SB 256 - This act provides that the Department of Social Services shall establish a pilot program which will allow noncustodial parents to reduce the amount of state debt owed based on the number of hours of participation in the program. However, the amount of state debt shall not be reduced by more than two-thousand dollars. The program does not change the noncustodial parent's child support obligations or compromise any arrears owed to the custodial parent or spouse. The goals of the program shall include empowering the noncustodial parents with the necessary resources to achieve gainful employment and encouraging noncustodial parents to be engaged with their children and to take financial responsibility for their children's well-being. A noncustodial parent shall be removed from the program for not demonstrating good faith efforts to achieve these goals.
Noncustodial parents shall not be subject to prosecution for criminal nonsupport during participation in the program or for a year following completion of the program.
The Department must promulgate rules and regulations implementing the provisions of the act within one hundred and eighty days of the act's effective date. The Department also shall submit a report to the General Assembly one year following the promulgation of rules, which shall include information as specified in the act.
The provisions of the act shall expire on August 28, 2018.
This act is substantially similar to HB 943 (2015) and HCS/HB 1047 (2015).
JESSI BAKER