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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 617 FILED ON: 1/10/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 201
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Christine P. Barber and Jennifer Balinsky Armini
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act to bring child support home.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Christine P. Barber34th Middlesex1/10/2025Jennifer Balinsky Armini8th Essex1/30/2025Natalie M. Higgins4th Worcester2/23/2025Mary S. Keefe15th Worcester3/4/2025 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 617 FILED ON: 1/10/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 201
By Representatives Barber of Somerville and Armini of Marblehead, a petition (accompanied by
bill, House, No. 201) of Christine P. Barber, Jennifer Balinsky Armini and others relative to
child support enforcement. Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act to bring child support home.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Chapter 18 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking section 18A
2and inserting in place thereof the following new section:-
3 Section 18A. (a)(1). The department shall impose the sanction required by federal law on
4any recipient of public assistance funded under Title IV-A of the Social Security Act who,
5without good cause, does not cooperate with the IV-D agency specified in chapter 119A to
6establish paternity or to establish, modify, or enforce a child support order on behalf of a child
7for whom the recipient receives such public assistance.
8 (2) The department shall determine that a recipient has good cause for not cooperating
9with the IV-D agency for purposes of this section if:
10 (A) The child was conceived as a result of incest or rape;
11 (B) Proceedings for the adoption of the child are pending or under consideration; 2 of 2
12 (C) Cooperation risks discouraging the noncustodial parent or other relatives of the child
13from maintaining a relationship with the child or providing emotional or other support;
14 (D) Cooperation risks physical or emotional harm to or retaliation against the child or the
15relative with whom the child resides; or
16 (E) Cooperation is otherwise not in the child’s best interest.
17 SECTION 2. Section 2 of chapter 118 of the General Laws is hereby amended by
18inserting at the end of the first paragraph the following:-
19 Child support collected on behalf of a recipient of benefits under this chapter shall be
20paid to the family. In determining the family’s countable income, the department shall disregard
21child support paid to the family that is below the monthly federal poverty level for the family
22size.
23 SECTION 3. Section 2 of chapter 119A of the General Laws is hereby amended by
24inserting at the end of subsection (b) the following:- Pursuant to Title IV, Part D of the Social
25Security Act, in the case of former recipients of assistance, the IV-D agency shall pay to the
26family all support payments collected, including payments on arrears assigned to the state and
27payments collected through federal tax refund offset.