Relating To Child Support.
By requiring the Department of Human Services to disregard the passed-through child support when assessing eligibility for public assistance, the bill is positioned to improve the financial situation of families who are receiving assistance. This change is expected to afford these families a better chance at maintaining their economic status while ensuring their children receive adequate support. The legislation ultimately aims to provide families with additional resources that can contribute to their welfare, potentially reducing dependency on public assistance over time.
Senate Bill 3171 aims to amend current regulations regarding child support and public assistance in Hawaii. The bill requires certain amounts of child support collected by the Department of Human Services to be passed through to the families receiving public assistance, ensuring that these families benefit directly from the funds. Specifically, it mandates that the first $100 in child support collections for single-child families and the first $200 for families with multiple children are passed through as income, which alters how income is calculated when determining eligibility for public assistance programs.
A point of contention surrounding this bill is its implications for employers regarding compliance with income withholding orders for child support. The bill increases the fines for employers who fail to comply with these orders or who take adverse actions against employees based on the orders, setting the maximum fine at $1,000. Some stakeholders may argue that such regulations create an undue burden on businesses, raising concerns about enforcement and the potential impact on employment practices. However, proponents believe that ensuring compliance serves to protect the well-being of children and families reliant on these financial supports.