 Membership and Compensation.
I. The members of the commission shall be as follows:
(a) Three members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
(b) Three members of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.
(c) The director of the division of child support services, department of health and human services, or designee.
(d) A representative of the Carsey Institute at the University of New Hampshire, appointed by the institute.
(e) The chairperson of the guardian ad litem board, or designee.
(f) The administrative judge of the judicial branch family division, or designee.
II. Members of the commission shall serve without compensation, except that legislative members of the commission shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the commission.
3 Duties of the Commission. The commission shall:
I. Study the New Hampshire child support guidelines and their application pursuant to RSA 461-A:14 and RSA 458-C to ensure their effectiveness and fairness for children and families.
II. Consider alternative means of calculating child support, including those identified by the commission to study child support established in 2003, 277 and extended in 2005, 256.
III. Examine the apportionment of funds between obligor and obligee parents, particularly in cases involving shared residential responsibility and when one parent incurs additional, unanticipated child-related expenses.
IV. Study the self support reserve and its implementation to ensure that no child lives in poverty in either parent’s home.
V. Solicit information and testimony from individuals and organizations that may assist the commission in the performance of its duties, including the department of health and human services office of child support enforcement and the economist hired by the department pursuant to 2005, 256.
VI. Make recommendations for any proposed legislation that the commission deems necessary.
4 Chairperson; Quorum. The members of the commission shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the commission shall be called by the first-named house member. The first meeting of the commission shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Four members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.
5 Report. The commission shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before November 1, 2008.
6 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.