HB 1557 -- Child Support Insurance

Sponsor:  Shoemyer (9)

This bill establishes the Child Support Insurance Program within
the Department of Social Services.  The program allows custodial
parents to receive child support insurance payments for a
qualified child in certain circumstances.  The custodial parent
must apply for participation in the program, establish the
paternity of the child, obtain a child support order for the
child, assign his or her right to collect under the child support
order to the State of Missouri, opt not to receive cash
assistance from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
(TANF) Program, be employed and have an income below specified
levels, and reside in a county with a high percentage of at-risk
children.

The parental child support responsibility payments are primarily
funded by child support paid by the noncustodial parent.  The
General Assembly may provide other necessary funding subject to
appropriations.  The state retains the monthly payments made by
the noncustodial parent in the amount specified in the child
support order as reimbursement of the parental child support
responsibility payment.  If the noncustodial parent's payment is
less than the amount in the child support order or if the
noncustodial parent makes no child support payment, the
noncustodial parent owes the amount of the deficiency or the
entire amount to the state.  Appropriations from general revenue
for this program can be counted toward the state's maintenance-
of-effort for the TANF Program.

A noncustodial parent who is more than two months behind in child
support obligations must be referred to the Parent's Fair Share
Program.  If a noncustodial parent is referred to the program and
refuses to participate or is not making progress, he or she is
subject to all penalties available for failure to pay child
support.  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 must be referred to the department for penalties for
failure to pay child support.

Missouri House of Representatives
92nd General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated September 23, 2004 at 11:15 am