Bill Text: NH HB1282 | 2024 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Relative to the duration of child support.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 6-0)
Status: (Passed) 2024-07-22 - Signed by Governor Sununu 07/12/2024; Chapter 192; eff. 07/01/2025 [HB1282 Detail]
Download: New_Hampshire-2024-HB1282-Enrolled.html
HB 1282-FN - VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES
22Feb2024... 0453h
11Apr2024... 1186h
2024 SESSION
24-2044
05/08
HOUSE BILL 1282-FN
AN ACT relative to the duration of child support.
SPONSORS: Rep. Ball, Rock. 25; Rep. J. Nelson, Rock. 13; Rep. Panek, Hills. 1; Rep. Seidel, Hills. 29; Rep. Bickford, Straf. 3; Rep. DeSimone, Rock. 18
COMMITTEE: Children and Family Law
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ANALYSIS
This bill alters the time at which a child support obligation terminates.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
22Feb2024... 0453h
11Apr2024... 1186h 24-2044
05/08
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Four
AN ACT relative to the duration of child support.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Parental Rights and Responsibilities; Support. Amend RSA 461-A:14, IV to read as follows:
IV. The amount of a child support obligation shall remain as stated in the order until the dependent child for whom support is ordered [completes his or her high school education or reaches the age of 18 years, whichever is later, or] marries, or becomes a member of the armed services, or is emancipated pursuant to an order of emancipation under RSA 461-B, or reaches the age of 18 years, unless the child is still a full-time student at a secondary or elementary school, charter school, or a home education program in conformity with RSA 193-a at the age of 18, then child support shall continue until the child graduates or until 2 months after the child reaches the age of 19, whichever is first, at which time the child support obligation, including all educational support obligations, [terminates] shall terminate without further legal action. If the parties have a child with disabilities, the court may initiate or continue the child support obligation after the child reaches the age of 18. No child support order for a child with disabilities which becomes effective after July 9, 2013 may continue after the child reaches age 21 or no longer qualifies as a child with a disability, as defined in RSA 186-C:2, I, who is receiving special education or special education and related services as identified by the child's school district.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025.
24-2044
Amended 4/23/24
HB 1282-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE (AMENDMENT #2024-1186h)
AN ACT relative to the duration of child support.
FISCAL IMPACT: [ ] State [ X ] County [ ] Local [ ] None
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Estimated State Impact - Increase / (Decrease) | ||||||
| FY 2024 | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | FY 2027 | ||
Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Revenue Fund(s) | None | |||||
Expenditures | $0 | $107,000 general funds; $208,000 federal funds | $0 | $0 | ||
Funding Source(s) | General Fund Federal funds | |||||
Appropriations | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Funding Source(s) | None | |||||
• Does this bill provide sufficient funding to cover estimated expenditures? [X] No • Does this bill authorize new positions to implement this bill? [X] No | ||||||
METHODOLOGY:
This bill alters the time at which a child support order terminates. The bill stipulates the following: the amount shall remain as stated in an order until the dependent reaches the age of 18; unless the child is still a full-time student at a secondary or elementary school, in which case benefits will continue until the child graduates or until two months after the child becomes age 19, whichever is first. When the applicable condition is met, all child support obligations shall terminate without further legal action. Currently, RSA 461-A:14, IV states that a child support order shall remain in place until a dependent child completes his or her high school education or reaches age 18, whichever is later.
In addition to the changes identified above, the bill amends the portion of statute that requires support when a child is disabled, by specifying that support may terminate once the child no longer qualifies as a child with a disability, as defined in RSA 186-C:2, I.
The Department of Health and Human Services states that the above changes may necessitate modifications to the New England Child Support Enforcement System (NECSES). The Department estimates the one-time cost will be approximately $315,000, of which 34 percent ($107,100) will be paid for with state general funds and 66 percent ($207,900) will be paid for with federal funds. The bill has an effective date of July 1, 2025. However, since the costs are for systems changes that will need to be ready prior to implementation, it is assumed that these costs will be incurred in FY 2025.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Health and Human Services
