House Bill 294, which was introduced on March 23rd, proposes a new method of collecting child support arrears. The Bill requires the Division of Child Support Enforcement to maintain a list of persons who are in arrears of their child support obligation. In addition, it would impose an obligation on any attorney or insurer to consult this list before releasing any funds to clients or prevailing parties in a claim, lawsuit or civil arbitration for bodily injury or death under a property and casualty insurance policy, or paid as a workers' compensation or occupational disease act award under a workers' compensation policy. If support is owed, the Bill requires that the total amount of support arrears to be paid before any funds (except the first $1,000) may be released to the support obligor. The Bill is currently assigned to the Health & Human Development Committee in the House of Representatives.
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