HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	600
TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2013
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO CHILD SUPPORT.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the State can increase the effectiveness of the child support program by clarifying the liability of grandparents in accordance with the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, Public Law 104-193, 110 Stat. 2105, also known as the Welfare Reform Act.

     Currently, thirteen states have enacted legislation that provides grandparent liability for child support:  Arizona, Idaho, Illinois, Maryland, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.  Some of the statutes were enacted in the wake of 42 United States Code section 666(a)(18) and limit the liability of grandparents to those cases where the parents of the child are minors and the custodial parent is receiving public assistance.  Other states have legislation that predates the Welfare Reform Act and is modeled on the Elizabethan Poor Laws.

     The purpose of this Act is to require the parents of a minor mother or father to contribute child support for the minor's child until:

     (1)  The parents of a minor mother or father are no longer legally responsible to support the minor mother or minor father; or

     (2)  The minor mother or minor father has reached the age of eighteen.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 576D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§576D-  Financial responsibility of parents of minors with children. The parents of a minor mother or minor father shall be required to contribute financial support for the child of the minor mother or minor father, according to child custody guidelines established pursuant to section 576D-7, until either the parents of the minor mother or minor father are no longer legally responsible to support the minor mother or minor father or the minor mother or minor father reaches the age of majority, whichever event occurs first."

     SECTION 3.  This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.

     SECTION 4.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Grandparents; Child Support

Description:

Requires the parents of a minor mother or minor father to contribute financial support to the child of the minor mother or minor father until either the parent of the minor mother or father is no longer legally responsible to support the minor mother or father or when the minor mother or father reaches the age of majority.

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