SB 1224 - This act establishes the Parental Child Support Responsibility Program within the Department of Social Services. The program allows custodial parents to receive parental child support responsibility payments for a qualified child in certain circumstances. Certain participation requirements must be satisfied (Section 454.580).

The amount of the parental child support responsibility payment will be the greater of the monthly child support payment made by the noncustodial parent or the amount calculated under the provisions of this act. Under this act, the parental child support responsibility payment is equal to the sum of $285 for the first child, $140 for the second child, and $65 for each additional child. These amounts must be adjusted annually. A custodial parent is not eligible for parental child support responsibility payments if his or her household income is more than 225% of the federal poverty level. The parental child support responsibility payment is decreased incrementally to the level of the court-ordered support amount for households with incomes between 100% and 225%. If funding for the program is not sufficient, the Department may reduce the maximum federal poverty level or prorate the monthly payments (Section 454.583).

Funding for the program will be provided through noncustodial parent payments and appropriations. Appropriations from general revenue for this program can be counted toward the state's maintenance-of-effort for the TANF program (Section 454.586).

Any noncustodial parent who is more than two months behind in payments must be referred to the Parent's Fair Share Program, or be subject to penalties. A noncustodial parent who has been in the Parent's Fair Share Program for five years and who is not making at least the current child support payment is presumed to have failed the program and will be charged penalties (Section 454.590).

This act is identical to HB 1384 (2002).
ERIN MOTLEY