1 of 1
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3422 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 4045
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Adrianne Pusateri Ramos
_________________
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 relative to establishing a special commission to study child support.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Adrianne Pusateri Ramos14th Essex1/17/2025 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3422 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 4045
By Representative Ramos of North Andover, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 4045)
of Adrianne Pusateri Ramos for an investigation by a special commission (including members of
the General Court) relative to improvements to the child support system. The Judiciary.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
_______________
An Act relative to establishing a special commission to study child support.
Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to
establish a special commission to study the child support system in the commonwealth, therefore
it is hereby declared to be an emergency law, necessary for the immediate preservation of the
public convenience.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 (a) There shall be established a special commission, pursuant to section 2A of chapter 4
2of the General Laws, to study child support and recommend any improvements to the child
3support system in the commonwealth.
4 (b) The special commission shall be comprised of the following members: the chairs of
5the joint committee on the judiciary or their designees, who shall serve as co-chairs; the chairs of
6the joint committee on children, families and persons with disabilities or their designees; 1
7member appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; 1 member appointed by the
8minority leader of the house of representatives; 1 member appointed by the president of the
9senate; 1 member appointed by the minority leader of the senate; 1 member appointed by the 2 of 2
10Massachusetts Bar Association, who shall have experience in family law and child support
11matters; 1 member appointed by the chief justice of the probate and family court; and the
12commissioner of the department of revenue or their designee, whom shall be from the
13department of revenue.
14 (c) The study shall include, but not be limited to: (i) analysis on the economic
15implications of child support on families in the commonwealth; (ii) analysis on the economic
16implications of nonpayment of child support; (iii) analysis of child support collections and
17unpaid child support; (iv) a review of all enforcement mechanisms and the impact of such
18mechanisms on lower socio-economic families and families with incarcerated obligors; (v)
19comprehensive data gathered on child support to inform policy recommendations; and (vi) any
20recommendations on changes to child support in the commonwealth.
21 (d) The commission shall prepare a report detailing the results of the study, along with
22any recommendations and any proposed standards and legislation necessary to carry out its
23recommendations. The report shall be submitted to the: (i) joint committee on the judiciary; (ii)
24joint committee on children, families and persons with disabilities; and (iii) clerks of the house of
25representatives and senate not later than December 31, 2026.